Avi Mograbi

Avi Mograbi is an Israeli documentary filmmaker and video artist whose films examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

born 1956Documentaries on the Israeli-Palestinian conflictAvenge But One of My Two EyesCo-founding Breaking the Silence

Born: 9 May 1956, Tel Aviv
Occupation: film director, actor, screenwriter, filmmaker
Education: Tel Aviv University

Avi Mograbi was born in 1956 in Tel Aviv

Avi Mograbi was born in Tel Aviv on May 9, 1956. His mother came from Germany, and his father was born to a Syrian Jewish family. His grandfather founded the Mograbi Cinema in Tel Aviv, which opened in 1930.

He studied philosophy at Tel Aviv University from 1979 to 1982. He also studied art at HaMidrasha Art School in Ramat HaSharon.

He served in the IDF as a non-combatant. During the 1982 Lebanon War he refused to serve and was jailed.

He worked as an assistant director on Israeli and foreign films before making his own films in 1989. His film Avenge But One of My Two Eyes was screened out of competition at Cannes in 2005. Since 1999 he has taught filmmaking at schools including Sam Spiegel and Bezalel.

In 2004 he was among the founders of Breaking the Silence. He won the Konrad Wolf Prize in 2009 and the Shulamit Aloni Prize in 2021. He is married to Tamar Berger, and they have 2 sons.

Avi Mograbi's life in 9 milestones

1956
Born in Tel Aviv.
1982
Refused to serve in the Lebanon War and was jailed.
1989
Began making documentary films.
1999
Won a prize at DocAviv for Happy Birthday, Mr. Mograbi.
2004
Co-founded Breaking the Silence.
2005
Avenge But One of My Two Eyes was screened at Cannes.
2009
Received the Konrad Wolf Prize.
2015
Served on the short film jury at the Berlin festival.
2021
Won the Shulamit Aloni Prize for The First 54 Years.

Avi Mograbi served in the military

He served in the IDF as a non-combatant and later became a reservist. In 1982, called up as a combatant for the Lebanon War, he refused as a conscientious objector and was jailed.