Tamar Yarom C. 129's documentary " TO SEE IF I AM SMILING" wins lots of awards, see below:
TO SEE IF I'M SMILING
Documentary, 59 min. 2007
English Title: To See if I'm Smiling
Hebrew Title: Lir'ot Im ANi Mehayechet
Directed & Produced by: Tamar Yarom
Language: Hebrew with English subtitles
Made with the assistance of Noga Communications Channel 8 & The Makor Foundation for Israeli Cinema & TV
Synopsis:
Six Israeli women give a personal account about their life in the Israeli Army, in the Occupied Territories. A female point of view on the drama of an unending war, on the moral challenges the soldiers faced at the encounter with the Palestinian population. The women look back critically at the way they handled the power that was placed in their hands at the young age of eighteen. Questions that were not dealt with during the service are raised today with great pain - and courage.
PRIZES & AWARDS:
Silver Wolf Award - IDFA, International Documentary Festival Amsterdam,
The Netherlands, 2007;
Audi Audience Award - IDFA, International Documentary Festival Amsterdam,
The Netherlands, 2007;
Best Documentary Award - Haifa International Film Festival, Israel, 2007;
Special Jury Award - Sarasota Film Festival, Florida, USA, 2008;
Special Jury Award - Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, Toronto, Canada, 2008;
First Prize "The Magic Hour" Award - Planete Doc Review, Poland 2008;
Best Documentary Award - Dokufest , Kosovo 2008
Best One hour Documentary Award - The Annual Israeli Documentary Forum Awards,
Israel 2008
Ulysses Award - Montpellier film Festival France 2008
From the Jury's statements:
"The Special Jury Prize is given to a film that makes all of us face the question: could this be me? Would I behave this way? The director and protagonists share memories of a different and painful existence in a way that touches and challenges us and is relevant everywhere in the world."
(Jury Statement, Hot Docs- Hot Docs, Toronto, Canada 2008).
"a brave and powerful testimony to the corrosive effect of power."
(Jury Statement, IDFA –International DocumentaryFilm Festival, The Netherlands, 2007)
"….An unusual cinematic experience, courageous, piercing and sharp, the film raises complicated ethical questions…"
"…The women tell their stories openly, honestly, with sincerely and anguish that are painful to watch…"
…Tamar Yarom created a precise, unique, sharp and insightful cinematic language that honors its protagonists and their story…"
(Jury Statement Haifa International Film Festival, Israel, 2007)
FILM FESTIVALS (partial List):
Haifa International Film Festival, Israel, 2007; Best Documentary
IDFA – International documentary Festival Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2007;
Winner of "Silver Wolf" Award & Audience Award
FICCO – Cinemex International Film Festival, Mexico, 2008;
ZagrebDox – International Documentary Film Festival, Croatia, 2008;
One World Film Festival, Prague, Czech Republic, 2008;
KMD International Film Festival, Belgrade, Serbia, 2008;
Sarasota Film Festival, Florida, USA, 2008; Winner of the Jury Award
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, North Carolina, USA, 2008;
San Francisco International Film Festival, California, Usa, 2008;
HOTDOCs – International Documentary Film Festival, Toronto, Canada, 2008;
Winner of the Jury Award
Documenta Madrid – International Documentary Film Festival, Spain, 2008;
TekFestival Rome, Italy, 2008;
INPUT TV – International Television Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2008;
Planete Doc Film Festival, Warsaw, Poland 2008; Winner of the "Magic Hour" Award
Edinburgh International Film Festival, UK, 2008 (Invited):
Guth Gafa Documentary Film Festival, Donegal, Ireland, 2008;
Sydney International Film Festival, Australia, 2008 (Invited);
Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia, 2008 (Invited);