Docaviv

Docaviv

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The 28th Docaviv festival took place in Tel Aviv from May 28 to June 6, 2026. The Woman in White, directed by Emmanuelle Mayer, won the Dov Yudkovsky Award for Best Israeli Documentary Film. Mariinka, directed by Pieter-Jan De Pue, received the Shoshana Prize for Best International Film. In the Student Pitching competition, Yochai Keno Gorli (יוחאי קנו גורלי) received the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund Production Grant; Ariel Ruchas (אריאל רוחס) received the Kan 11 Grant; Tamar Weiss (תמר וייס) received the Online Editing Grant from Opus Post Production; Neta Shamgar (נטע שמגר) received the Sound Editing Grant from Jungle Sound; and Or Vazana (אור ואזנה) received an Honorable Mention. The names in English are transliterations of the official Hebrew winners list. The awards support student documentary projects. In the Schweppes-sponsored Highlights competition, The Parking Lot from My Window by Ronni Azulay received the Best Project Award, while River/Sea: A Travelogue by Tal Elkayam received an Honorable Mention. In DocLab TLV, The Feldmans, directed by Yotam Feldman and produced by Gil Sima, received the Best Project Award, courtesy of Mifal HaPais. It Is What It Is, directed by Gal Rosenbluth and produced by Udi Nir and Sagi Bornstein, received the Tel Aviv–Yafo Municipality Award for Democracy and Creative Freedom. Both honours recognised documentary projects in development.

Dov Yudkovsky Award for Best Israeli Documentary Film

Equipment Rental Grant: Glikson, Editing Suite Grant: Edit Studios

The Woman in White No Video Available
Emmanuelle Mayer
The Woman in WhiteWho was Tamar Golan, and why does she not appear in the history books? Was she a Mossad…

Yossi Kaufman Award for Best Director

Shaked Goren

Courtesy of: Makor Foundation

Esther No Video Available
Shaked Goren
EstherThe whole world was enthusiastic about Esther, but the Germans were hypnotized. Esther…

Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo Award for Debut Film

Courtesy of: Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo

One Eye Open No Video Available
Tom Giat
One Eye OpenInside the snowballing chaos of reality, a reservist soldier finds himself caught between…

Israeli Competition — Special Jury Award

Courtesy of: Harel Insurance and Finance Group

Shalom No Video Available
Meital Zvieli
ShalomShalom the Rhinoceros, a beloved celebrity at the Biblical Zoo, is cared for by Rushdi, a…

Nili Tal Best Research Award

Emmanuelle Mayer

Joint award to Emmanuelle Mayer, Gregor Murbach and Lily Yudinsky. Courtesy of the Tal Family.

The Woman in White No Video Available
Emmanuelle Mayer
The Woman in WhiteWho was Tamar Golan, and why does she not appear in the history books? Was she a Mossad…

Nili Tal Best Research Award

Gregor Murbach

Joint award to Emmanuelle Mayer, Gregor Murbach and Lily Yudinsky. Courtesy of the Tal Family.

The Woman in White No Video Available
Emmanuelle Mayer
The Woman in WhiteWho was Tamar Golan, and why does she not appear in the history books? Was she a Mossad…

Nili Tal Best Research Award

Lily Yudinsky

Joint award to Emmanuelle Mayer, Gregor Murbach and Lily Yudinsky. Courtesy of the Tal Family.

The Woman in White No Video Available
Emmanuelle Mayer
The Woman in WhiteWho was Tamar Golan, and why does she not appear in the history books? Was she a Mossad…

Best Editing Award

Danel Elpeleg
Esther No Video Available
Shaked Goren
EstherThe whole world was enthusiastic about Esther, but the Germans were hypnotized. Esther…

Best Cinematography Award

Amikam Shilo
Shalom No Video Available
Meital Zvieli
ShalomShalom the Rhinoceros, a beloved celebrity at the Biblical Zoo, is cared for by Rushdi, a…

Shoshana Prize for Best International Film

Courtesy of: Nancy Pomagrin

Mariinka No Video Available
Pieter-Jan De Pue
MariinkaYoung Ukrainians from the frontline town of Mariinka face a decade of war that divides…

International Competition — Honorable Mention

Divia Trailer
Dmytro Hreshko
DiviaThe film explores the catastrophic influence of the Russian invasion on nature in Ukraine.

International Competition — Honorable Mention

Notes of a True Criminal No Video Available
Alexander Rodnyansky, Andriy Alferov
Notes of a True CriminalIn Notes of a True Criminal, Alexander Rodnyansky recounts the history of his homeland,…

Ilana Tsur Beyond the Screen Award

Courtesy of: Noga Tzur

Welded Together Trailer
Anastasiya Miroshnichenko
Welded TogetherKatya, a young and talented welder, is building a life for herself while feeling haunted…

Beyond the Screen — Honorable Mention

Jabotinsky Hostel No Video Available
Adi Yaffe Cohen
Jabotinsky HostelIn the heart of Tel Aviv, between crowded parking lots and behind a pink fence, stands…

Ruthi Guttesman Student Competition — Best Film

Equipment Rental Grant: Glikson, Editing Suite Grant: Edit Studios

Rio & Nafez No Video Available
Mayan Ninio
Rio & NafezAn unexpected, pure friendship unfolds between Rio, a Jewish boy, and Nafez, a…

Student Competition — Special Jury Award

Courtesy of: Mr. Yoav Guttesman

Words from the In Between No Video Available
Tama Castel
Words from the In BetweenNir has received a definitive diagnosis. She is going to die. She looks healthy now, but…

Moshe Lev Student Scholarship for Excellence in Cinematography

Eliyahu Shaz

Courtesy of: Dafna Lev

Shoulder Trailer
Batchen Kahalani
ShoulderIndependence Day 2008. Batchen, a 13-year-old girl, stands by the road begging for help.…

Moshe Lev Student Scholarship for Excellence in Editing

Bar Misochnik

Joint scholarship to editors Bar Misochnik, Almog Haller and Yuli Lakhman. Courtesy of Dafna Lev.

Hard To Notice No Video Available
Bar Misochnik
Hard To NoticeAs Itay prepares for his mandatory military service, his sister’s intimate lens captures…

Moshe Lev Student Scholarship for Excellence in Editing

Almog Haller

Joint scholarship to editors Bar Misochnik, Almog Haller and Yuli Lakhman. Courtesy of Dafna Lev.

Hard To Notice No Video Available
Bar Misochnik
Hard To NoticeAs Itay prepares for his mandatory military service, his sister’s intimate lens captures…

Moshe Lev Student Scholarship for Excellence in Editing

Yuli Lakhman

Joint scholarship to editors Bar Misochnik, Almog Haller and Yuli Lakhman. Courtesy of Dafna Lev.

Hard To Notice No Video Available
Bar Misochnik
Hard To NoticeAs Itay prepares for his mandatory military service, his sister’s intimate lens captures…

Best Short Award

Courtesy of: The Ministry of Culture and Sport - The Israel Film Council

2:30 Minutes For 5 Shekels No Video Available
Efim Graboy
2:30 Minutes For 5 ShekelsAn observational documentary set in the Sderot lookout on the Israel-Gaza border, a…

Shorts Competition — Honorable Mention

Sanyi the Rooster Trailer
Lotte Salomons
Sanyi the RoosterIn 2020, a rooster escapes in Békéscsaba, Hungary. For four years, the locals care for…

Dana Eden Audience Award

With sincere thanks and profound appreciation, Shula Spiegel

Things Were Like That No Video Available
Adi Arbel
Things Were Like ThatMeir Shalev, who passed away last year, left behind an extraordinary cultural and…