Nitzan Rozen
Writer-director
Israel
Nitzan, born in 1990, graduated with honors from the Sam Spiegel Film School in Jerusalem in 2017.
During her studies, Nitzan directed two shorts: FAIR PLAY, 2016 (winner of the directing award) and CRACKS, 2018. The films were screened in Israel, Europe and North America. In 2019, Nitzan directed a short documentary, HOME CONSTRUCTORS. The film was screened at a variety of festivals, including Cinemed Montpellier, Dresden Filmfest, Uppsala Short Film Festival, and many more. In 2021, Nitzan wrote, directed and produced FATA MORAGA that also premiered in FNC Montreal. STRIKER NO. 7 is Nitzan’s debut feature film (Mina Films Productions). The film was awarded the development grant of The Rabinovich Foundation for The Arts, and in 2022 was selected to AiR Berlin, a Medienboard Brandenburg program at the Nipkow residency. The film was also selected to the Jerusalem Film Lab, starting January 2023.
Nitzan works as a documentary director at the national digital channel, and teaches film at Minshar School of Arts.
— with the support of Israel Embassy in France
Project
Striker No. 7
Mohamed, a young Palestinian from a neglected village in East Jerusalem, has everything it takes to become one of the top footballers in the world. He is purchased by Beitar Jerusalem, the best club in the Israeli premiere league, whose reputation for excellence is second only to its reputation for racism. Never in its history, did a Palestinian play for this club.
The ultras’ organization, La Familia, won’t accept the name of the Prophet into their club. They abuse Mohamed, who is willing to do anything in order to find a way to their hearts. His naivety shields him from the brutal reality, leading him to believe that he can do the undoable: break the glass ceiling, and be treated as a footballer, and not as a Palestinian. However, this is a slippery road, and Mohamed is trapped between his desire to find a home, and his wish to be loyal to himself. His main opponent is his mother Noor, a realistic woman who tries to protect her son from his own fantasy. But Mohamed is unstoppable.
