The First Lady
Synopsis
Efrat Tilma, a trailblazing transgender woman, was forced to flee Israel as a teenager in the 1960s, after a police officer threatened to kill her if he ever saw her again walking the streets of Tel Aviv in women’s clothing. Today, at 75, she is a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and the first transgender volunteer in the Israeli police force. As the country descends into an unprecedented social and political crisis, Efrat confronts the traumas that shaped her life and once again fights for her place in the world.
Credits
Director(s)
Udi Nir, Sagi Bornstein
Producer(s)
Udi Nir, Sagi Bornstein, Christian Beetz
Cinematography
Daniel Binsted, Uriel Sinai
Editor
Sagi Bornstein
Original Music
Adam Maor
Cast
Efrat Tilma
Original Language
Hebrew, German, French, English
Subtitles
English, Hebrew
Production Companies
UVS Films, Beetz Brothers Film Production
Sound Designer
Aviv Aldema
Design and Animation
Arik Weiss
Festival Highlights
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WINNER
Best FilmWeil Bloch Film Awards2025
Docaviv Film Festival, Israel, Official Competition, 2025
New York Jewish Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2026
Miami Jewish Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2026
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2026
Reviews
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"★★★★★ A great film about a great and inspiring woman. Don’t miss it."
- Kan 11
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"A masterful, striking, and breathtaking film."
- Mako
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"Direct, honest, funny, and painful."
- TimeOut
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"One of this year’s most intimate and emotionally layered films."
- Moment Magazine
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"A must-watch."
- Seret
