WomanFilms Documentary Lab

WomanFilms was established in 2014 to create a unique and tailor-made environment to nurture women documentary filmmakers from diverse backgrounds across Israel. The program exceeded our expectations when the first film to emerge, Wall by Moran Ifergan, won the Best Film Award at the prestigious Docaviv International Film Festival in Tel Aviv in 2017. That year, four out of thirteen titles competing for that award, were films developed through this program. Since then, 23 films have emerged from the program, with many more in various stages of production.  WomanFilms Documentary Film Lab is based on the hugely successful model of a program we established in 2006 called GreenhouseMENA, which ran for 12 consecutive years. WomanFilms targets women filmmakers from diverse and often marginalized backgrounds across Israel. At a time when intolerance and discrimination are unfortunately on the rise, we recognized an urgent need to foster mutual understanding and build bridges between the various communities that make up Israel. In addition, we wanted to promote equal opportunities for women in the industry, empower them and increase the number of women filmmakers who successfully see through (and find financing for) their film projects. Creating a safe, women-only environment, enables filmmakers from more closed societies to participate. The program is a wonderful meeting point for filmmakers to exchange ideas and create new collaborations and an ever-growing community of filmmakers committed to social change. The program is made possible by our partners and supporters: The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund NY, The Azrieli Foundation. The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Anatta Foundation, Shawna Goodman and Todd Sone Family Foundation, Ms. Anat Kerem-Angle and the Fidelio Foundation.