The Oslo Diaries
A film by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan
In The Oslo Diaries, directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan (Censored Voices, Sundance 2015) bring us a riveting account of 1100 days of secret talks as told by the people who were there at the table. The participants’ detailed and often emotional entries recount the political intrigue, fiery rhetoric, unlikely friendships, and overwhelming desire for peace that were the heart of the negotiations.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews with key players - including the last on-camera conversation with former Israeli president Shimon Peres - the film recounts a geopolitical story, with a narrative voice that is personal and philosophical. Although politics ultimately doomed The Oslo Accords, the story’s end for the people of Israel and Palestine remains unwritten.
When a child is born in Israel, even before he's given a name, he already has a destiny which is set in stone: when he grows up he will become a soldier. This destiny is known to all, as most parents have been soldiers themselves. When we were born, back in the early 80s, our parents told us the same lie all Israeli parents give their children: "When you grow up you won't go to the army" they said, "There will be no need for an army, as we will have peace with our neighbors." Now that we are parents ourselves, we find ourselves telling our children the exact same lie. For generations Israelis have been dreaming of peace and failing to achieve it. Our question is "why?" — Mor Loushy & Daniel Sivan : Directors of Oslo Diaries
Reviews:
The Film Corner with Greg Klymkiw
There are documentaries that are pure, dazzling cinema with all the scope, poetry and virtuosity that place them upon the pedestal of art. When such films are also infused with journalistic principles that don't get in the way of great filmmaking and have vital, coercive and downright imperative subject matter, then what you get is something like Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan's The Oslo Diaries.
This is a film that breaks rule after rule, but does so with such aplomb and intelligence and grace, that we are left with a picture that not only confounds expectations, but breaks rules for two of the best reasons I can think of: to create great cinema and to further peace. These are fine considerations. One wishes more pictures had such lofty goals and were able to pull them off as astoundingly as The Oslo Diaries.
The Hollywood Reporter
Survivors of the Mideast peace talks during the 1990s share their memories and reflections in this comprehensive Israeli documentary. The main virtue of the film lies in the thoughtful interviews given by the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.
Let The Movie Move US
This documentary is a fine walk into the past that just happens to fully absorb the present and the nearest future.
Filmmaker Magazine
You Cannot be Objective When You’re Making a Film about the Peace Process between Israel and Palestine: intricately woven doc, which refreshingly serves as a much-needed reminder that nuts-and-bolts diplomacy has never been easy or in fashion.
The Utah Review
They reveal the full spectrum of emotions for both parties, ranging from distrust and anger to skepticism and resignation and finally to friendliness and genuine motivation to reach an agreement.
Movable Fest
The Oslo Diaries continually stuns with memories and how warm the discussions became between representatives of nations so often depicted as mortal enemies.
Now Toronto
Brilliant film about the 1993 Oslo Accords shows how close we came to peace in the Middle East.
Hammer to Nail
Neverending Conflict: The Oslo Diaries will probably leave you frustrated, but maybe it will give you hope that such a process can begin again. It is a film to be watched and discussed, now and until we achieve real peace.
Medalia Productions and Docs for Education believe in the importance of the film for the General Knowledge of all students & Professors and specially those interested in Israel, Palestine, Middle East, Politics, Peace, Reconciliation, History studies should be able to get the film in their university/college library. We are sure that The Oslo Diaries is a starter for academic debates and discussions.
Awards:
Best Documentary Award
Monthly Awards Copenhagen Denmark
Full Bloom IFF Statesville NC
Jozi IFF Johannesburg South Africa
Best Script Award -- Jerusalem IFF Israel
Festivals and Screenings:
Zurich Jewish FF
Dallas Temple Emanu-El
Elkins Park Temple Knesset Israel
East Bay Jewish Film Festival CA
LA Israel Film Festival CA
Lee & Charlotte Film Festival FL
Warsaw Jewish Film Festival Poland
Burns Center Westchester Jewish Film Festival NY
Paris Jewish Film Festival France
Seret Film Festival Zurich Switzerland
Israel American Council Tenefly NJ
Memphis Jewish Film Festival TN
Copenhagen Jewish Film Festival Denmark
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival GA
Honolulu Jewish Film Festival HI
Budapest Israel Film Festival Hungary
Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival NJ
Jerusalem IFF Israel
Monthly Awards Copenhagen Denmark
Brussels Human Rights FF Belgium
Sarasota Jewish Film Festival FL
IAC Cinemetec Tenefly NJ
Manhatten JCC New York NY
Lone Star Film Festival Forth Worth TX
East Bay Jewish FF San Francisco CA
Warsaw Jewish Film Festival Poland
Charlotte & Lee JFF FL
Sundance 2018 World Premiere
MunichDok, Munich Germany
Toronto Hotdocs, Toronto Canada
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival CA
Thessaloninki Film Festival Greece
Olso Pix Oslo Norway
Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival CA
Cinepolitica Film Festival Bucharest Rumania
Pittsburg Jewish Film Festival PA
Festival of Tolerance Jewish FF Zagreb Croatia
Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia PA
World Affairs Council Houston TX
Boston Jewish Film Festival MA
Martha’s Vineyard Summer Institute Film Festival MA
Berkshire Jewish Film Festival MA
Seret Film Festival London UK
Near East Film Festival Firenze Italy
Doc Edge Film Festival, Auckland-Wellington New Zealand
Philadelphia Israeli Film Festival PA
Barcelona Festival de cino Juido Barcelona Spain
Human Rights Film Festival Barcelona Spain
Seattle International Film Festival Seattle WA
Rochester Jewish Film Festival NY
Chicago Israeli Film Festival IL
Biogram Film Festival Bologna- Italy
Sao Paulo Jewish Film Festival Brazil
Human Rights Film Festival Barcelona Spain
UK Jewish Film Festival
Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival CA
Docutah St George UT
Portoviejo Film Festival Ecuador
Peace Film Festival Orlando FL
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples FL
UNAFF Stanford CA
Seret Film Festival Amsterdam Nederland
Seret Film Festival Berlin Germany
Cinmed Marseille France
Cleveland Jewish FF OH
Long Beach Jewish FF CA
Full Bloom International FF Statesville NC
Jozi Film Fest Johannesburg South Africa
University/College Libraries:
University of Chicago
Virginia University
Fairfield University
Boston Community College
Hong Kong Hui Sh University
John Hopkins University in Bologna Italy
Sydney University Australia
James Madison University VA
University of Michigan @ Dearborn
University of Illinois @ Springfield
New York University NY
Northeastern University MA
Pennsylvania University PA
Beliot College WI
Michigan University @ Ann Arbor MI
Brown University RI
Virginia Technical Institute VA
George Washington University DC
Syracuse University NY
Utah University UT
Marquette University WI
Harvard MA
Minnesota MN
Brandeis MA
Notre Dame IN
Augustana SD
Hull United Kingdom
Sacro Coure Milan Italy
ETH Zurich Swisserland
SLU Madrid Spain
About the Film
Israel - Canada
94 minutes
Hebrew, Arabic, English: English subtitles
Directed by Mor Loushy & Daniel Sivan
Produced by Hilla Medalia & Ina Fichman
Edited by Daniel Sivan & Mor Loushy
Original Music by Francois Jolin
Sound Design by Silvain Bellemare & Michel Gauvin
Produced by Medalia Productions
Co-Produced by Intuitive Pictures
Produced in association with
Yes Docu
HBO
RBB, BR, HR, ARTE
Radio Canada
Documentary Channel
The Rabinovich Foundation for the Arts
Mifal Hapais
Catapult Film Fund
Creative Europe Media fund
The Jenerosity Foundation
Hartley Film Foundation
RTS, Rogers, Sodec, VPRO, YLE, DR
Trailer
Screenings
To arrange for a public screening, contact Nahum Laufer below.
Contact
For more information please contact Nahum Laufer.
Email: laufern@netvision.net.il
Fax: 972-3-5291726
Mail: Shlomo Hamelech 93 #5, Tel-Aviv 6451228
