Operation Wedding

Operation Wedding is a documentary film about the Dymshits–Kuznetsov hijacking affair, an escape attempt from the Soviet Union by a group of young Soviet, mostly Jewish, who were denied exit visas. The documentary is told from a personal point of view of the filmmaker, Anat Zalmanson-Kuznetsov, daughter of group members: Eduard Kuznetsov and Sylva Zalmanson.


 * Produced by: Sasha Klein Productions (Israel), Ego Media Latvia, Saxsonia Entertainment
 * With the support of IBA (Israel Broadcasting Authority) and National Film Centre of Latvia
 * Produced with the endorsement of CoPro, IDFA and EBU
 * 58/62 minutes, color and B&W
 * Languages: English, Russian, Hebrew
 * Subtitles: English. Hebrew, Russian, Latvian, Spanish
 * Countries of Origins: Israel, Latvia
 * Countries of filming: Israel, Latvia, Russia, England, US

Releases
Israel, August 2016 Israel Broadcasting Authority Russia, US, UK - December 2016 Latvia LTV1 - October 2017 Denmark February 2018 Danish Film Institute (documentary of the Month) Estonia March 2018 ETV2
 * Hebrew version release:
 * English version release:
 * Russian dubbing broadcast: Current Time TV September 2017

Awards
1. Documentary of the month – Danish Film Institute / Copenhagen, Denmark, February 2018

2. Best Documentary, Audience Choice – Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema / Chicago, US 2017

3. Best Feature Documentary – International Filmmaker Festival of NY / New York, NY, US 2018

4. Best Writing – History Film Festival / Croatia 2018

5. Young Jury award for Best Documentary - The Rasnov Histories and Film Festival / Romania 2018

6. Important Documentary About a Socially Relevant Topic, Semi-Final - "Award This" Film Threat / Los Angeles, US 2019

7. Opening film - Jewish Film & Culture Festival / Saarbrücken, Germany 2018

8. Semi-Finalist - Courage Film Festival / Berlin, Germany 2019

9. Award of Excellence - Cinema World Fest Awards Winter / Ottawa, Canada 2018

10. Best Feature Film - Ogeechee International History Film Festival / Georgia, US 2018

11. Best Documentary - Mindie, Miami Independent Film Festival / Florida, US 2018

12. Semi Final – Hollywood Screenings Film Festival / California, US 2018

13. Silver award - World Human Rights Awards / Indonesia 2018

14. Jury Award for February Best Documentary - Eurasia International Film Festival / Moscow, Russia 2018

15. Semi Final – Tribute Film Festival / Texas, US 2018

16. Semi Final – Gold Movie Awards / London, UK 2018

17. Audience Choice Award - Tirana International Documentary Film Festival / Tirana, Albania 2017

18. Globe Award - Around Film Festival / Berlin, Germany 2017

19. Merit Award - International Film Festival Spirituality Religion and Visionary / Bali Indonesia 2017

20. Opening film - Israel Film Days / Riga, Latvia 2017

21. Award of Recognition - Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards / California, US 2016

Reviews and articles

 * Film Review at Film Threat
 * BBC Jewish Hijack Plot That Changed The Soviet Union
 * New Doc Details 1970 Refusenik-led Escape Attempt to Israel
 * ‘Do You Know Your Parents Are Heroes?’ The Story Behind ‘Operation Wedding’
 * FILMMAKER DOCUMENTS PARENTS’ ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE USSR
 * Israeli filmmaker chronicles parents’ failed attempt to hijack a Soviet plane
 * Film Festival Offers Documentaries and Features That Explore Many Different Sides of Israel
 * The refusenik plot to fly to freedom
 * ‘Operation Wedding’ and the plight of Soviet Jews