European Film Academy

Press Release #13/2009

The European Film Academy (EFA) and the Venice International Film Festival congratulate the

Venice Short Film Nominee for the European Film Awards 2009
SINNER
by Meni Philip
Israel, 28′, fiction

The film is now nominated for the European Film Academy Short Film 2009. It was selected by the festival’s Corto Cortissimo Jury consisting of filmmaker Stuart Gordon (USA), actress/film critic/festival director Sitora Alieva (Russia) and scholar Steve Ricci (USA). The jury elected SINNER “for its sensitive and courageous exploration of universal tragedy”.

The film tells the story of Yotam, a thirteen-year old boy studying at an ultra-orthodox Jewish boarding school, who tries to battle the awakening of his sexual desires. Confused and guilt-ridden, he consults with his rabbi, who abuses his position and Yotam’s innocence. With no one to trust and nowhere to go, Yotam finds himself trapped by the enforced silence in his community.

The short film initiative is organised by the European Film Academy in co-operation with a series of film festivals throughout Europe. At each of these festivals, an independent jury presents one of the European short films in competition with a nomination in the short film category of the European Film Awards.

The overall winner will be presented during the Awards Ceremony on 12 December in Germany’s Ruhr Metropolis.

Berlin, 11 September 2009