The Abstract and the Very Real

Omer Shamir is an MFA graduate of the Steve Tisch School of Film and Television. During his time in high-school and participation in undergraduate programs, he lived in India, Mexico, and the U.S. and is currently residing in Paris. His first feature documentary The Abstract and the Very Real produced by Shlomi Elkabetz is currently in post-production. With director Udi Aloni (Junction 48), he is co-writing his upcoming feature film “Star of Redemption” in a David Silber production. In 2024 he will participate in Meditalents DocLab, to develop his next documentary project about the Gazan photojournalist Mohammed Zaanoun.

Galit Cahlon has a background in content acquisition for Channel 8 and producing documentaries. She joined Shlomi Elkabetz and together they produced shorts, documentaries, and features under the company Deux Beaux Garçons, which has presented films at Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Tribeca, BFI, and AFI and has been nominated for a Golden Globe.

Shlomi Elkabetz produced and directed some of Israel’s most successful films including Gett, Prendre Femme, Shiva, Testimony, Black Notebook, and In Between together with co-producer Galit Cahlon. Their company Deux Beaux Garçons presented films at Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Tribeca, BFI and AFI and received a Golden Globe nomination.

Libby Lenkinski is the Vice President for Public Engagement at the New Israel Fund, where she leads all aspects of NIF’s public efforts in the United States – including communications, digital, programs, events, leadership, community partnerships and engagement, New Generations and our fellowships. Prior to joining NIF, Libby lived and worked in the Israeli non-profit field for almost a decade. There she worked as Director of International Relations at the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and as a strategy consultant for human rights organizations like Yesh Din and Physicians for Human Rights, for documentary films including Budrus and The Law in These Parts, new media initiatives like +972 Magazine, and for progressive campaigns. She is a founding member of Zazim-Community Action and The Whistle. Currently, Libby is establishing a film foundation under the New Israel Fund, called Albi.