DAVID A. STEIN MEMORIAL AWARD (1970–2004)
This award is presented in memory of gifted Toronto filmmaker David A. Stein, who passed away in 2004 at age 34. The “Tzimmie” – named after his production company, Tzimmes Entertainment – is an annual $5,000 award given to the Director of the Best Documentary making its Canadian Premiere at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. This award supports documentary filmmakers in creating works that would have interested David, and that carry on his passion for storytelling.
2024
DAVID A. STEIN MEMORIAL AWARD (1970–2004) WINNER:
DIRECTOR: OFER PINHASOV
JURY STATEMENT: “The surprising, previously untold story of The Voice of Israel in Arabic reflects the persuasive power of radio in the early decades of the state. Highlighting the popular music and personalities of the times, the documentary examines the role of the broadcasts—directed at the neighboring Arab countries–as both a bridge between cultures and a strategy of psychological warfare. It also presents a fresh angle on the experience of Jewish immigrants from those lands, the hardships they faced and the societal tensions involved. With its creative use of archival material and compelling personal accounts, Radio Propaganda is a powerful, multilayered film with a sharp contemporary resonance.”
THIS YEAR'S JURY
Dara Solomon
Dara Solomon is the Executive Director of the Ontario Jewish Archives and the Toronto Holocaust Museum. With a successful history of working in heritage institutions and art museums in Canada and the US, Dara is a storyteller, strategic administrator, fundraiser, and team builder.
Most recently, Dara opened the Toronto Holocaust Museum, the premier destination for Holocaust education in the region and the first Holocaust Museum designed for the post-survivor era in Canada. Dara led the fundraising, curatorial vision, design and construction.
At the Ontario Jewish Archives, Dara expanded access to its collection, the largest of its kind in Canada; and developed new partnerships that have repositioned the archives in the community and heritage field.
Dara holds a M.A. in Arts Administration from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a B.A. in Religion and Art History from University of Toronto.
Ran Tal
Ran Tal is a past winner of the David A. Stein Award for his film The Museum (TJFF2018). A graduate of the Tel Aviv University Department of Film in 1994, Tal is an independent director whose documentaries focus on Israeli reality through an historic social perspective. His other films include Children of the Sun and The Garden of Eden (both of which are available to view on J-Flix).
Tal is the recipient of the Ophir Prize, the Jerusalem Film Festival Wolgin Award, the DocAviv Film Festival Award, the Forum for the Preservation of Audio Visual award and the Documentary Forum award. Tal also won the Ministry of Culture Cinema Art prize and the Mifal Hapayis Landau Award for Stage Art.
Tal is the head of the MFA documentary film program at the Tisch Film School, Tel Aviv University, and teaches cinema at the Film Departments at Sapir College.
He is the founder and editor (with Anat Even) of Takriv (Close Up), an online magazine for discussion and critique of documentary film, and one of the founders of the Keshet Broadcasting and Mifal HaPayis “Looking Forward” social project.
Sandra Rabinovitch
Sandra Rabinovitch is the founding producer of the acclaimed CBC Radio literary program Writers & Company, with host Eleanor Wachtel. Over its 33-year weekly run, she produced award-winning, in-depth interviews with remarkable international writers and artists, including 14 Nobel Prize winners; iconic Jewish authors such as Saul Bellow, Philip Roth and Amos Oz; and notable filmmakers from Bernardo Bertolucci and Margarethe von Trotta to Claude Lanzmann.
She conceived and produced 25 timely, thematic special series, recorded on location, with writers in Israel, India, Central Europe, Argentina, Turkey and other countries.
For CBC Radio, she also produced a weekly series of original dramatic features and readings, made documentaries, and directed radio plays. As principal story editor for CBC Radio Drama, she commissioned and developed scripts and led workshops across Canada. Sandra has evaluated scripts for Telefilm and the Ontario Film Development Corporation and has edited both fiction and nonfiction books for a variety of publishers.
PREVIOUS WINNING FILMS
2023
The Camera of Doctor Morris
2022
Four Winters: A Story of Jewish Partisan Resistance and Bravery in WWII
2021
Alone TOgether
2020
There are no Lions in Tel Aviv
2019
My War Hero Uncle
2018
The Museum
THE MICKI MOORE AWARD
The Micki Moore Award is a $5,000 prize presented to the Best Narrative Feature Film directed by a woman. “I think film is the highest form of art, combining so many disciplines; words, music, pictures, sets, costumes, continuity. A great director needs to be master of all, working to bring out the best in her cast and crew. With this award, I want to acknowledge that creativity, talent and tenacity. I hope this grant will help open one more door, remove one more obstacle, so that the winner of the Micki Moore Award can flourish and continue on her cinematic journey.” (Micki Moore)
2024
THE MICKI MOORE AWARD WINNER:
DIRECTOR: AYELET MENAHEMI
JURY STATEMENT: “From a diverse list of accomplished films directed by women, the jury unanimously chooses Ayelet Menahemi’s SEVEN BLESSINGS as the 2024 TJFF Micki Moore Award recipient. Told in Israel over the seven nights of festive meals hosted by the bride’s family, Seven Blessings slowly unwinds decades of secrets and pain rooted in a traditional custom common among Jewish families who immigrated to Israel from Morocco. Propelled by stunning performances from its ensemble cast, the film weaves layers of relationship dynamics in boisterous, captivating scenes, hushed conversations, and silent looks. Beautifully produced, Menahemi has crafted an impressive tapestry of family life that resounds with heartbreak, humor and ultimately, the endurance of love.”
Andrea Stewart
Andrea Stewart is a screenwriter and award-winning documentary writer and producer. She is a National Screen Institute alumna, a semi-finalist for the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowship and a recipient of the Norman Jewison Filmmaking Award at her alma mater, Toronto Metropolitan University.
Naomi Levari
Naomi Levari is a producer, script editor, and co-founder of Black Sheep Film Productions, known for acclaimed films and series which premiered at festivals like Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, and Series Mania. She is a sought-after mentor and advisor, and serves on the artistic committee of the Jewish Film Festival Berlin-Brandenburg.
Nir Cohen
Nir Cohen is the author of Rebels, Soldiers and Drifters: Gay Representation in Israeli Cinema, co-editor of Jewish Film and New Media: An International Journal, and Head of Programming at UK Jewish Film.
PREVIOUS WINNING FILMS
NEXTGEN AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
The NextGen Award is a prize given to the best short film at the festival. The winning film is selected by a jury of film students at York University.
SPONSORED BY THE LEONARD WOLINSKY FOUNDATION
2024
NEXTGEN AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM WINNER:
DIRECTOR: ADAM WEINGROD
JURY STATEMENT: “ Eyes have long been regarded as the windows to the soul, and this film adeptly peers into the very depths of its subject, Dan Layani. Through an artful combination of raw family videos and stark animations, it offers a profound insight into Dan’s world, allowing us to experience his journey through both darkness and light. Dan’s path of self-discovery, resilience, and perspective is inspiring, reminding us that even in our own darkness, there are lights that can pierce through even the deepest shadows. “
JJ Mokrzewski
Sharron Mirsky
Nabi K.
Yehuda Rabi
