To Die In Jerusalem

FILMMAKERS BIOS

Hilla Medalia, A Peabody Award Winner Israeli Producer and Director. After joining the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) 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 worked in various positions including senior producer of the award-winning documentary 39 Pounds Of Love. The film won the 2005 Ofir Award (“Israeli Oscar”) and 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 her student documentary project Condition: John Foppe (program feature - public affairs category) and the 2004 Angelus Award for directing the student film, Daughters of Abraham. Her first feature documentary TO DIE IN JERUSALEM, screened around the world and has garnered many prestigious awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Emmy Award nominations. The film screened in multiple festivals around the world including the Jerusalem Film Festival, Edinburgh Film Festival, Fipa Biarritz, where it won a jury award. The film was broadcast in the United States as an HBO feature and has aired on television around the world including YES in Israel.

Medalia is now in the filnal editing stages of her new film, After the Storm which is a collaboration with Rosie O’Donnell and Priddy Brothers and is expected to be released early 2009.

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. The Priddys are executive producers of award-winning documentaries including Hilla Medalia's Peabody Award winning To Die in Jerusalem, Doug Block's critically acclaimed 51 Birch Street and Dani Menkin's Academy short listed 39 Pounds of Love.

Other films include Michael Hoffman's Out of the Blue and Craig Detweilers and John Marks' cult hit, Purple State of Mind. Upcoming projects include After the Storm with Director Hilla Medalia and Executive Producer Rosie O'Donnell, along with Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Heather Rae and her expose on the Foster Care system, Family: The First Circle.

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.