The War of Raya Sinitsina
Search the Site
Newsletter Signup
Sign up to our newsletter to receive updates about what's going on at the NFCT
The War of Raya Sinitsina
A young filmmaker meets and follows Raya, a 94-year-old Soviet war heroine who fought in the Siege of Leningrad. As Head of the World War II Disabled Veterans Club in her city, she introduces him to a vanishing generation in Israel. Her own fighting spirit and willpower are still fierce. As Raya faces the loss of her last comrades and her health deteriorates, the two become involved in a spiritual process that awakens the young woman within her; Through her eyes and dreams, they create their own reality in which time and age lose all meaning. Their growing closeness transforms a film about war and loss into a mystical story of love and friendship.
Festivals and Awards:
Best Director and Best Cinematography Awards - Docaviv International Film Festival, Israel, 2020; Best Debut Feature and Best Cinematography - Israeli Documentary Association, 2020; Audience Award - Doker Film Festival, Russia, 2021; Special Jury Mention - EBS IDF, South Korea, 2021; Best Film of "Saratov — Open City" special program - Saratov Sufferings Documentary Festival, Russia, 2021; 1st Prize of Hearts, Minds & Souls - FLICKERS: Rhode Island IFF, 2021; Main Prize - Flahertiana, Russia, 2021; Special Prize for High Artistic Achievements in the Documentary - Russian Documentary Film and Television Guild, 2021; Grand Prix and Best Documentary Feature - Warsaw Jewish Film Festival, 2021; Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, North Carolina, USA, 2021; Moscow Jewish Film Festival, Russia, 2021; Berlin Jewish Film Festival, Germany, 2021; Cottbus Film Festival, Germany, 2021; Sputnik Russian Film Festival, Russia, 2021
Director: Efim Graboy
Producer: Yahaly Gat, Efim Graboy
Production Company: Muse Productions
Cinematographer: Efim Graboy, Daniel Binsted
Editor: Efim Graboy
Soundtrack Editor: Anton Levkin
Original Soundtrack: Omri Behr
Supporter(s): The New Fund for Cinema and Television, KAN – Israeli Public Broadcast Corp, Mifal HaPais Council for the Culture and Arts
Script: Efim Graboy
Subtitles: English, Hebrew
Film Name in Hebrew: מלחמתה של רעיה סיניצינה
A young filmmaker meets and follows Raya, a 94-year-old Soviet war heroine who fought in the Siege of Leningrad. As Head of the World War II Disabled Veterans Club in her city, she introduces him to a vanishing generation in Israel. Her own fighting spirit and willpower are still fierce. As Raya faces the loss of her last comrades and her health deteriorates, the two become involved in a spiritual process that awakens the young woman within her; Through her eyes and dreams, they create their own reality in which time and age lose all meaning. Their growing closeness transforms a film about war and loss into a mystical story of love and friendship.
Festivals and Awards:
Best Director and Best Cinematography Awards - Docaviv International Film Festival, Israel, 2020; Best Debut Feature and Best Cinematography - Israeli Documentary Association, 2020; Audience Award - Doker Film Festival, Russia, 2021; Special Jury Mention - EBS IDF, South Korea, 2021; Best Film of "Saratov — Open City" special program - Saratov Sufferings Documentary Festival, Russia, 2021; 1st Prize of Hearts, Minds & Souls - FLICKERS: Rhode Island IFF, 2021; Main Prize - Flahertiana, Russia, 2021; Special Prize for High Artistic Achievements in the Documentary - Russian Documentary Film and Television Guild, 2021; Grand Prix and Best Documentary Feature - Warsaw Jewish Film Festival, 2021; Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, North Carolina, USA, 2021; Moscow Jewish Film Festival, Russia, 2021; Berlin Jewish Film Festival, Germany, 2021; Cottbus Film Festival, Germany, 2021; Sputnik Russian Film Festival, Russia, 2021
Director: Efim Graboy
Producer: Yahaly Gat, Efim Graboy
Production Company: Muse Productions
Cinematographer: Efim Graboy, Daniel Binsted
Editor: Efim Graboy
Soundtrack Editor: Anton Levkin
Original Soundtrack: Omri Behr
Supporter(s): The New Fund for Cinema and Television, KAN – Israeli Public Broadcast Corp, Mifal HaPais Council for the Culture and Arts
Script: Efim Graboy
Subtitles: English, Hebrew
Film Name in Hebrew: מלחמתה של רעיה סיניצינה
Newsletter Signup
Sign up to our newsletter to receive updates about events and submission deadlines
Greenhouse Website
Our Facebook
With the support of the Ministry of Culture - The Israel Film Council