Down the River

Neta Tezazo is an Ethiopian-Israeli Mossad officer with a mysterious past, sent on a mission to Darfur to intercede on behalf of Gen. Musa Issa Musa; a local warlord with political ambitions. If all goes according to plan, she will not survive the mission. Can Neta catch onto the game before she's the one that gets played?

  • Daniel H. Jacobson
    Director
  • Daniel H. Jacobson
    Writer
  • Daniel H. Jacobson
    Producer
  • Isgav Kutok
    Producer
  • Eli Eltonyo
    Producer
  • Heli Amresh Sanka
    Key Cast
    "Neta Tezazo"
  • Hameis El-Sheikh
    Key Cast
    "Musa Issa Musa"
  • Eli Menashe
    Key Cast
    "Kobi Rafael"
  • Lior Naor
    Key Cast
    "Eitan Avraham"
  • Itzik Peleg
    Key Cast
    "The Boss"
  • Emos Ayeno
    Key Cast
    "David"
  • Yaser Abdullah
    Key Cast
    "Zakariah"
  • Habib Oksher
    Key Cast
    "Manny Arko"
  • Adam Rose
    Original Musical Score
  • Raz Birger
    Director of Photography
  • Naaman Hoffman
    Assistant Director
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 30, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    Israel
  • Country of Filming:
    Israel
  • Language:
    Arabic, English, Hebrew
  • Shooting Format:
    4K Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Oaxaca Filmfest
    Oaxaca
    Mexico
    October 7, 2019
    World Premiere
    Finalist - New Industry
  • Lancaster International Short Film Festival
    Lancaster, PA
    United States
    October 11, 2019
    American Premiere
    Homegrown Filmmaker Award
  • Red Rose Film Festival
    Lancaster, PA
    United States
    November 1, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Calcutta International Cult Film Festival
    Calcutta
    India
    January 4, 2020
    Outstanding Achievement by Debut Filmmaker - February 2019
  • Taos Shortz Film Festival
    Taos, New Mexico
    United States
    March 20, 2020
    Southwest Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival
    Houston, TX
    United States
    April 17, 2020
    Texas Premiere
    Gold Remi Award
  • New York City Independent Film Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    May 10, 2020
    New York Premiere
    Best Actress (Heli Amresh Sanka), Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Khameis El-Sheikh - Nominated), Best Short (Nominated)
  • Bucharest International Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    August 8, 2020
    European Premiere
    Featured in the "Socially United in Cinema" Director's Roundtable
Director Biography - Daniel H. Jacobson

Daniel H. Jacobson is an American-Israeli filmmaker based in Tel Aviv. Born and raised in Lancaster, PA, he graduated from Clark University with a degree in International Relations and moved to Tel Aviv in 2008, briefly working in the field of counter terrorism.
After completing his military service, he bounced around for a few years writing, playing music, traveling and working odd jobs before enrolling in film school. He dropped out in his third year to finish his short film, "Down the River" - little did he know the project would take four years to complete.
Dan is currently working on an original television series and a feature film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Please read this article on the amazing story of Hameis El-Sheikh, lead actor from "Down the River."

https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/109318-160411-the-incredible-story-of-a-darfuri-actori-in-israel

You can see more of his story here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUKvVE1XUkI&feature=youtu.be

For my interview about "Down the River" on the i24 English News Network, click here:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10452344/videoplayer/vi3759586329?ref_=nm_ov_vi