Jerusalem in 2111 film competition winner announced

Winning video, 'Secular Quarter #3', directed by Israeli film student David Gidali depicts futuristic J'lem divided by steel walls and covered by dome.

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
Jerusalem 2111 movie 311 (photo credit: Courtesy David Gidali and Itay Gross)
Jerusalem 2111 movie 311
(photo credit: Courtesy David Gidali and Itay Gross)
The winner of the “Jerusalem in 2111” competition, that sought to reveal the best science fiction film depicting the city in 100 years, was announced over the weekend.
The winning film, Secular Quarter #3, directed by David Gidali along with cameraman Itay Gross, two Israeli students studying at the prestigious AFI Film school in Lost Angeles, was chosen among dozens of videos entries from all over the world.
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The clip was viewed two weeks ago, along with nine other finalists, by a panel of senior international judges.
The panel consisted of top film industry executives in science fiction and animation from Germany, France, Venezuela, Britain, the US and other countries. The winning film was the preferred pick of Avatar and Titanic producer, Jon Landau, and renowned director Wim Wenders.
Gidali and Gross were jointly awarded a $10,000 grand prize. Perhaps more important is the international exposure to leading film executives the pair received.
In addition,the Jerusalem Development Authority is looking into the possibility of turning the video into a full-length featured movie.
Friday’s awards ceremony held in the capital’s Cinematheque was attended by Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Naomi Tsur, Lia van Leer, the Cinematheque’s founder, Yigal Molad Hayo, its director, Yoram Honig, manager of the Jerusalem Film and Television Fund, architect Daniel Varnik who initiated and produced the competition, as well as many senior film industry executives.
Secular Quarter #3 presents a bleak vision of Jerusalem in 2111, as a city where different populations are separated on the ground by steel walls, and above by steel domes protecting the citizens from missile attacks. At night, spacecraft hover over the city and break down the walls, an event that leads to what appears to be a historic meeting between secular and ultra-Orthodox youth. The film ultimately sends the message that the more people continue to build walls, the less they will understand the other side.