The Tribeca Film Festival (TriBeCa Film Festival) was created in 2002 by film producer Jane Rosenthal and actor Robert De Niro in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the consequent loss of vitality suffered by the New York neighborhood of Tribeca.
At this year's Tribeca, Israeli filmmaker Tom Nesher won first prize in the category Viewpoints, which seeks to reward new innovative voices in independent cinema. The Israeli filmmaker received recognition for her first feature film called Come closer - in English.
Tom is the daughter of filmmaker Avi Nasher, and the film precisely has to do with her family's story: Tom's brother, Ari, died in an accident in 2018.
“I really felt, in dealing with my own pain, that I needed this lifeline, I needed a way to keep my brother alive, and that's also what drives my main character,” said the director.
The film is set in Israel, and tells the story of Eden, a young woman who cares deeply for her younger brother, who dies in a car accident. After the death of her brother, Eden discovers her secret girlfriend, Maya, and sets out on a journey to find out more about her.
In the words of the jury, the “film captivated us from the first frames and we felt that we were in expert hands, since it is executed with great skill and outstanding performances.”
After receiving the award, Nesher expressed: “I have no words to express the emotion, joy and enormous pride I feel at this moment.” Additionally, she thanked the “talented cast, production team, and festival directors Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro, who resisted the pressure and chose an Israeli film.”