Advocate

Lea Tsemel, Avocate

Israel / Canada / Switzerland, January 2019
FILM, Documentary, 110 min.

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directed by: Rachel Leah Jones, Philippe Bellaïche
Written by: Rachel Leah Jones
Status: In distribution

Lea Tsemel is Israel’s most prominent and controversial human rights
lawyer. She defends Palestinians and, for many years, was the only
Jewish attorney willing to take on political prisoners accused of having
“blood on their hands”. Never afraid to fight, Lea’s also not afraid
to lose a battle. 99% of her clients get convicted. Yet she continues to
demand a fair trial for people classified by the state as “enemies”.

credits

World Premiere: January 2019
Original Version: Arabic, Hebrew (english subtitles), colour and b/w, DCP, 110 min.
ISAN: 0000-0004-727A-0000-C-0000-0000-1
Production: Home Made Docs, Productions Megafun, Close Up Films, RTS Radio Télévision Suisse, SRG SSR
Producer: Philippe Bellaïche, Rachel Leah Jones, Paul Cadieux, Joëlle Bertossa, Flavia Zanon
directed by: Rachel Leah Jones, Philippe Bellaïche
Written by: Rachel Leah Jones
Cinematography: Philippe Bellaïche
Editing: Yaël Bitton
Location Sound Mix: Rachel Leah Jones
Sound Editing: Riccardo Studer
Re-Recording Mix: Riccardo Studer
Music: Robert Marcel Lepage
Production Design: Yoav Brill

World Sales / World Rights

World Sales: Cinephil

Worldwide Distribution

Canada: Filmoption International Distribution
Switzerland: Sister Distribution Distribution
Release date: 11.12.2019

Awards

(a selection)

Palm Springs, Palm Springs International Film Festival, GoE Bridging the Borders Award 2020 (Winner)
Tel Aviv, doc aviv The Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival, Award for the Best Israeli Film 2019 (Winner)
Krakow, Krakow Film Festival, The Golden Horn 2019 (Winner)
Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival, Golden Alexander - Best Documentary (International competition) 2019 (Winner)
Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival, FIPRESCI Award - Best film 2019 (Winner)
Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Film Festival, Jury Prize - Documentary Competition 2019 (Winner)
Los Angeles, News & Docs Emmys , Best Documentary 2021 (Winner)
Los Angeles, IDA Documentary Awards, Best Director 2019 (Nomination)
Rachel Leah Jones
Los Angeles, IDA Documentary Awards, Best Director 2019 (Nomination)
Philippe Bellaïche
Los Angeles, IDA Documentary Awards, Best Feature 2019 (Nomination)