Operation Wedding Explained

Operation Wedding is a documentary film about the Dymshits–Kuznetsov hijacking affair, an escape attempt from the Soviet Union by a group of young Soviet, mostly Jewish, who were denied exit visas. The documentary is told from a personal point of view of the filmmaker, Anat Zalmanson-Kuznetsov, daughter of group members: Eduard Kuznetsov and Sylva Zalmanson.^[1]

• Produced by: Sasha Klein Productions (Israel), Ego Media Latvia, Saxsonia Entertainment
• With the support of IBA (Israel Broadcasting Authority) and National Film Centre of Latvia
• Produced with the endorsement of CoPro, IDFA and EBU
• 58/62 minutes, color and B&W
• Languages: English, Russian, Hebrew
• Subtitles: English. Hebrew, Russian, Latvian, Spanish
• Countries of Origins: Israel, Latvia
• Countries of filming: Israel, Latvia, Russia, England, US

Releases

• Hebrew version release:

• English version release:

Russia, US, UK - December 2016Latvia LTV1 - October 2017Denmark February 2018 Danish Film Institute (documentary of the Month)Estonia March 2018 ETV2

• Russian dubbing broadcast: Current Time TV September 2017

Awards

1. Documentary of the month – Danish Film Institute / Copenhagen, Denmark, February 2018

2. Best Documentary, Audience Choice – Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema / Chicago, US 2017

3. Best Feature Documentary – International Filmmaker Festival of NY / New York, NY, US 2018

4. Best Writing – History Film Festival / Croatia 2018

5. Young Jury award for Best Documentary - The Rasnov Histories and Film Festival / Romania 2018

6. Important Documentary About a Socially Relevant Topic, Semi-Final - "Award This" Film Threat / Los Angeles, US 2019

7. Opening film - Jewish Film & Culture Festival / Saarbrücken, Germany 2018

8. Semi-Finalist - Courage Film Festival / Berlin, Germany 2019

9. Award of Excellence - Cinema World Fest Awards Winter / Ottawa, Canada 2018

10. Best Feature Film - Ogeechee International History Film Festival / Georgia, US 2018

11. Best Documentary - Mindie, Miami Independent Film Festival / Florida, US 2018

12. Semi Final – Hollywood Screenings Film Festival / California, US 2018

13. Silver award - World Human Rights Awards / Indonesia 2018

14. Jury Award for February Best Documentary - Eurasia International Film Festival / Moscow, Russia 2018

15. Semi Final – Tribute Film Festival / Texas, US 2018

16. Semi Final – Gold Movie Awards / London, UK 2018

17. Audience Choice Award - Tirana International Documentary Film Festival / Tirana, Albania 2017

18. Globe Award - Around Film Festival / Berlin, Germany 2017

19. Merit Award - International Film Festival Spirituality Religion and Visionary / Bali Indonesia 2017

20. Opening film - Israel Film Days / Riga, Latvia 2017

21. Award of Recognition - Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards / California, US 2016

Reviews and articles

• Film Review at Film Threat
• BBC Jewish Hijack Plot That Changed The Soviet Union
• New Doc Details 1970 Refusenik-led Escape Attempt to Israel
• ‘Do You Know Your Parents Are Heroes?’ The Story Behind ‘Operation Wedding’
• FILMMAKER DOCUMENTS PARENTS’ ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE USSR
• Israeli filmmaker chronicles parents’ failed attempt to hijack a Soviet plane
• Film Festival Offers Documentaries and Features That Explore Many Different Sides of Israel
• The refusenik plot to fly to freedom
• ‘Operation Wedding’ and the plight of Soviet Jews

References

1. https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/russian-refusenik-and-her-filmmaker-daughter-recount-operation-wedding/ Soviet refusenik and her filmmaker daughter recount ‘Operation Wedding’