Running on Sand

Israel 2023 | Director: Adar Shafran | Hebrew with English subtitles | 104 minutes

Comedy/Drama

Omari, a young Eritrean refugee living in Israel is about to be deported. Managing to dodge the immigration authorities at the airport at the last moment, he runs straight into the hands of fans of the “Maccabi Netanya” soccer team, who mistakenly assume that he is the eagerly awaited Nigerian professional soccer star who was supposed to arrive at the same time. As the new key acquisition for the struggling soccer team, he is hailed as a hero. Now, Omari must conceal his true identity and, despite not having any soccer talent, try to meet the hopes and expectations of the team owner, the fans, and the team owner’s daughter. This feel-good dramedy mixes humor and heart as it sheds light on the unseen and unheard in Israeli society, and the plight of migrants and refugees.

Winner: Best Debut Film and Best Screenplay, Haifa Int’l FF 2023

Winner: Best of Fest Audience Award, Palm Springs Int’l FF 2024

Nominated: 4 Israeli Academy Awards including Best Film

Movie will be preceded by the screening of the 2024 Camp BB Award winning film:

WHEN I GROW UP

Directed by Jack Walker, Mads Fox, and Sarah Giuffride

(English, 6 minutes)

Screening of Running on Sand is proudly co-sponsored by CAMP BB RIBACK