Olivia Dean South Africa debut: Milk + Cookies Festival tickets spark affordability debate

The Cinema South Festival, celebrating its 25th edition, has thrived in Sderot for two and a half decades, according to Reuma Mantzur, the festival's director. The festival's location is unique due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas, bombings, and the tragedy of October 7, 2023, which claimed over 50 lives. Despite these challenges, the festival remains an essential part of the community surrounding Sapir Academic College's School of Audio and Visual Arts.

This school sponsors and runs the festival, offering filmmakers opportunities to develop their work and stay in the region. For students completing their graduation films, the festival provides pitching events and development incubators, where they can experiment and continue working on their projects. The festival's emphasis on the local creative community, particularly women filmmakers, is evident in initiatives like Through a Woman's Eyes, a development incubator for Bedouin women filmmakers.

As the festival focuses on its regional ties, it continues to attract high-profile guests, such as Swiss director Thomas Imbach, who will present two films and give a master class. Mantzur emphasizes that the festival's strength lies in its connection to the local creative community, and it aims to support these filmmakers in bringing their stories to the screen.