The past decade has seen a resurgence of creativity in Israeli cinema. One need only examine the nominees for best foreign film at the American Academy Awards over the past few years for a glimpse at the international success and critical-acclaim of the Israeli film industry of recent years.

Another separate and growing creative field in Israel is the realm of science fiction, fantasy and horror. This can be seen in the abundance of writing competitions, magazines and websites, events, book translations but most importantly – original Hebrew novel publications. Recent years have seen Israeli film-makers, mostly young professionals, join the literary community and invest time, resources and creative energies in their passion for genre cinema, doing so with ever growing success.

We are witness to a fascinating creative process, as the young community invested in (mostly indie) genre film-making in Israel is in continuous internal and external dialogue, formulating its artistic language and boundaries. The themes explored range from the personal to the universal. Some rely on Jewish history, folklore and myth; others express local Israeli as well as collective fears, hopes and dreams, highlighting the dilemmas of everyday life, via the extremes enabled in science fiction, fantasy and horror. This program presents a glimpse into this creative process.

Everyone Wants
(2010, 6 min.) Dir: Boaz Efrati

Winner, the IconTLV 2010 Israeli Short Film Competitive Section

In the year 2070, in order to win the last woman on Earth, you first have to audition with her secretary. Would "Messiah" be able to pull through?

Next
(2010, 8 min.) Dir: Amir Cohen

Winner, 1st prize, the "Three days of Action" film challenge at the IconTLV 2010 Festival A Surreal horror-thriller – the new and trendy "Talk roulette" can be dangerous pastime.

Conspiracy
(2011, 8 min) Dir: Nir Yaniv

A professor and his student argue over fact vs. fabrication in the students' study. The student finds an original way to correct his mistakes.

Secular Quarter #3
(2010, 3 min) Dir: David Gidali

Winner, 1st prize, the Jerusalem 2111 international science fiction and animation competition A divided Jerusalem with segregated communities becomes complete again, by the intervention of outsiders…

Reopening 
(2010, 3 min) Dir: Paz Edry and Rotem Lehman

Winner, 2nd prize, the Jerusalem 2111 international science fiction and animation competition Jerusalem, quarantined for a century, is reopened as an international museum 

Rebellion

(2010, 3 min) Dir: Dan Sachar, Joseph Cohen

Finalist, the Jerusalem 2111 international science fiction and animation competition In the far future, Jerusalem is at the epicenter of an Israeli civil war.

Ursalimum
(2010, 3 min) Dir: Ran Slavin

Finalist, the Jerusalem 2111 international science fiction and animation competition Hidden beneath the ancient city, an ancient secret is about to be revealed.

Joined Together
(2010, 3 min) Dir: Nir Philosof, Reut Bortz

Finalist, the Jerusalem 2111 international science fiction and animation competition A fundamentalist religious leader preaches to the masses from the newly built third temple of Jerusalem, capital of the state of Judea.

The Pitch
(2011, 6 min) Dir: Mysh Yael

An aspiring film director, ambushes Mr. Grossman – the all-powerful chairman of the Film Fund. She is set to convince him to support her dream project, and she knows there's only one way to do it…

Presented by Uri Aviv, General Director, Icon TLV – The Israeli International SF Festival