Press/Announcements
“The Binding of Itzik” plays at the 2021 New Orleans Film Festival
We’re honored to screen at the New Orleans Film Festival, in this incredibly eclectic lineup of original shorts.
The Film Movement Award for Best Narrative Short includes the opportunity to distribute with Film Movement. “The Binding of Itzik” will appear on dvd alongside the indie feature, “Sweet Thing,” by Alexandre Rockwell.
“An outside of the box story deftly tackling questions of identity and loneliness among others human frailties. This film was also a recipient of the inaugural JFI Completion Grant in 2020.”
“…What’s masterful, and delightfully funny, about this film, is not only how Benkov establishes this contemporary ploy of mistaken and deceptive identities, but also how [they] contrast Itzik’s supposedly serene conservative lifestyle and the wildly uninhibited, intense relationship that the two “lovers” are engaged in online...”
The Bitter Pill, a feature film project written by current student Anika Benkov, was chosen to participate in New York Stage and Film Company's Filmmaker's Workshop. Benkov is one of 14 filmmakers to be selected to the prestigious program and will participate in one-on-one mentorship, round table discussions with industry leaders, and close collaboration with the other members of the group in the development process of their script.
"The Bitter Pill is about a young man undergoing a crisis of masculinity,” Benkov said in a statement. “It's a dark comedy that deals with themes of hate, shame, misogyny, mental illness, sadomasochism and friendship.” Benkov also expressed gratitude for the award. “I feel so lucky to take part in a program that really supports new artists and their voices, as well as honored to be included amongst its very talented participants.”
