The Smugglers
Michel George El-Raheb owns a small bookshop and café in the city of Jaffa called Yafa Cafe. Facing mounting challenges in running the shop, he calls upon his nephew, film producer Tony Copti, to partner with him. While looking to buy books for the shop, Tony ends up on an eye-opening journey that forces him and his uncle to become book smugglers. The process brings him to question where Jaffa’s books have disappeared after the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation, known to Palestinians as the Nakba.
The Smugglers is an absurd reflection of Israel’s ongoing oppression of the Arabic language and Palestinian culture.
Director: Yaniv Berman , Tony Copti
Producer: Tony Copti, yaniv Berman
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Trailer
Details
Production Company: Fresco Films
Duration: 86 min.
Date of Release: 05/2025
Country of Production: Israel
Shooting Format:
4K
Language:
Arabic
Subtitles:
Hebrew, English
Production Budget:
350,000€
Money Still Required:
50,000€
Festivals & Awards
-
Docaviv
Israeli Competition
Involved Broadcasters
Kan - Israeli Public Broadcast Corporation
Involved Institutions and Other Financiers
Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, Makor Foundation for Israeli Films
Categories
Art, Music & Culture, Drama Documentary, Human Interest & Social Issues