The 25^th edition of Docaviv, the Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival, is set to commence today 11 May and run until 20 May. The international line-up promises an impressive array of experiences, including exclusive world premieres, engaging Q&A sessions with esteemed local and international filmmakers, and a series of industry events held throughout Tel Aviv–Yafo. The festival kicks off with The Child Within Me, a heartfelt and humorous exploration of self-acceptance directed by Eti Aneta and Yaniv Amoday, which follows the journey of Israeli musician Yehuda Poliker.

The International Competition at Docaviv presents a compelling selection of 11 films sourced from various parts of the globe. Among these standout titles, Mstyslav Chernov's 20 Days In Mariupol [+lire aussi :
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interview : Mstyslav Chernov
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interview : Lea Glob
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interview : Nikolaus Geyrhalter
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interview : Roman Liubyi
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Notable international guests at this year's festival include leading documentary producer John Battsek, who will hold a masterclass and attend a special screening of the film Searching for Sugar Man [+lire aussi :
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In the Israeli Competition, 13 films will vie for the Best Israeli Documentary award. Among them are 1948 – Remember, Remember not [+lire aussi :
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fiche film]. by Neta Shoshani (Israel), A Movie at the Center by Kobi Farag and Morris Ben-Mayor (Israel/Thailand), Inbal Perlmutter - If you let me go by Sharon Luzon and Avigail Sperber (Israel), Lies I Told Myself by Efim Graboy (Israel), Silver's Uprising by Dan Shadur (Israel), and Tzipora and Rachel are not dead by Hadar Morag and Tahel Ran (Israel), all of which will have their world premieres at Docaviv.

In line with tradition, Docaviv partners with Yad Vashem for the second consecutive year to honour exceptional Holocaust-related documentaries through the Yad Vashem Award. This year, the deserving recipient of the $3,000 prize is Nathan-ism, a film directed, produced, and edited by Elan Golod. In addition, the Union of Journalists in Israel and the Rachel and Uri Avnery Foundation will present the Uri Avnery Award for Courageous Journalism. Now in its third edition, this esteemed annual award, valued at 15,000 ILS, recognises journalists whose ground-breaking contributions have significantly influenced public discourse. As part of this momentous event, attendees will also have the opportunity to watch the documentary While We Watched [+lire aussi :
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fiche film], directed by Vinay Shukla.

To commemorate Docaviv's 25^th anniversary, the festival will shine a spotlight on the pressing theme of climate and environment through a new program called Docu-Climate. This initiative will feature a carefully curated selection of international eco-documentaries that offer fresh and insightful perspectives on the challenges of climate change. To enhance the experience, a panel discussion will take place, moderated by climate and environmental specialist Li Yaron, a distinguished journalist from Haaretz. In addition, Docaviv will introduce its inaugural extended reality (XR) program, showcasing 40 augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences created by passionate Israeli and international artists. These artists aim to convey the narrative of our planet in the face of climate change, focusing on ecology, the environment, and the complex relationships between humans and nature. The exhibition will be located within the Cinematheque, providing visitors with a guided journey through 15 VR stations, offering immersive and thought-provoking content.