Meni Philip
* 1968 in Israel.
Meni Philip was born to an ultra-orthodox Jewish family. In 1995 he became a Hassidic musician, and from then on he has had a successful musical career, and won several awards. In 2001 he left the ultra-orthodox community and became secular, with no option but to give up his musical career. In 2004 he started film studies at the Minshar School of Art in Tel Aviv. In 2007 he directed the autobiographical documentary film Let There Be Light. The film was acclaimed by the critics. In February 2009 Meni completed his graduation short film Sinner. Currently Meni Philip has received development funding from two prestigious Israeli film foundations to work on his debut feature film.
Personal website: http://www.meniphilip.com/
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3594801/
FILMS directed by MENI PHILIP
Sinner
Israel, 28 min
Director, scriptwriter, editor: Meni Philip | Cinematographer: Addie Reiss | Sound designer: Gadi Raz | Cast: Lior Shabtai, Yuval Berger, Omri Aisha, Ami Weinberg
Yotam, a thirteen year-old boy studying at an ultra-orthodox Jewish boarding school tries to battle the awakening of his sexual desires. Confused and guilt-ridden, he consults with his rabbi who abuses his position and Yotam's innocence. With no one to trust and nowhere to go, Yotam finds himself trapped by the enforced silence in his community.
Presented by VIS within the context of:
VIS Vienna Independent Shorts 2010, Short Matters! 1
Awards:
EFA Short Film Nominee Venice 2009
Let There Be Light
Israel 2007, 60 min
Director: Meni Philip
The autobiographical documentary film describes the difficult path that Meni Philip and four of his siblings chose, in leaving the religious way of life.