Udi Nir & Sagi Bornstein | 2024 JFI Filmmakers in Residence
The Jewish Film Institute is proud to feature 2024 Filmmakers in Residence Udi Nir & Sagi Bornstein and their project The First Lady as our JFI Resident Spotlight for this month. Read on for an exclusive JFI interview with Nir and Bornstein about the story behind the project!
About the Film: Israeli transgender pioneer Efrat Tilma had to flee the country as a teenager in 1967. Now in her seventies and a celebrated activist, Efrat must fight for her rights once again, while the country spirals into unprecedented political and social regression.
Jewish Film Institute: What inspired you to make this film?
Udi Nir & Sagi Bornstein: Efrat Tilma started her gender transition in the 1960’s as a 14-year-old, at a time when simply walking the streets of Tel-Aviv in a dress was enough for a transgender teenager to be persecuted by the police. We were instantly inspired by her courage to change herself and change the world around her in the face of countless adversaries and institutionalized discrimination, while maintaining a healthy sense of humour and a contagious joy for life and new experiences. As an extremist and outspoken transphobic government took power in Israel in 2022 while we were shooting the film, sparking the largest protest movement the country has ever known, Efrat’s defiance and resilience are now more relevant than ever.
JFI: Where are you now in the filmmaking process?
UN & SB: “The First Lady” is an Israeli-German co-production that we’ve been working on for almost four years now. We are in the post-production phase of the film, with editing well underway. We are crafting the narrative to ensure Efrat’s story is portrayed with the depth, authenticity, and glamour it deserves. We hope to hold a work-in-progress session during the upcoming San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, with the aim of meeting potential partners for the film in the US that could help us complete the film by early 2025.
JFI: How is the JFI Filmmaker Residency helping you develop your project?
UN & SB: The workshops and mentoring sessions have helped us refine our assets and core materials and get a better understanding of the North American documentary film industry. More than anything, having the opportunity to take a moment to stop the rush of work, reflect, share thoughts, get feedback on our work, and learn from the cohort of filmmakers has been incredibly valuable.
JFI: How does this story add to our collective understanding of Jewish life, culture, history or identity?
UN & SB: Efrat’s story offers a unique perspective on the intersections of Jewish identity and gender. As one of the first transgender women in Israel, she paved the way for many of us, yet for many years her story was left untold and underappreciated. By sharing her journey, we hope to contribute to a deeper understanding of the diverse narratives within the Jewish community, the pivotal role transgender women played in securing rights for LGBTQ+ people, and the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance.
JFI: If you could screen your film as a double feature with any film, what movie would you choose and why?
UN & SB: We would choose The War of Raya Sinitsina — a beautifully shot and heartwarming 2020 documentary by Efim Graboy that follows one of the last red army WWII veterans living in Israel, and unfolds as a colourful, compassionate, and unexpected love story between a young filmmaker and a rigid, yet heartwarming and wise lady. The intimacy, candidness and vibrant aesthetics of this film stunned us and felt like a well-orchestrated yet deeply authentic experience. It brought a seemingly distant story very close to our hearts and we hope to do the same for viewers of “The First Lady”.
About the Filmmakers:
Sagi Bornstein has 15 years of experience as a director, producer and editor of documentaries, reality and news. His work includes Golda (2019, DocAviv, DOC NYC, Arte, HOT8), #uploading_holocaust (2016, DOK Leipzig, BR, RBB, ORF, Keshet) and Kafka’s Last Story (2011, Arte, SWR, SVT, Channel 2, DOK Leipzig, awards in several European and American film festivals). He studied photography at Camera Obscure film school and worked for leading Israeli broadcasters before starting his own production company.
Udi Nir is a writer, director and producer. His first feature documentary was #uploading_holocaust (2016, DOK Leipzig, BR, RBB, ORF, Keshet), followed by GOLDA (2019, DocAviv, DOC NYC, Arte, HOT). He studied at the school of playwriting in Tel-Aviv, created and directed theater shows and worked as a producer at Clipa Theater. Before turning to arts, Udi worked for Amnesty International and other human rights NGOs.
About the JFI Filmmakers in Residence Program: The JFI Filmmakers in Residence Program is a year-long artist residency that provides creative, marketing, and production support for emerging and established filmmakers whose documentary projects explore and expand thoughtful consideration of Jewish history, life, culture, and identity.
