Directed by Ori Gruder
Documentary
Israel
Released: 2016
Hebrew
74 minutes
An eye-opening documentary explaining the concept of sacred sperm within the ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish community which considers new life pure if born of “sacred sperm” and the spilling of sperm murder. In this documentary Director/Narrator Or Yashar shares his journey as he tries to fully understand the concept and come to terms with how to raise his son in good faith. This sensitive film also explores the difficulties worshippers face, and how they work through them with support from a genuinely loving community. The film highlights how we are all vulnerable in some way: we watch as Yashar, who became Orthodox as an adult, asks himself, “Am I worthy of teaching my son?”.
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Sacred Sperm
Film Festivals:
Winner - Award of Excellence
The Accolade Global Film Competition
California USA - 2014
World Premiere
Raindance International Film Festival
London UK - 2014
Israeli Premiere
Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival
Israel - 2014
North American Premiere
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
California, USA - 2015
Eastern Europe Premiere
Krakow International Film Festival
Poland - 2015
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
Georgia, USA - 2015
Philadelphia Israeli Film Festival
Pennsylvania, USA - 2015
FIFE
Quebec, Canada - 2015
Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Canada - 2015
Gainesville Jewish Film Festival
Florida, USA - 2015
SEA SONG JMFF
2015
Berlin Jewish Film Festival
Germany - 2015
New York Israeli Film Festival
New York, USA - 2015
Seret International Film Festival
United Kingdom - 2015
Australia Jewish International Film Festival
Australia - 2015
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
California, USA - 2015
Pärnu International Film Festival
Estonia - 2015
Rochester Jewish Film Festival
New York, USA - 2015
Message to Man Film Festival
Russia - 2015
Winner - Best Documentary
Religion Today International Film Festival
Trento, Italy - 2015
Vienna Jewish Film Festival
Austria - 2015
Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival
2015
Vancouver Jewish Film Festival
Canada - 2015
UK International Jewish Film Festival
United Kingdom - 2015
Germany - 2015
Rome, Italy - 2015
CINEMED International Film Festival
Belgium - 2015
Copenhagen Jewish Week
Denmark - 2015
East Bay International Jewish Film Festival
California, USA - 2016
Madison Israeli Film Festival
Wisconsin, USA - 2016
Stockholm Israeli Film Festival
Sweden - 2016
Seattle Jewish Film Festival
Washington, USA 2016
7th FilmIsrael Fest
Amsterdam Holland - 2016
Human Rights Dignity Int'l Film Festival
Yangun, Myanmar - 2016
Eastern Connecticut Jewish Film Festival
Connecticut, USA - 2016