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AMIR HAR-GIL

Film Director

"The cinema’s function is not to entertain, but to make the spectator think about his own life."

(Cesare Zavattini)

Amir Har-Gil_edited.jpg

​Amir Har-Gil is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, whose films largely focus on social issues in Israel and have won numerous awards both in Israel and internationally. In many of his films, Har-Gil conveys complex messages in a clear and accessible manner, using a directorial style that fits the film's subject matter. His work often addresses personal stories that reflect broader, more universal themes.

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His film "Line Up" was screened in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), sparking a discussion, and later shown at the Supreme Court, in both it contributed to policy changes. His films "Good Morning Israel" and "Life According to Eve" have been included in the official curriculum of the Israeli Ministry of Education, while his film "Entangled" has become part of a European educational program on peace.

Har-Gil is a board member of the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films and Television and has served on the boards of the Documentary Filmmakers Forum and the Israeli Directors Guild, where he now serves on the audit committee. Prof. Har-Gil is also a distinguished lecturer at the University of Haifa and the Netanya Academic College.

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Why do I direct documentary films?

I believe that documentaries contribute to making the world a better place. As a director, I see my role as akin to holding a powerful, narrow beam of light - a spotlight that reveals hidden, shadowy corners. Through my films, viewers may discover something they were unaware of, something that calls for change or improvement. I strive to make my films emotionally impactful, as true understanding doesn’t come solely from the mind but also from the gut and the heart. My films resonate with audiences long after the viewing, sparking conversations with friends and inner dialogue. 

 

As Banksy once said, “Film is incredibly democratic and accessible, it's probably the best option if you actually want to change the world, not just re-decorate it.”

This is why I chose documentary filmmaking as my craft. My films deal with human and social issues, starting close to home, in Israeli society where I was born. However, these topics often resonate with people around the world. I believe Israel, as a young country with a culture still evolving, has much to improve, refine, and transform.

AWARDS AND FILMS

  1. ​

2023, Best Documentary, Paradise Film Festival Hungary, Poetry Zaban.

2023, Honorable Mention, Germany International Film Festival, Poetry Zaban.

2023, Best Documentary, Short Way International Short Film Festival, Brazil, "Moshe Sneh – The Man Who Never Gave Up".

2023, Winner True to Life Film series, Film Village, Maryland, USA, "Moshe Sneh – The Man Who Never Gave Up".

2022, Finalist, Boden International Film festival Sweden, Poetry Zaban.

2022, 2ed Place Winner, Newsfest International Film Festival and Awards, Santa Monica, LA, USA, Poetry Zaban.

2022, Outstanding Achievement Award, London Movie Awards, Poetry Zaban. 

2022, Outstanding Achievement Award, World Film Carnival, Singapore, Poetry Zaban.

2022, Outstanding Achievement Award, Lacorne International Film Festival, Paris, France, Poetry Zaban.

2022, Honorable Mention, London International Film Festival, Poetry Zaban. 

2022, Outstanding Achievement Award, BBIFF, Beyond Border International Film Festival, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Poetry Zaban, 

2022, Finalist, International Activism Film Festival, Colorado, USA, Poetry Zaban. 

2022, Honorable Mention, New York Movie Awards, NY, USA, Poetry Zaban.

2022, Award Winner, Shoham Film Festival (in honor of Jacob Rajpurker) Israel, Poetry Zaban.

2022, Award Winner, Gold Star Movie Award, Newark, New Jersey, USA, Poetry Zaban.

2022, Award Winner, 8 & Halfilm awards, Rome, Italy, Poetry Zaban.

2022, Best Social Feature, Goldstar film festival, New Jersey, USA, Poetry Zaban.

2020, Best Short Documentary, I will Tell International Film Festival, London, "Moshe Sneh – The Man Who Never Gave Up". 

2020, Award of Excellence for Emerging short documentary, International Screen Awards, International Film Festival, Jakarta, "Moshe Sneh – The Man Who Never Gave Up".

2018, Top 10 documentary Film Award – best documentaries in Asia & Pacific, Color Tape International Film Festival, Richlands, Queensland, Australia, "Jerusalem in Line".

2018, Silver Award Winner, Spotlight Film Awards, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, "Uri in the Sky". 

2018, 2nd award, MWIFF International Film Festival, Mumbai, India, "Uri in the Sky". 

2018, Outstanding Achievement Award, Kolkata International Cult Film Festival, India., "Uri in the Sky".

2018, Finalist, Nominated for Best Documentary Feature, SR Socially Relevant (TM) Film Festival New York, Manhattan, N.Y.C, "Jerusalem in Line".

2017, Best Documentary Feature, Outer Docs Film Festival, Ithaca, New York, USA., "Uri in the Sky".

2017, Award winner, The Impact DOCS Awards, La Jolla, CA, USA., "Jerusalem in Line". 

2017, Platinum award, Nevada International Film Festival, Las Vegas, USA, "Uri in the Sky".

2017, Finalist, Social World Film Festival, Naples Italy, "Jerusalem in Line".

2017, Opening Film, PKAK film festival, Israel, "Jerusalem in Line".

2017, Special Mention, Rome Cinéma Doc Festival, Italy., "Uri in the Sky".

2016, Platinum award, The Filmmakers World festival, Jakarta, Indonesia, "Jerusalem in Line".

2016, Golden Award for Directing, The World Human Rights Awards Film Festival, Jakarta, Indonesia., "Jerusalem in Line".

2016, Bronze Palm Winner Award, Mexico International Film Festiva, "Uri in The Sky".

2016, Golden Award Winner for Directing, The World Documentary Awards, Jakarta, Indonesia, "Uri in The Sky".

2016, Finalist, Swedish International Film Festival, "Jerusalem in Line".

2016, Golden Award for Feature Documentary, The World Documentary Awards, Jakarta, Indonesia, "Uri in The Sky".

2015, Nominated for best director and editing., The Southampton International film festival, Southampton, UK.

2015, Best Documentary winner, UK Film Festival, London, UK, "Jerusalem in Line".

2015, Special Mention, I Film Maker International Film Festival, Marbella, Spain, "Jerusalem in Line".

2012, Opening film, Munich Jewish Film Festival, Germany, "The Art of Living".

2012, Part of the curriculum of media in the context of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, In the framework of Pet-Med (Peace Education through Media), Center for War/Peace Studies, sponsored by the European Union Center and the Veneto Region Government, Italy, "Entangled".

2006, Audience Choice Award, Real to Reel Festival, North Carolina, USA, "The Art of Living".

2006, Part of the curriculum in High-School Media Studies, Represents poverty, Ministry of Education, Israel, "Life According to Eve".

2005, Retrospective screening 6 of Har-Gil's films in sequence, Public Television, Channel 8 HOT, Israel, "Good Morning Israel", "Good Morning Israel – 10 years later", "The Art of Living", "Line Up", "Life According to Eve", "Dad, Mom, Kids and Scooter".

2004, Nominated for Best Documentary, Ophir Award (Israeli Film Academy), "The Art of Living".

2004, Screened at the Israeli Parliament of Israel, In seminar about Ministry of Interior services in East Jerusalem. Chair: MP's Rabi Michael Melchior and MP's Issam Makhoul. Discussants: MP Yuri Stern, Chair of Interior Committee, Gideon Bar-Lev, CEO Ministry of Interior, Shalom Goldstein, Mayor's Consultant for East Jerusalem Affairs, Gabi Shochat, Manager of Government Housing Properties, Ministry of Treasury, and others, "Line Up".

2004, Focus on Amir Har-Gil, Retrospective on 6 films, Sderot Cinematheque, Israel, "The Art of Living", "Life According to Eve", "Line Up", "Dad, Mom, Kids and Scooter", "Good Morning Israel - 10 Years After", "Receipt for Happiness".

2002, A Program on the Radio, BBC, and Dublin D radio, "Line Up".

2001, Screened at the High Court of Justice of Israel and at the Attorney General's Office, in a lawsuit of the Association of Civil Rights against the Ministry of Interior, as evidence of what is happening in East Jerusalem, "Line Up".

2000, First prize, DocuNoga Film Festival, Tel Aviv Museum, Israel, "Line Up".

1997, Screened before all enlisted and reserve duty soldiers before service in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, explaining new rules following Oslo Agreements, IDF, 'Rainbow of Colors Part 1".

1995, Represented Israel, The International Museum Film Festival, Barcelona, "History of Hadera episodes".

1989, Screened at IDF to all drivers and at driving courses, "On Wheels" program on Channel 11, Reportage on Erez Ziv.

1988, Opening Film, International Students Films Festival, Tel-Aviv University, "Good Morning Israel".

1987, Cited as excellent video, Haifa Film Festival, Israel, "Muvtal Blues" – (Unemployed) a clip to Ariel Silber's song.

1987, First prize, Community Video Competition, Israel, "To Dream Here".

1987, Part of the curriculum by the: Democracy Department of the Ministry of Education; IDF Education Corps; Jewish Agency; Israel Boy & Girl Scouts Federation; Bnei Akiva; Hashomer Hatzair; Community Centers' Association and national culture programs (Sal Tarbut Artzi), Israel.

1986, First prize for short Israeli film, Jerusalem Film Festival, Israel, "Good Morning Israel".

1986, Cited as excellent, The Israel Film Institute, "Good Morning Israel".

1986, Excellent director prize, for Short Films, United Studios, Israel, "Good Morning Israel".

1986, Screened on MTV channel, Toronto, Canada, "Good Morning Israel".

1986, Delta Film prize for excellent graduate, Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts, Israel, "Good Morning Israel", "Land of Milk and Honey".

1986, Zinko Studio fellowship for excellent graduate, Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts, Israel, "Good Morning Israel", "Land of Milk and Honey".

1986, Opening Film, The International Students' Films Festival, Tel-Aviv University, "Land of Milk and Honey".

1985, Cited as the Best short movie in "Short Night Festival", Tel Aviv Museum, Israel, "Land of Milk and Honey".

1985, Opening Film, Jerusalem Film Festival, Israel, "Land of Milk and Honey".

  1. Turn Around (in process), 2025.

  2. On her Own , (in process) 2025

  3. Seeds of Peace, 2024.

  4. Imagin No Possessions, 2024.

  5. Poetry Zaban, 2020.

  6. Moshe Sneh – The Man Who Never Gave Up, 2019. 

  7. Uri in the Sky, 2015.

  8. Jerusalem in Line, 2015.

  9. The story of the settlement of Kibbutz Yakum, 2012.

  10. Visit the Studio, 2012.

  11.  Entangled, 2011.

  12. Viliger, 2009.

  13. The Association of Israelis of Central European Origin, 2009.

  14. Good Morning Israel – 20 years later, 2007.

  15. Bereavement Alliance, 2004.

  16. The Art of Living, 2003.

  17. Shavuot at the Foot of Mount Gilboa, 2003.

  18. Dad, Mom, Kids and Scooter, 2002.

  19. The Kibbutz of Hassan and Kamel, 2002.

  20. Life According to Eve, 2001.

  21. Line Up, 2000.

  22. Rainbow of Colors Part 2, 2000.

  23. Bar is Ten, 2000.

  24. Partners, 1999.

  25. Erased, Script, 1998.

  26. Action Research, 1998.

  27. Wisdom of the Heart, 1998.

  28. Solar Dynamics, 1997.

  29. Vista, 1997.

  30. Rainbow of colors, 1997.

  31. Good Morning Israel – 10 years later, 1996.

  32. The Diving Experience, 1996.

  33. The Cinematic Magic, 1996.

  34. The Belly is like the Sea, 1995.

  35. A Good Number, 1995.

  36. Exodus to Egypt, documentary, 1993.

  37. Jacob's Dream, 1993.

  38. Together and Apart, 1992.

  39. Citation to the Paramedic, 1992.

  40. Muvtal (unemployed) Blues, 1992.

  41. Induction March, 1992.

  42. Heart to Heart, 1992.

  43. 90 Years to JNF, 1992.

  44. White Gold, 1991.  

  45. History of Hadera, 1991.

  46. Plastiv, 1991.

  47. Contribution –Remuneration, 1991.

  48. The Armored Corps made History, 1990.

  49. Receipt for Happiness, 1988.

  50. Red Line, 1987.

  51. Matan Torah, Script, 1987.

  52. Good Morning Israel, 1986.

  53. Land of Milk and Honey, 1985.

@ 2024 by Amir Har-Gil.

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