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Your family
in focus
Preserve the stories you never want to lose in a heartfelt film
Based in Israel, near Jerusalem.
Working across the globe
Why family stories matter
That old, heartwarming sound of your grandmother’s voice telling a story… You try to revive it in your memory, but it dissolves like a dream, like an early morning fog.
Too often, we wait until it’s too late to record that irreplaceable sound.
I’ve filmed hundreds of family stories, most told by elderly parents and grandparents. Many of those voices are now gone — leaving their films as the only full record their families have.
My grandmother and I, 1990 — one of the few photos of us together, and one of my most cherished.
Family stories have always been deeply important to me. As a child, I loved listening to my grandmother’s memories, and I regret that no one ever recorded them. As soon as I learned documentary filmmaking, I started capturing my own family’s history — creating a WWII-memories family film and recording annual birthday interviews with my teenage daughter, a living time capsule of her voice, thoughts, and dreams.
For more than a decade, I’ve documented personal histories for international humanitarian organizations, giving voice to people whose stories might otherwise have been lost.
In 2025, I completed a documentary about my father, who had passed away more than a decade earlier. I never recorded him while he was alive, and this taught me a powerful lesson: we often postpone capturing the voices and stories of those we love until it’s too late.
That’s why every family story I film feels so meaningful — because someone’s unique life is preserved forever, ready to be shared—not just today, but for decades to come.
Your family’s story is precious. Let’s make sure it’s told while every voice can still be heard.
How it looks
My family legacy films are deeply personal and remain private — shared only with the families who entrusted me with them. To give you a sense of my storytelling approach, I invite you to watch a few short clips from other documentary projects.
These examples are in Russian and Ukrainian, drawn from past work. When we create your film, it can be told in the language — or mix of languages — that feels most natural to your family.
In 2018, young volunteers from Kharkiv, Ukraine helped two elderly residents fulfill their lifelong dream of visiting Israel.
// For JDC
In a series of walks through Jerusalem, Zinovy Matskevich weaves his personal story into the city’s 1990s atmosphere.
// Work in progress
From my ongoing series of annual interviews with my daughter — a living time capsule of her voice and thoughts.
// 2023
From the Arrived documentary series — Nikita, a young adult from Ukraine, reflects on the war and its impact on his life.
// 2023
From A Tiny Cobweb on the Window Frame — an intimate portrait of artist Vyacheslav Shraga.
// 2025
From Slow Transition — a deeply personal documentary about a transgender woman’s search for identity and self.
// 2019
From the Arrived series — portraits of young immigrants from The Walks project finding their place in Israel.
// 2022
From the Arrived series — Sonya shares her journey through the uncertainty and upheaval of forced emigration.
// 2023
If these stories moved you, imagine yours told with the same care.
How It Works
Step 1. Discovery & Story Shaping
How we begin — a warm, unhurried conversation, online or in person, to understand who the film is for and what truly matters.
What we decide — voices to include; topics to lean into (and those to leave aside); locations that hold meaning — homes, streets, gardens, places where your story turned.
What we gather — photographs, letters, documents, and home videos you’d like woven into the story.
Getting ready — I share a simple outline and interview questions in advance; you review and approve so we’re fully aligned before filming day.
Languages — I comfortably work in English, Hebrew, Russian, or Ukrainian. We speak in whatever feels natural for you and for the story.
Pace & comfort — a schedule that’s kind to your rhythm, with time to breathe and no rush.
The goal of a legacy film is simple: to keep your family’s story alive for the future.
Through careful preparation, quiet filming, and thoughtful editing, we shape your memories into a small work of cinema.
Below is the way I move through each project so it holds lasting value.
Step 2. Filming with Care
When the filming day comes, we keep things calm and quiet. There’s time to breathe.
Where we film — wherever your story lives: the kitchen table, the garden at dusk, or any place that holds meaning.
Conversations, not performances — I sit with you, ask gentle questions, and listen. The camera fades into the background. No scripts, no bustle — usually just me, or me with an assistant.
The life between the lines — We set aside dedicated time for simple, everyday scenes: making tea, leafing through an album, a walk down the street. Nothing staged — just you as you are. These moments deepen the film and carry the feeling of home.
Portraits, if you’d like — We can also spend a little time on still photographs. With the same care I bring to film, I make simple, honest portraits that can stand on their own as a meaningful keepsake.
Places that hold memory — When it helps the story, I visit locations that matter and show how they look now, creating a visual bridge between past and present.
Step 3. Editing with Heart
After filming, I watch and listen again to the recordings to grasp the essence of the story.
How it comes together — a cinematic blend of interviews, unposed moments, and your family archives.
Your voice in the process — I share a private first cut. You watch in your own time and tell me what feels right. We refine with care — up to three rounds — until the film feels true to you.
Finishing touches — clear sound with gentle cleanup, color that flatters real life.
Step 4. Delivery & Preservation
When your film is ready, it’s shared with the same care we made it.
Delivery — Your Family Legacy Film arrives ready to share and rewatch for years to come. Its length and scope reflect the package you chose and the story you wanted to tell.
Formats — A private cloud link for easy sharing, and a beautifully made flash drive for safekeeping over the years.
Extras — If you wish, I can include the full interview recordings — gently refined but complete — as a private family record.
Privacy & rights — Your film belongs to your family — emotionally and legally. Copyright remains with you, and the film stays private unless you choose to share it.
Create memories.
Keep memories.
Investment in your family legacy
Legacy is how we are remembered by those who come after us.
These films make that memory vivid and human — blending guided interviews, the beauty of everyday moments, and your family archives into a cinematic portrait you’ll revisit for generations.
This isn’t just a purchase; it’s an investment in how your descendants will know you.
Choose the package that best reflects your vision, and we’ll tailor it to your needs.
Life Lessons Film
A heartfelt portrait that preserves the wisdom, values, and life experience of one person — usually an elder in the family.
Includes:
1 planning session.
2–3 hours of filmed interview in your home or chosen location.
Integration of up to 50 family photos.
Professional editing into a 15–20-minute finished film.
From first conversation to final film:
1 month
Investment:
₪8,000 – ₪12,000
Recommended package: Family Story Film
Capture the voices and perspectives of multiple family members, woven together into one cinematic story. Perfect for milestone anniversaries, reunions, or family history preservation.
Includes:
In‑depth story planning session.
Up to 6 hours of interviews with up to 4 family members.
Supporting footage filming in up to two locations.
Integration of up to 80 family archive photos/documents/videos.
Editing into a 20–30-minute finished film.
From first conversation to final film:
2-3 months
Investment:
₪16,000 – ₪25,000
Full Documentary Legacy Film
Your family’s feature-length story — crafted like a documentary, but guided with care and sensitivity.
Through multiple filming days, detailed planning, and integration of all available and relevant materials, we create a film that becomes an heirloom in its own right.
Optional portraits, taken with the eye of a professional photographer, can be included to complete the record.
Includes:
Up to three planning sessions to shape your narrative.
Up to four full filming days to capture interviews and supporting footage.
Integration of unlimited photos/documents/videos.
Subtitles in up to 4 languages.
Final 50–60-minute film.
From first conversation to final film:
3-4 months
Investment:
Starting from ₪30,000
Legacy Film for a Special Day
A short, cinematic portrait for life’s most meaningful celebrations. A gift that outlives the party — a film telling the story of the person being honored.
Through a relaxed interview, meaningful b-roll, and selected personal photos or home video clips, I create a 3–5 minute film that can be played back at your event and treasured for years to come.
Includes:
One planning session to shape the story.
1–2 hours of filming (interview + b-roll).
Integration of up to 30 photos/videos.
Professional editing, sound, and music.
3–5-minute finished film, delivered event-ready.
From first conversation to final film:
3-4 weeks
Investment:
Starting from ₪3,500
Beyond the Film
In addition to your chosen package, you may also add:
Full Interview Recordings
— starting from ₪1,000.
Complete, gently polished interviews for your family’s private archive.Family Photo Session
— starting from ₪1,800.
As a professional photographer, I offer relaxed, unstaged portraits that not only complement your film, but can also stand on their own as a meaningful keepsake and family heirloom.
These extras become a fuller record of your family’s history — the voices, faces, and details that may not appear in the final cut, but hold just as much meaning.