Culture Heroes

A distinctive presence in the dance world for over 30 years, Naharin is an accomplished and much admired choreographer and teacher whose unique approach is about fluidity in movement. As a dancer, and later as artistic director of the BatSheva Dance Company, Naharin helped to put Israel on the map as a center for personal and universal dance experience.

A contemporary artist whose work is multi-faceted and complex. Reeb unites the personal and the political; he blends photography and painting, he brings together people and cultures.

He creates art that is beautiful, striking and thought-provoking. This film offers a peek at a political man who is also thoroughly an artist.

Making a film about a filmmaker, Ran Tal takes on the filmic language of Gitai himself to tell the story of one of Israeli cinema's greatest exports. Gitai is an extraordinary, wide-ranging, and deeply personal filmmaker. His films reflect his personal demons and his private passions which he weaves into visual prose. Gitai had made both documentary and fiction films – and in this portrait, which follows the making of Gitai's film Carmel, the two become enmeshed.

A poet who is passionate about his city, Tel Aviv, and takes a personal literary stance in a political reality. Wieseltier has translated many poems and plays into Hebrew – and his 13 books of poetry have been widely translated into other languages as well. He employs irony in the service of reality – and in this portrait he comes across as the picture perfect poet.

This poignant portrait is of the only artist in this series who is no longer alive. A vibrant and much-loved lyricist, Mohar passed away during the filming of this portrait. The songs which he composed for this film was subsequently worked on by his close friend Yoni Rechter – and this song, along with the film, are a tribute to a special man.
 

In this illustration, filmmaker Sivan Arbel introduces us to the woman who taught the world that it is ok to talk to kids about their bodies. Her book "Once Upon a Potty" has been translated in many languages and appreciated by families all over the world. We get to know an author of children's books who also just won an award for her novel for adults about the Holocaust.

As his new novel "Between Life and Death" is about to be published – filmmaker Ran Tal meets the prolific author to learn more about his own connection to the two. Kaniuk has been one of Israel's leading writers for over 40 years. His works have been widely translated and in this gentle portrait we get to know how he deals with existential questions in a deep personal way.

The connection between art and money is openly discussed in filmmaker Uri Rosenwaks' approachable portrait of these two contemporary artists. As they prepare for their upcoming exhibit at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, we get to know them as people, as artists and as shapers of Israel's exciting art scene.