The First Lady

Efrat Tilma eventually takes the plunge. Set against the gritty and vibrant backdrop of 1960s Tel Aviv, her life unfolds to the soaring arias of the world’s greatest operas. The camera follows her remarkable journey—a story of love triumphing over ignorance—as one of Israel’s first openly transgender women. At 14, Efrat realized she was meant to be a woman. Rejected by her family and brutalized by police while wandering the streets, she found refuge in the hidden world behind the curtains of Tel Aviv’s Sabra Club. There, among female impersonators and glittering illusions, she discovered a space where she could finally be herself. Her journey continued through Brussels, Berlin, and Paris, where she found guidance, love, and admiration on stage, lip-syncing to icons like Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Bassey. When Efrat returned to Israel in 2005, she embraced a new role. As transgender rights came under threat, she transformed once more—this time into an activist. Marching with her community, raising her voice at rallies, she declared with fierce conviction: “We will not be silent.” —Janis Plotkin

2024 Filmmakers in Residence

International Premiere

Udi Nir and Sagi Bornstein are award-winning filmmakers whose work has screened at festivals worldwide. Their films blend personal storytelling with political and historical insight, earning honors such as the IDA Award for Best Short Series, the Editing Award at DocAviv, and the Japan Prize for their 2021 film Viral Dreams. Their 2019 documentary Golda was nominated for Best Documentary at the Israeli Academy Awards. Notable works include We Must Talk Now (2024, Arte/NDR), Our Natural Right (2020, Keshet 12), #uploading_holocaust (2017, DokLeipzig, BR), and Kafka’s Last Story (2011, Arte).