Log line
A VR short following a confusing encounter on the Israeli-Egyptian border. Based on true events.

Synopsis
Abraham, a young Israeli soldier, Jewish from Ethiopian origins, is guarding the borderline along with a fellow rookie. When Abraham is left alone for a few minutes, he faces an impossible dilemma.
Based on true events, Borderline tells a short VR story, allowing its audience to experience the hero’s uncertainty in the middle of the desert.

General information:
Production year: 2018 Duration: 9 minutes (work in progress)
Original Title: על הגבול “Al Ha’Gvul” Language: Hebrew/English
Subtitles: English Format: Linear 360, mono, spatial sound

Crew and funds:
* The project was funded at the Haifa International Film Festival by Gesher Film Fund, after winning the Best Pitch Award from a jury from the VR department of The Guardian (UK).
Production: AM FiLMS (Tel Aviv) (Producer – Assaf Machnes)
Writer-Director: Assaf Machnes
Cast: Indal Kabada, Alan Godyn, Tom koszynsky DOP: Eric Mizrahi
Special effects and edit: Guy Lubin Sound: Vitally Grinspun
Sound design: Rei Elbaz Costumes: Iftach Assael
Production manager: Dor Levi Stitch: Juliana Lasuncion

Screenings:
World premiere – Venice Film festival (Official VR competition at Biennale)
Official selection: Busan IFF, New Cinema Montreal, Trieste Shorts – RAI distribution award, Adelaide IFF, Sao Paulo IFF, Encounters ISFF, Haifa IFF, Amsterdam VR Days – Halo Award, Ji.hlava IDFF, Thessaloniki IFF and more.

Director’s biography:
Writer-director based in Tel Aviv. Born in 24/02/1987. Assaf’s shorts won numerous awards and have been screened in festivals such as Berlinale, Venice, Locarno, Sarajevo, BFI London, Palm Springs and more.
Assaf is now raising funds for his debut feature while developing a TV drama for HOT (Israel).

Director’s statement:
My film is more about a situation rather than a full scale story. Its immersive nature allows the audience to experience the hero’s fears and confusion, while telling a bigger story about human desire for borders and the contradictions these desires may naturally create.

Assaf Machnes – Filmography (as writer-director):

• Gimel (2018), docu-fiction web series shot for YNET
Festivals: Raindance IFF – Audience Award, Marseille web fest – Best Series, Dei Seriale, Valencia Cinema Jove – Best directing, Sicily web fest – Audience Awards, and more.
* 1st prize at Google’s “Made for Web” competition (for pilot episode)
* More than a million views in a month.
• LAYAM (2018), short fiction, 17 min, Israel
Festivals: Palm Springs Shortfest 2018, Aspen Shortfest 2018, Festival Regard 2018. * Nominated for the Israeli Academy Awards and sold for distribution in China and Canada.
• Seven Minutes (2016), 13 min, Israel
Festivals: Berlinale 2017 (Generation), Chicago IFF, Opening film – TLV ISFF, Hamburg ISFF, Fest – New Directors IFF and more. Won 5 awards and sold for distribution in Japan and China.
*nominated for the Israeli Academy Awards.
*Sold for HBO Europe and Pacific Voice
• Auschwitz on My Mind (2013), 17 min, Israel/UK/Poland
Festivals: more than 150 selections including Locarno IFF, BFI London IFF, Seattle IFF, Sarajevo IFF, Palm Springs ShortFest, Valencia Cinema Jove IFF, Jerusalem IFF and more.
TV Sales: ARTE, Mediaset Italy, SBS, SVT, South Pacific, Baobab.
*nominated for the Israeli Academy Awards.

Thomas Pesquet fulfils his childhood dream: he is about to take off for the International Space Station (ISS). Closely witness the Soyuz spacecraft’s take-off and arrival at the ISS. Thanks to the very first 360° virtual reality images shot in space, explore the station and admire outer space and Earth as seen from the Cupola, before undertaking a spacewalk in the interstellar void.