Nice to meet you, I’m Dotan Nave – a creator, educator, and writer.
What drives me in my work is my love for people and their stories. I am fascinated by the unique connection that is formed between people and places, and I aim to bring stories from the complex collective memory of Israeli society to the screen, exploring topics such as wars, terrorism, education, and society from diverse angles and perspectives.
I was born in 1978 on Kibbutz Lehavot Haviva, and my childhood on the kibbutz runs like a thread through my life story, intertwining communication, cinema, and education.
During my military service, I worked as a research assistant at the Israel National Defense College at the IDF Command and Staff College. After my discharge, I went on to study filmmaking and television at Sapir College in 2002. My final project film, Homeless, explored the unique experience of growing up in the children’s house in the kibbutz. It was screened on Yes Docu, in cinematheques across the country, and at international festivals.
Since 2006, I have been engaged in research and content creation for films, television series, and visitor centers.
My second film, Ansar, was the first to tell the story of the POW camp established by the IDF during the First Lebanon War. The film, produced by Kastina Communications, aired in June 2022 on "Kan 11"- a state-owned Israeli television channel. The intriguing responses I received after the film had been broadcast encouraged me to delve deeper into the research, leading to the publication of my book, A Thin White Line, in March 2024.
Beyond my work in filmmaking, I am also an educator who believes in connecting communication, cinema, and experiential education. I teach communication and cinema in schools across Israel, including in the periphery, guiding my students through meaningful learning experiences. I strive to create collaborations between students from different schools by means of cinematic work, allowing them to express themselves through the camera lens. In my classes, I emphasize the importance of critical viewing and reading of media and social network content, as well as hands-on learning as a tool for personal empowerment.
I invite you to join me on a journey of stories that reflect the facets of Israeli society, through a personal and creative lens.
Professional Biography
My passion for the world of cinema and production began in 2006 when I worked as a production assistant on the set of the feature film "Noodle", filmed at Ben Gurion Airport. This experience left a lasting impression on me and sparked a deep desire to explore this fascinating and unconventional field. I then transitioned to content creation, working as a researcher for the program 'New Evening' on Israeli Educational Television and Channel 10 News. I served as a senior researcher at JCS for two years, during which I worked on numerous projects, including promotional films for government ministries and leading visitor centers in Israel, such as 'A Window to Arava Agriculture', Teva-Tech in Ramat Hovav, and the Ashdod Port Visitor Center. Later, I served as the lead editor on TV shows such as 'Legal Question' and 'Real Estate Secrets' (on former Channels 2 and 10). In this role, I wrote the scripts, prepared texts for the hosts, and managed the studio team during broadcasts.
Subsequently, I worked in production management for international films and TV shows filmed in Israel, including 'More than a Game' for the British SKY network.
Education and Training
In 2015, I conducted research for a film commissioned by the President's Residence, in which President Reuven Rivlin presented his vision of the four central tribes in Israeli society: secular, national-religious, ultra-Orthodox, and Arab. During the project, I met with outstanding teachers and principals from schools across the country, and these personal encounters ignited in me a desire to become an educator. A year later, I transitioned into teaching, and since then, I have been involved in developing and leading educational programs in high schools across Israel, including in peripheral areas.
Over the years, I have held various positions - Classroom educator, professional teacher, and head of communication and film production tracks in high schools. I have taught in cities such as Hadera, Lod, & Rosh Ha'Ayin. Additionally, I served as a regional instructor for cinema teachers in the central region on behalf of the Ministry of Education. Among other things, I developed training content for teachers, managed teaching teams, created annual work plans, and guided students through the film-making process—from concept to final product—while emphasizing meaningful education.
Future Projects
I am working on two major documentary projects: a book about Israel's struggle against aviation terrorism, born out of conversations with security personnel who thwarted past attacks, and a documentary film focusing on the recovery of victims after the Black Saturday. The film follows the lives of a group of women who survived the massacre and depicts their rehabilitation process after the trauma, including coping with finding temporary housing and employment, feelings of displacement, and uncertainty. Both projects are expected to be released in September 2025.
Dear Dotan,
There’s no doubt that you played a key role in building my knowledge in the subject 'Communication and Society,' so I just wanted to say thank you very much. I greatly appreciate everything you have done for me.
Elad
You are the only one I remember who truly wanted the best for me, who believed in me, supported and cared for me, and did everything just to help me get through. I will never forget that!
Moran
I wanted to share that I completed my military chapter with great distinction, and I want to thank you today for never giving up on me as a young teen. You are a big part of who I am today, thanks to your guidance and philosophy.
Matan
Lectures
I invite you to join me on a journey through stories that reveal the complex and fascinating facets of Israeli society through a personal and creative lens.
These lectures weave together insights drawn from years of experience in communication, cinema, and education, as well as from documentary work that seeks the human side behind events. In these sessions, we’ll dive into historical events and examine how collective memory continues to shape our lives today.
These lectures are designed to evoke thought and feeling, showcasing the educational and cultural power of documentary storytelling. Join this experience to discover fresh perspectives and surprising angles on Israeli history through the camera lens.
Personal Journey Through the Lens
Personal films reveal the richness and complexity of diverse and unique life experiences. Whether it is documenting a roots journey, capturing a personal development process, or creating a film for a family event, the collaboration between the filmmaker and the participants allows for deep exploration of processes resulting in an exceptionally valuable personal outcome.
As part of my work, I have the privilege of entering private worlds and accompanying individuals on their journeys. Additionally, I offer guidance for those interested in creating their own film—whether through partial involvement or full collaboration. The process can contribute not only to the final creation but also serves as a therapeutic tool and impacts one's personal and internal experience.
If you're interested in turning your story into a meaningful film, I invite you to reach out and start this creative journey together.
dotnaveh@gmail.com
+972 - 50-8648764
It was fascinating to see how much time was dedicated to research and how the documentary project came to life. It’s a film that continues to resonate long after I left the screening. I was impressed by a curious, kind, and thorough creator who managed to let the place and the characters tell their story in an emotional way. In the lecture, you spoke with a deep passion for creation and action. Well done, and thank you for everything.
Tiki (Beit Ha'Lochem Center, Tel Aviv)
Yesterday’s gathering was special and fascinating! Keep creating meaningful films through the lens of the camera and with your sensitive ear for words!
Sarah (Kibbutz Dvir)
The viewing and discussion with the students of the film Ansar and the accompanying book were fascinating, unsettling, yet hopeful. How important it is to learn from the past to apply it in the present...
Prof. Yvonne Kozlovsky Golan (Head of the Program in Culture and Cinema, University of Haifa)