Requiem for a Whale
Synopsis
On a stormy night in early 2021, a whale’s body washed ashore at Nitzanim beach in Israel. Over the documentation of the encounter between people and the carcass, we hear the voices of several witnesses who were present at the rare occurrence.
From the fabric of responses, a collective experience shines, regarding the dialogue between life and death.
Credits
Director(s)
Ido Weisman
Producer(s)
Ido Weisman
Script
Ido Weisman, Alex Khosid
Cinematography
Ido Weisman
Editor
Alex Khosid
Cast
Tal Yeshua Bar-Moshe, Asaf Kamar, Lotfy Alsayeed
Original Language
Hebrew
Subtitles
English, Hebrew
Sound Designer
Dan Ben Haim
Produced with the help of
The Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with the Heschel Center for Sustainability
Festival Highlights
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WINNER
Second Award for Best Students FilmDocaviv International Documentary Film Festival2022 -
WINNER
Best Cinematography for Students FilmDocaviv International Documentary Film Festival2022 -
WINNER
Best Student Documentary AwardIDA Documentary Awards2022 -
WINNER
Best Student Film AwardIsraeli Documentary Forum Awards2022 -
WINNER
Best Student Documentary Short FilmAtlanta Docufest2023 -
WINNER
Special Mention, Film Critics AssociationTel Aviv International Students Film Festival2023 -
WINNER
Best Short FilmGalil Film Festival2023
Atlanta Docufest, USA, 2023
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, USA, 2023
Santa Barbara International Film Festival, USA, 2023
FipaDOC, France, 2023
DOC NYC, USA, Shorts Competition, 2022
Brisbane International Film Festival, Australia, Shorts Competition, 2022
Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival, Israel, Students Competition, 2022
Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, USA, 2023
Short Shorts Film Festival, Japan, 2023
CinemAmbiente – Environmental Film Festival, Italy, 2023
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, Australia, 2023
Salem Film Festival, USA, 2023
Signes de Nuit, Paris, 2023
Reviews
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"For its refreshing and creative cinematic vision, its concise editing and for its sensitive and thoughtful directing. The film captures its spectators and draws them into a moving and multi-dimensional story of immigration and exile experienced twice over, and of a protagonist that wholeheartedly and against all odds insists on believing in his dream"
- Docaviv 2022 jury's justification for Second Award for Best Student Film
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"For its concise and intelligent cinematography that grant the film a poetic essence by adding depth and meaning to its story"
- Docaviv 2022 jury's justification for Second Award for Best Student Film
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"A smart and poetic documentary that seeks to explore the consequences of an extraordinary event on those who witnessed it, including the director himself."
- Tel Aviv International Students Film Festival 2023 - Jury Motivation