Sderot Cinematheque debuts Negba incubator at 25th festival

The Cinema of the South Festival will mark its 25th anniversary at the Sderot Cinematheque from November 1 to 5.

Three new elements anchor the 2026 program. The event will launch Negba, a new incubator designed to support emerging filmmakers from the southern region. The schedule includes the world premiere of the first two episodes of the second season of the Netflix series Bros. A closing tribute will honor Ophir Award winner Nili Feller, featuring four of her edited films and a master class.

The festival was originally established by the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir Academic College. This year's lineup places specific emphasis on creators from Sderot and the western Negev. Several works directly examine the social and personal impacts of the three years following the October 7 Hamas-led massacres. The program balances local premieres with established Israeli television content and international screenings.

Opening night events will focus on the series Bros, created by Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir. The two creators will discuss the show before the premiere of its second season. The series follows two Beitar Jerusalem fans who operate a pub in the city. Advance screenings will include Motherland, a KAN comedy-drama directed by Yael Hedaya. The cast includes Dana Ivgy, Sasson Gabay, and Alma Zack. Audiences will also view Whose Daughter Are You?, a KAN documentary series directed by Efrat Shalom Danon and Keren Shayo. The production credits Osnat Trabelsi as executive producer. A separate session will feature the team behind the KAN series The Pshute, including director Dan Messer and creators Bar Elmaliach Donzov, Chen Rotman, and Oshrit Sarusi.

The final day will showcase Iris Zaki’s film What Was She Thinking?, which explores the decision to forgo parenthood in Israeli society. Zaki leads the master's degree program at Sapir. The screening serves as a tribute to editor Nili Feller. It will include four films she previously edited, a master class, and discussions with filmmakers Ari Folman and Dani Rosenberg.

Sapir graduates will present new projects throughout the week. Efrat Corem will screen Heart of Gold, starring Chen Amsalem, Menashe Noy, and Israel Atias. Shir Houri Abu will present the documentary 100 Gates. Tal Avitan will show Carlos Outside the Lines, a film about a children's soccer coach in Kiryat Gat. Eight previous winning entries will also be replayed. The regional slate includes Sketches of the Soul, a collection of five shorts from western Negev directors. It will also host the premiere of Sami Shalom Chetrit’s My Beloved Gourama, which documents his father's life in Morocco and Israel.

Swiss director Thomas Imbach will present two films and lead a master class in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy. The Negba incubator launch will occur during the closing ceremony. Further details are available on the Sapir Academic College website.