World premiere

The Milky Way

Local title
Piimatööstus 'Emapiim'
Original title
Halav
Director
Maya Kenig
Country
Israel, France
Year
2023
Festival
27th Black Nights Film Festival
Programme
Critics' Picks Competition
Genre
drama, comedy
Subject
interpersonal relationships, child-parent relationships

Reading the title, you might think this is a documentary about the galaxy, the solar system and our earth’s relationship to it, or a remake of “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”.

Instead, “Milky Way” is the name of a futuristic company where the protagonist, 33-year-old single mother Tala, picks up a job as her music career doesn’t pay the bills for her newborn and herself. Soon, Tala finds it hard to sell the company her breast milk. She can’t stand it anymore and surprisingly is offered an alternative way to provide her precious product directly to one customer. She takes this chance.

This highly intelligent dramedy tackles many important issues of motherhood and social class in a most entertaining way. Director Maya Kenig, supported by a great cast and art department, proves that she is a talent to watch.

Niki Nikitin

Director
Maya Kenig
Screenwriter
Maya Kenig
Cast
Hila Ruach, Hadas Yaron, Orly Feldheim, Tali Sharon, Nuria Dina Luzinski
Producer
Maya Fischer, Alona Refua, Roi Kurland, Gal Greenspan, Moshe Edery, Roni Shamiss
Co-producer
Inès Daïen Dasi, Yaël Fogiel
DoP
Amit Yasur
Editor
Maya Kenig
Composer
Hila Ruach, Assa Raviv, Tom Meira Armony
World sales
The Party Film Sales
Runtime
Language
Hebrew
Subtitles
English
Director
Maya Kenig

Maya Kenig (1979) studied at the Sam Spiegel Film School and at The London Film School. Her short film "Top of the World" has successfully participated in festivals in Israel and around the world. Her first full-length feature film "Off White Lies" (2012) was selected for Berlinale, Busan Film Festival and the Palm Springs Film Festival, was nominated for seven Ophir Awards in Israel (including for best film, best script and best director), and won the best actor award at the Jerusalem Film Festival. She directed, along with her life partner, Gur Bentwich, the full-length documentary "The Bentwich Syndrome", which was selected for Docaviv FF and other festivals around the world. "The Milky Way" is her second full length fiction feature film.

Filmography:
Orhim le-rega (Off White Lies, 2011), Le'at Yoter - Voice Over (2018, co-dir), The Milky Way (2023)

Screenings

6th Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening120601 / Piimatööstus 'Emapiim'
SubtitlesEnglish
Q&A guestsMaya Kenig (Director, Screenwriter, Editor), Hadas Yaron (Cast), Hila Ruach (Cast, Composer)
Q&A duration
Screening duration
4th Lux Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening160402 / Piimatööstus 'Emapiim'
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
4th Lux Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening170401 / Piimatööstus 'Emapiim'
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
Trailer
PÖFF TV - Meet the Filmmakers