Wait for Me (2022 film)

Wait for Me (עד שתחזור) is a 2022 Israeli drama film written and directed by Sari Azoulay Turgeman. The film stars Hallel Yannay Shani and Daniel Litman.

Plot summary
16-year-old Maya (Yannay Shani) runs away from home on a sailboat, making her way to Cyprus, in a quest to bring home her sailor father. Once in Cyprus she misses the cargo ship that she believes her father is working on. She meets a 34-year-old Greek skipper, Nikos and in exchange for his help, takes him to Crete. On their journey, Nikos discovers that Maya has been hiding a secret and pushes her to confront the reality of her situation.

Cast

 * Hallel Yannay Shani as Maya Elkayam, a 16-year-old that sails away in search of her father
 * Daniel Litman as Nikos Constantinos, a 34-year-old Greek skipper
 * Adi Gilat as Orly Elkayam, as Maya's mother
 * Ofek Pesach as Assaf Elkayam
 * Morris Cohen as David Elkayam, Maya's father

Production
The project was filmed with an Israeli crew during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Release
The film had its international premiere at the Warsaw Film Festival on 14 October 2022. Azoulay Turgeman and the main cast, including Litman and Yannay Shani attended the premiere and participated in a Q&A.

In 2023, it was part of the official selection of the Vittorio Veneto Film Festival in Italy.

In 2024, it premiered at the Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival in Florida.

Reception
The film was nominated for Best Film at the Warsaw Film Festival in 2022.

In December it won the award for Best International Feature at the Coliseum International Film Festival, held in Rome in December 2023.