The Secret Ritual - Studio Darom Participants 2024
Synopsis
Haya, a 26-year-old Haredi Orthodox woman from a strict Jewish orthodox group, has spent her entire life suppressing her mystical abilities, choosing instead to devote herself to her mundane existence as a wife and a mother. However, when she discovers that her power can heal others, she is jolted out of her monotonous routine. For the first time in her life, Haya must hide, lie, defy her husband, and even neglect her young children. All, to fulfill her destiny of becoming a spiritual woman - a healer. Just like the great rabbis of the kabbalah.
Sofia Gutman | Director
Sofia Gutman is an Israeli filmmaker. Her film "Night Train" is diffused in cinemas via the KURZFILM catalogue. Her shorts were screened in A-list festivals: St Petersburg IFF Message to Man Film Festival, KURZFILM Hamburg, La Fête de Court Métrage, Solidarity Tel Aviv Film Festival and others. Her film "The Race" - a franco Israeli co-production with SUR LA TABLE & THE HIVE STUDIO participated in the Jerusalem Film Festival Pitch Point. Sofia’s feature film received the Rabinovich fund.
Her painterly animation-based approach has been the origin of the visually rich universes shown in her films.
Itamar Pirchi | Producer
Itamar Pirchi, a seasoned veteran of the New York Stock Exchange, transitioned to social justice advocacy, serving on the board of Koach La'Ovdim, Israel's only democratic trade union. In 2018, he joined UCM as a partner/producer.
His filmography includes: "Vanishing Solider" (director: Dani Rosenberg), "Arugam Bay" (director: Marco Carmel), "The Stronghold" (director: Lior Chefetz), "Victory" (director: Eliran Peled), "Plan A" (directors: Doron Paz and Yoav Paz), "Golden Voices" (director: Evgeny Roman).
Currently, Itamar is involved in several exciting projects, including "Double Panther" a feature about the Israeli black panthers and The Last Ballad, a TV series about the life of Ben Gurion.