Festival "New Israeli Cinema" 2026

The “New Israeli Cinema 2026” Festival returns with a new program! With Russian subtitles!

The contemporary Israeli cinema festival is now coming to 16 cities in Israel and abroad!

This year, “New Israeli Cinema” returns with a new program of contemporary Israeli short films about people, relationships, family, choices, coincidences, and the many different facets of life in modern Israel.

Starting in November 2026, the festival will take place in 16 cities across Israel, bringing together audiences, directors, and film-industry professionals. This year, the festival will also go beyond Israel’s borders! Screenings will take place abroad for the first time—in Japan, Latvia, Ukraine, Poland, Cyprus, and other countries.

The main program features four selected Israeli short films.

Total running time of the films: 1 hour.

Films in Hebrew with Russian subtitles.

Total event duration (films + discussion): 2 hours.

These are stories about very different characters and situations—from family dramas and unexpected twists to subtle humor and stories about human relationships. Different in genre and tone, they share one thing: this is contemporary Israeli cinema that you will want to discuss.

Experience the atmosphere of a true film festival!

After the screening, you will have the opportunity to speak “in person” with film-industry professionals and others!

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

#1 Shishbarak

Israel, 2025, directed by Mai Dvora Sayag, 20 min., comedy

Zoar, a lazy granddaughter, is forced to inherit her family’s magic after her witch grandmother suffers an accidental injury, so that together they can open the first tent in Kiryat Ono serving traditional dumplings of Syrian Jews.

Cast: Sarit Friedman-Barzanieck, Mai Dvora Sayag, and Nir Ron.

#2 Leave Me There

Israel, 2025, directed by Shirit Gal Kedar, 12.5 min., drama

A Saturday family lunch turns into a shock when an elderly father informs his children that he is traveling alone across America. His main condition sounds frightening: “If I die along the way, leave my body there.”

Cast: Uri Gavriel (The Dark Knight Rises, The Main Counter) and Ron Shahar (The Amazing Race).

#3 Bimba

Israel, 2025, directed by Tomer Refaeli, 18.5 min., drama, comedy

Hurrying from work to his parents’ home, Omri unexpectedly finds himself at the center of a family scandal. His mother denies stealing a Bimba—a children’s ride-on car—from the neighbors and threatening them. The incident forces the family to go to the hospital at night, where Omri faces new challenges.

Cast: Dean Gerber (Greenhouse Academy), Limor Goldstein (Shababnikim), and Yoav Hait (Shtisel).

#4 Mazal Tov

Israel, 2026, directed by Noa Maiman, 13 min., comedy

A young Jewish couple is expecting their first child. After a perfect natural birth during a full moon, they discover that their baby is not at all what they—and everyone around them—expected.

Cast: Liat Harlev (Eretz Nehederet), Shlomi Tapiaro (When Heroes Fly and Kibbutznikim), and Ohad Knoller (Munich).

Every viewer will have a unique opportunity to vote for their favorite film! The film chosen as the best by audiences around the world will receive the festival statuette and a cash prize.

This year’s “New Israeli Cinema” jury

Ron Vogel — Israeli film critic and radio host, a member of the Israeli Academy of Film and Television and the European Film Academy.

Shira Hochman — Israeli producer, nominated for an Oscar for the short film White Eye (2019).

Boaz Mann — Israeli film editor who worked on Netflix’s international hit Fauda.

Tomer Shushan — Israeli director, screenwriter, actor, and producer, nominated for an Oscar for the short film White Eye (2019).

Suzanna Papyan — renowned Israeli actress who has appeared, among other projects, in Sovetska (2023) and Anashim Shepagashti (2026).

Dani Zernitsky — music producer and sound designer. His music for the animated short Red Snow (2022) received the Best Music award. His other work includes sound design for the Hollywood film Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024) and the series Shababnikim (2017).

Oleg Kuvaev — director, screenwriter, and actor, creator of the cult animated series Masyanya (2001–2026).

Elizaveta Skvortsova — director and screenwriter, creator of the animated project Lullabies of the World’s Peoples (2006–2009).

Rimma Geffen — director, screenwriter, and producer, winner of the Jerusalem Film Festival and nominee for an Israeli Academy of Film award for the film Heartfelt Embraces (2023).

Aglaya Schmidt — producer at The Hive animation studio.

The film chosen as the best by the jury members will receive the “Jury Choice” festival statuette and a cash prize.

Tickets are already available!

Hurry to reserve the best seats!