Running on Sand

  • Israel
  • Feature
  • 2023
  • 104 min.
  • Director(s): Adar Shafran
  • Producer(s): Roni Abramowski, Moshe Edery, Adar Shafran, Peter Rommel

Synopsis

Aumari, a young Eritrean refugee living in Israel, is about to be deported back to his home country. After a spontaneous escape attempt at the airport, he is mistaken for a Nigerian striker, who is supposed to arrive at the same time. Aumari seizes the opportunity and benefits for his change of identity as the new key acquisitions for the team of ‘Maccabi Netanya’. Despite the absence of any soccer talent, Aumari is able to cover-up and heal the divisions of his struggling team, while a tender romantic bond with charmingly unconventional daughter of the team owner is growing.

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Credits

Director(s)

Adar Shafran

Producer(s)

Roni Abramowski, Moshe Edery, Adar Shafran, Peter Rommel

Script

Asaf Zelicovich, Yoav Hebel , Sarel Piterman

Cinematography

Daniel Miller

Cast

Chansela Mongoza, Kim Or Azulay, Tzvika Hadar, Michael Kabia Aharoni

Original Language

Hebrew, English, Tigrigna

Subtitles

Hebrew, English

Sales Agent

Picture Tree International

Festival Highlights

  • WINNER

    Best of Fest Audience Award
    Palm Springs International Film Festival
    2024

  • WINNER

    Best Narrative Feature
    Centre Film Festival
    2024

  • WINNER

    Best Actor (Chancela Mavua Mongoza)
    Centre Film Festival
    2024

  • WINNER

    Best Film
    Fairhope Film Festival
    2024

  • WINNER

    Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
    San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
    2024

  • WINNER

    Audience Award
    JxJ Festival
    2024

  • WINNER

    Best Film
    Israeli Film Festival in Paris
    2024

  • WINNER

    Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
    Boca International Jewish Film Festival
    2024

  • WINNER

    Best Debut Film
    Haifa International Film Festival
    2023

  • WINNER

    Best Screenplay
    Haifa International Film Festival
    2023

  • NOMINEE

    4 Categories
    Israeli Academy Awards
    2023

Atlanta JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Philadelphia Israeli Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Fairhope Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Buffalo JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2025

Sarasota JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2025

St. Louis JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2025

Denver JFF, USA, Official Selection , 2025

Cannes Israeli Film Festival, France, Official Selection, 2025

Mobile JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2025

Richmond JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2025

Tucson JFF, USA, Official Selection , 2025

East Valley JCC , USA, Official Selection , 2025

Palm Beach JFF, USA, Official Selection , 2025

SERET, Argentina , Official Selection , 2024

LA Israeli FF, USA, Official Selection , 2024

SERET , Chile, Official Selection, 2024

Bender JCC of Greater Washington, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Rutgers, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Boulder JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Long Beach JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Michigan State University, USA, Official Selection, 2024

YESH! Zurich JFF, Switzerland , Official Selection, 2024

Calgary Beth Tzedek JFF, Canada, Official Selection, 2024

Budapest JFF, Hungary, Official Selection, 2024

Orange County JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Hong Kong JFF, China, Official Selection, 2024

Israeli Film Festival in Marseille, France, Official Selection, 2024

Montreal Israeli FF, Canada, Official Selection, 2024

Victoria JFF, Canada, Official Selection, 2024

Nashville JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Fairhope IFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Moscow JFF, Russia, Official Selection, 2024

Centre Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Moscow Israeli FF, Russia, Official Selection, 2024

Columbus JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Omaha JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Saint John Jewish Film Festival , Canada, Official Selection, 2024

Sillicon Valley JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

San Diego JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Milwaukee JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Milwaukee JFF, Australia, Official Selection, 2024

Israeli Film Fest Carpentras, France, Official Selection, 2024

Tashkent International Film Festival, Uzbekistan, Official Selection, 2024

Cleveland JFF , USA, Official Selection, 2024

SERET Germany, Germany , Official Selection, 2024

Kansas City JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Charleston JFF , USA, Official Selection, 2024

Sao Paulo JFF, Brazil, Official Selection, 2024

Wilmington JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

San Antonio JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

San Francisco JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Rochester JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Stony Brook IFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Chattanooga JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Berlin JFF, Germany, Official Selection, 2024

Winnipeg JFF, Canada, Official Selection, 2024

Soloway JCC, Canada, Official Selection, 2024

Shanghai International Film Festival, China, Official Selection, 2024

Toronto JFF, Canada, Official Selection, 2024

Edmonton JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

SERET, UK, Official Selection, 2024

Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Boston JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Atlanta JFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Boca Raton International Jewish Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2024

Palm Springs IFF, USA, Official Selection, 2024

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Reviews

  • "The movie hits the sweet spot between a truly light-hearted comedy and a real drama, with engaging characters you care about and funny situations, but with a strong narrative and a heartfelt message about treating people with respect, no matter where they are from."
    - Hannah Brown, The Jerusalem Post

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