JMT Films Distribution

If you are planning a 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬' 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 7 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, we have a film that could come right out of today’s headlines:
𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐘 a film by Zohar Wagner / Israel
Cast: Dana Ivgy - דאנה איבגי, Ala Dakka
< Coproduced with ARTE/RBB, Germany
< Acquired by Netflix Israel and IZZY Stream

* 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 at the 𝐀𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥
* 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 and 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 at the 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

In a new hybrid documentary, filmmaker Zohar Wagner tells the story of Kochava Levy, the forgotten heroine of the deadly Savoy Hotel terror attack in Tel Aviv.
On a deadly March 1975 night, PLO gunmen enter the Savoy Hotel, seizing hostages and demanding release of Palestinian prisoners. Among the captives is Kochava Levy, a young woman of Yemini descent, whose fluency in Arabic allowed her to relay messages between IDF negotiators and the terrorists. Over the course of one night, she transformed herself into a fearless heroine. The film intertwines rare archival materials that were never released as well as re-enacted scenes from the night of the attack.
* 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓

𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬:
* « It perfectly combines professional and amateur archives, snippets of television news programs with staging, keeping the viewer tense from start to finish. » Krzysztof Gierat, Director of Krakow Film Festival
* « This is a very good film. A must see at SBIFF. » SAVOY Santa Barbara International Film Festival / Steve Kopian / Unseen Films
* « If you’re interested in women’s stories told honestly, then you should absolutely see Savoy. Zohar Wagner gives Kochava Levy the biopic she deserves. Please check the documentary out as soon as possible.» SAVOY / Lorry Kikta / Film Threat
* « It really is a female-empowering film, and it focuses more on the heroine of the story … and how she was basically treated as scum by the press after this event. » PJFM’s Lindy Springfest Brings Features, Shorts From Israel and Elsewhere to the Weitzman / Stephen Silver / Jewish Exponent
* « Fast-paced, stylish, and positively engrossing.» Lindy Springfest 2024 / The Weizman National Museum of American Jewish History
* « Wagner’s film may be a documentary-slash-dramatisation of a historical event, but its sentiment is still incredibly relevant today.» Savoy: UK Jewish Film Review / Claire Fulton / Loud And Clear Reviews

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬: Michael JM Treves - JMT Films

If you are planning a 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬' 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 7 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, we have a film that could come right out of today’s headlines:
𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍 a film by Omri Bezalel / USA
* 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦: 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐅 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 2024.

”Listen” is a coming-of-age film, a unique and daring portrayal of the moral ambiguity, love, and loss faced by soldiers in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The story follows a determined young officer in Israel’s elite military intelligence unit, whose daily task involves listening in on the family of a suspected terrorist. But her routine takes an abrupt turn when she is suddenly thrust into a race against the clock to find a captured Israeli soldier hidden in Gaza. When Israel is faced with a prisoner swap that includes the man who killed her dad, she will stop at nothing to keep her father’s killer from freedom.
* 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓

𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬:
* « The feature film “Listen,” a 96-minute thriller directed by Omri Bezalel could come right out of today’s headlines: “A brilliant officer in the 8200 intelligence unit of the IDF struggles to come to terms with the death of her beloved father in a terrorist attack. When Hamas takes an Israeli soldier hostage in Gaza and demands a prisoner swap that includes her dad’s killer, she is faced with a critical dilemma and comes up with a revenge-driven plot to settle the score.” » LIFF’s Darkhouse Films Often Follow Longtime Horror and Sci-Fi Templates / Rick Mellerup / The SandPaper
* « A thought provoking intense espionage thriller, that is as multilayered, morally ambivalent, and highly critical towards the military apparatus, as it is timely during these politically charged days in the wake of the Israel- Hamas war and the hostages crisis in Gaza. » Listen / Lighthouse International Film Festival
* « This sleek and intelligently crafted high-concept Israeli thriller presents a masterclass in wringing breathless tension. » Listen / Miami Jewish Film Festival

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬: Michael JM Treves - JMT Films
[email protected]

Three weeks ago....
LISTEN, a fiction film by Omri Bezalel, won the Audience Award for Best Film (''Darkhouse Films'') at Lighthouse International Film Festival (LIFF) New Jersey (5-9 June 2024)
!!!
« The feature film “Listen,” a 96-minute thriller directed by Omri Bezalel could come right out of today’s headlines: “A brilliant officer in the 8200 intelligence unit of the IDF struggles to come to terms with the death of her beloved father in a terrorist attack. When Hamas takes an Israeli soldier hostage in Gaza and demands a prisoner swap that includes her dad’s killer, she is faced with a critical dilemma and comes up with a revenge-driven plot to settle the score.” » LIFF’s Darkhouse Films Often Follow Longtime Horror and Sci-Fi Templates / Rick Mellerup / The SandPaper
https://www.thesandpaper.net/articles/liffs-darkhouse-films-often-follow-longtime-horror-and-sci-fi-templates/
* the film was shown with the presence of Omri Bezalel, Hezi Bezalel, Vince P. Maggio.

Pnina Blayer, you will be missed. R.I.P.

Pnina Blayer, director of Haifa International Film Festival, dies Blayer was an intellectual who was fascinated by art, music, and literature, as well as movies.

JMT Films Distribution is proud to represent "The Shepherd's Keeper" by Hadara Oren, an inspiring and award winning film.
Here are the justifications of the Jury that gave the prestigious award for the film at Docaviv דוקאביב:
"Activist documentary needs to work on many levels to be poignant, timely, important and revealing.... This documentary has great storytelling at its core. It forces viewers to think, challenge, and go ‘beyond the screen’. 'The Shepherd's Keeper' deserves to be recognized with an honorable mention."

Two Awards for "HIATUS" a short film by Joo Joostberens and Aia Asé, Prod.: AIA ASÉ PICTURES at Pueblo Film Fest:
1. Women In Film Award
2. People's Choice: Best Film Of The Fest !!

Congratulations to HIATUS, AIA ASÉ PICTURES Joo Joostberens Aia Asé

HIATUS by Joo Joostberens wins an award at the Pueblo Film Festival.
On April 27, during the awards gala at the festival in Pueblo, Colorado US, our film received the award: Woman in film.
Our friend Bill Mason accepted the award on our behalf.
_
producer: Aia Asé
dist.: JMT Films Distribution
_
Pueblo Film Fest

10 ½ years ago, Bialik street, Tel Aviv:
We had a meeting to discuss the representation by JMT Films Distribution of the amazing chef-d'oeuvre of Pablo Berger "Blancanieves", in Israel!
We did a great release in Israel, including Arava Film Festival and special screenings all over the country !!
Now Berger has a new chef-d'oeuvre "Robot Dreams". What a talented filmmaker!

https://variety.com/2024/awards/awards/zone-of-interest-holocaust-films-at-oscar-1235913910/

‘Zone of Interest’ Follows History of Holocaust Films at the Oscars Jonathan Glazer’s 'The Zone of Interest' is the latest in a long line of Oscar-nominated movies about the Holocaust or its aftermath.

THE SOLDIER’S OPINION
A film by Assaf Banitt and Shay Hazkani
Is winner of the John E. O'Connor Film Award 2024!
The award was awarded to Assaf Banitt at the 137th annual meeting of the American Historical Association (AHA) a week ago. The award recognizes outstanding interpretations of history through the medium of film or video.

Justifications for the award:
''The film is a cultural and psychological history of the inner lives of Israeli soldiers and the censors ordered to document their morale in letters home across five decades of war... The film offers insights into Israeli society, Zionism, war, military cultures...''

Director: Assaf Banitt
Script and Research: Assaf Banitt, Shay Hazkani
Category: History / Sociopolitical / Army / Human Rights / Privacy
Production: Shahar Ben Hur, Assaf Banitt
Produced for Channel 8 – Hot Cable Communication
Israel 2022 Supported by The Other Israel Film Fund, USA Other Israel and The New Fund for Cinema and Television (NFCT), Israel
Dorit Inbar



Michael JM Treves
JMT Films Distribution

The-death-of-dvd-has-been-greatly-exaggerated

(see 1st comment)

Two weeks ago, we had the privilege to participate in a panel, organized by Docaviv דוקאביב and to talk in front of a selection of students from film schools. Great initiative!

Great news for the end of 2023:
29 December 2023:
"The oldest cinema in Jerusalem was saved from closing at the last minute:
A group of residents in the German colony managed to save "Lev Smadar" after raising funds and signing a binding agreement with the owner of the property and the owners of the cinema chain. They will help finance the costs on an ongoing basis.
קולנוע לב - Lev Cinema

בית הקולנוע הותיק ביותר בירושלים ניצל מסגירה ברגע האחרון קבוצת תושבים במושבה הגרמנית הצליחה להציל את ״לב סמדר״ לאחר גייסה כספים ותחתום על הסכם מחייב מול בעל הנכס ובעלי רשת בתי הקולנוע. הם יעזרו במימון העלויות באופן שוטף

Two months ago... in Greece:
Awards of the 11th Aegean Docs (17– 22 October, 2023):
BEST FOREIGN FILM AWARD:
The Best Foreign Film Award goes to “SAVOY” by Zohar Wagner for its complete narration of the incidents that took place in a Tel Aviv hotel during the release operation of hostages held by the PLO Fedayeen, which ended in a bloodshed with a number of victims and for the artistically honest depiction of the main characters and their contradictions. This award is a wish for filmmakers in Israel and Palestine to continue working for the promotion of peace and human dignity.

#2023
Thank you Kostas Spiropoulos, Chara Lampidou, Aegeandocs
#1975
Dana Ivgy - דאנה איבגי



Michael JM Treves
JMT Films Distribution

"Goodbye My Wonderful World" was acquired by Canal+ Poland and had its TV premiere on 1.11.2023. The film is among the most watched documentaries on their TV VOD platform, third week in a row!
Dir. Joo Joostberens
Prod. AIA ASÉ PICTURES Aia Asé
World Sales JMT Films Distribution - Michael JM Treves

R.I.P. Vivian Silver

BringThemHome !

Israeli Film and TV Industry Urges International Community to Rally ‘In the Name of Humanity’ and Help Free Hostages From Hamas (EXCLUSIVE) The Israeli film and TV industry has penned a letter to rally international support as over 200 civilians are still being held hostage.

A TALE OF FOR MINORITIES
Two Awards at the international premiere of a documentary film by David Deri,
At the 8th edition of The International Documentary Film Festival of Castellorizo "Beyond Borders" !
(1)
The Special Mediterranean Friendship Award goes to the documentary "A tale of four minorities" by David Deri, for the bold and insightful look with which it documents cultural particularities and differences of Israeli society, which echo the wider Mediterranean reality, in order to express the urgent need for mutual acceptance and coexistence.

(2)
The Best Political Documentary Award goes to "A Tale of Four Minorities", Directed by David Deri

Jury's Justifications:
Four families offer us their diverse insights into the ongoing frictions of their world, with what is right and what is wrong within Israeli society. Filmed during the COVID pandemic, the lives of Muslim, Jewish, Ultra-Orthodox, Jewish Religious Settlers and Jewish Secular Gay families are exposed in magnified detail, the Rashomon-effect creating deep multi-perspectival insights.

The film not only shows us the difficulties of one of the world's chronical hot-spots of political conflict and disillusion, it is a great paraphrase of humankind in general. The personal involvement of the filmmaker also gives the film an authentic and honest twist and offers some endearing and funny moments in a world that is so full of misunderstanding as if it all could be so much better if we could sometimes laugh.

The Special Mediterranean Friendship Award goes to the documentary "A tale of four minorities" by David Deri, for the bold and insightful look with which it documents cultural particularities and differences of Israeli society, which echo the wider Mediterranean reality, in order to express the urgent need for mutual acceptance and coexistence.

דוד דרעי
Maagalot Productions


Michael JM Treves
JMT Films Distribution

We look forward!

B2B Industry Days, Gdynia, Poland 2023 - Business Doc Europe The event comprises three industry pitch events as well as masterclasses on being a film ‘fixer’ in Ukraine, and maintaining personal security in a warzone.

This year’s submissions will be evaluated by a distinguished group of international experts from the media industry.

The documentary jury will be composed of:
Agnieszka Barańska-Cieślak, – creative producer and director with a wide range of experience in TV (Poland), Karol Piekarczyk, Art Director of Millenium Docs Against Gravity Festival (Poland), Markéta Štinglová, Head of Co-Productions at Czech TV (Czech Republic), Michael Treves, founder of JMT Films, specialising in distribution, sales and fundraising (Israel).

The Forum will be held on September 25-28, 2023 in Warsaw as part of the 3rd International TV Festival Heart of Europe.

JMT Films is honored to participate in the event and to join as Jury with distinguished colleagues 🙏🏻😎



Michael JM Treves
JMT Films Distribution

DEFECTORS by Hyun kyung Kim (USA/South Korea) / documentary / 2023
Combining a humorous and affectionate family portrait, a historical film and a search for identity, Defectors confronts the impact of the Korean War on different generations.
Special Jury Award: Visions du Réel 2023:
“Love, loss, guilt and mystery, merge and shift this family portrait into a complex reflection on migration and identity, explored through the prism of history and political issues."

#2023 Visions du Réel


Michael JM Treves

A week ago. JFF 2023 Opening ceremony. Three Achievement Awards Hellen Miren, Oliver Stone and the Dardenne brothers... Opening film was "Golda" by Guy Nativ

June 2023: Two premieres for "Savoy" by Zohar Wagner:
3.6 Krakow Film Festival (great sound and great picture at "MOS2"!) POLISH premiere !
20.6 Pitigliani Kolno'a Festival - Ebraismo e Israele nel Cinema Roma ITALIAN premiere !

Two weeks ago we had the honor and the joy to attend the European premiere of "Goodbye My Wonderful World", dir. Joo Joostberens, prod. Aia Asé: AIA ASÉ PICTURES at the 63rd edition of Krakow Film Festival, International Doc Music Film competition. Amazing screenings and outstanding Q&A.
« The film is the story of an unusual music and anthropology project which explores the meaning of death and mourning. Known musicians embark on a journey through the Polish countryside in search of traditional funeral songs. The result delivers not only a fantastic album, but also breaks down taboos in popular music themes in an accessible and respectful way. The film’s protagonists save Polish folk songs from oblivion while tackling an extremely important and difficult subject. » Krzysztof Gierat Artistic director of the Krakow Film Festival. Thank you to you and to your amazing team!!

Two weeks ago, industry events of Krakow Film Festival !
Pitching forum, 1:1 meetings. We had the opportunity to present JMT Films Distribution in a panel "Meet the Sales Agents" and to have meetings with promising documentary projects. Thanks for having me.
DOC LAB POLAND KFF Industry
Krakow Film Foundation
Michael JM Treves

Attention filmmakers worldwide! 🎥🐈‍⬛🎬
Entries are now open for the second season of KATZE Film Festival!
Early bird pricing ends on July 1, 2023

Visit our FilmFreeway page:
https://filmfreeway.com/KATZE

« I am glad that once again, among musical documentaries from all over the world, we will be able to show an exceptionally interesting Polish production:
Goodbye My Wonderful World (dir. Joo Joostberens, prod. Aia Asé AIA ASÉ PICTURES ) is the story of an unusual music and anthropology project which explores the meaning of death and mourning. Known musicians embark on a journey through the Polish countryside in search of traditional funeral songs. The result delivers not only a fantastic album, but also breaks down taboos in popular music themes in an accessible and respectful way. The film’s protagonists save Polish folk songs from oblivion while tackling an extremely important and difficult subject. » Krzysztof Gierat / Krakow Film Festival