To Die In Jerusalem

FILMMAKERS BIOS

Hilla Medalia, Director/Producer –– Israel native, she is an award-winning first time filmmaker who served in the Israeli Defense Forces. After military service, she began her academic career in the United States where she earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University (2001 and 2004). She then moved to New York, serving in various positions including senior producer of the award-winning documentary 39 Pounds Of Love. The film won the 2005 Ofir Award (“Israeli Oscar”) for best documentary and was screened at numerous festivals including the 2005 Full Frame Film Festival, and IDA DocuWeek™. 39 Pounds Of Love was released in U.S. (Landmark) theatres in late 2005 and made it onto the Academy Award short list for best documentary film.

Medalia received a 2005 Regional Emmy Award for the student documentary project Condition: John Foppe (program feature - public affairs category) and the 2004 Angelus Award for directing the student film, Daughters of Abraham. TO DIE IN JERUSALEM is her first feature documentary, the film screened in festivals around the world and won the 2007 Peabody Award, 2008 Fipa Special Jury Award, and a Jury Award at the 2008 Human Rights Film Festival in Paris.

Medalia is now in the post production of her next film After the Storm.

Keren Rattenbach, Co-producer –– was born in 1976 in Tel Aviv, Israel. After graduating from high school she joined the IDF Intelligence Corps. Following her military service, Rattenbach began her academic studies at Tel Aviv Management School. In 1999 she completed a bachelor’s degree in communications and management, and began working for a new interactive cellular radio station.

In 2001, Rattenbach became a marketing manager at Partner Communication – Orange, the leading telecommunications company in Israel. In 2003, she moved to New York, earning a master’s degree in film and communications from the New School University. She returned to Israel and worked as head producer during the launching of Israel’s Entertainment Channel. Currently Rottenbach is a content manager at the Israeli Children’s Channel.

Ran Shetreet, Director of Photography (Israel) –– was born in 1976 in Jerusalem. After completing his military service, Shetreet began his academic studies at Hadassah College in the film and television program. Simultaneously, he began a career as a cinematographer. He has worked for Telad, one of Israel’s leading television stations, on a variety of series, talk and reality shows, and documentaries. He has shot and directed a short documentary and several music videos.

Ramez Kazmouz, Director of Photography (Palestine) –– was born in 1973 in Nazareth, Israel. He is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in film and television at Tel-Hai College in northern Israel. In 1993, he joined AlAraz Studios in Nazareth as a videographer, and now serves as head of the company’s photography and production department. Kazmuz has wide experience as a photographer, director and a producer.

He has filmed features and documentaries, news, election campaigns and commercials for local and international broadcasters including the feature documentary Jenin Jenin (by Muhamad Bakri), Prime Time War (for ARTE), Sesame Street and Democracy on Deadline (for PBS), and other projects for television stations such as Al Jazeera and Abu Dabi. Currently Kazmuz is working on a new documentary about the status of Arab women in Israel.

Issar Shulman , Composer –– A former double bass at the new opera orchestra of Israel. He has written music for TV shows, dance, theater, movies and documentary films. Isaar lives and works in Tel Aviv.

Priddy Brothers -- John and Ed Priddy, co-founders of Priddy Brothers develop, produce and distribute independent films that explore with respect, grace and artistry the depth and breadth of the human experience. The company champions high-quality film projects created by self-energized, entrepreneurial filmmakers passionate about their art and its message.

Staunch supporters of young filmmakers, the Priddys were instrumental in launching the Windrider Forum, which takes place each year during the Sundance Film Festival. The Forum includes lively,creative workshops and discussions, which allow both cutting-edge graduate and undergraduate film students to interact with the year's top film projects. John and Ed are long-time sponsors of the Angelus Student Film Awards and creators of the Triumph Award. The Priddys are executive producers of award-winning documentaries: 39 Pounds of Love and Doug Block's thought provoking film 51 Birch Street. Upcoming projects include Craig Detweiler's and John Marks' new film Purple State of Mind, Michael Hoffman's Out of the Blue and Hilla Medalia's After the Storm.