Bold, Personal, and Moving: “Chance” by WIZO Hadassim Students Wins Prestigious Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival

A touching achievement for the film students at WIZO Hadassim Youth Village: the short narrative film “Chance”, created as part of their final senior project and matriculation exam, won third place in the Best Narrative Film category at the Van Leer Youth Film Competition — one of Israel’s leading platforms for young filmmakers.

Out of more than 120 films submitted to the competition, only 17 made it to the final round. The selected films were screened at a special event on the opening day of the Jerusalem Film Festival, followed by a festive awards ceremony.

“Chance” tells the story of a high school student who believes his family is cursed with bad luck. When a new love enters his life, he decides to defy fate and change his destiny — against all odds.

The film was produced as the final project of 12th-grade students in WIZO Hadassim’s film department, which is led by top industry professionals:
Avi Mercado, a documentary director known for the series “The Mandate” on Kan 11; Shai Blank, an award-winning film editor (Total Show); and Einat Pesach, teacher and mentor.

The production brought together students from the film department and an animation artist from the school’s art track, resulting in a cinematic work rich in imagination and talent. The creators of the film are Polina Isikova, Margo Ageichik, and Arseny Odovenko, in collaboration with Yekaterina Kuryatkina, who was responsible for the animation.

“We’re overjoyed by the win and hope it’s the first step in our journey into the film industry,” said the young creators.
“It was fun working as a team, and we want to thank our teachers for the learning experience and the skills we gained during our three years in the department.”

Student Margo Ageichik, who wrote and directed the film, shared the personal story that inspired the project:

“This idea has been close to my heart my whole life. Since I was a child, my parents talked about bad luck in our family, and I became so used to the idea that I eventually became obsessed with the feeling that nothing ever goes my way. I wanted to give the film a hopeful ending — a glimpse of a better future for the main character. This story is an absurd and deeply personal reflection of my own emotions and hopes, and that’s why it’s so moving for me to see it so highly appreciated.”

Film department coordinator Avi Mercado summed it up:

“Chance is a bold and unique film, with an original script that smartly blends animation, soundtrack, and strong acting. It reflects three years of dedicated work in WIZO Hadassim’s film department, and we are especially proud of our students for this achievement.”

School principal Dror Platine added:

“We are extremely proud of our film department, headed by Avi Mercado. Our students create films based on topics close to their hearts. We are also proud of the integration of Na’aleh students in the department and the opportunity we give them to create in their own language.”

WIZO Hadassim Youth Village, founded in 1947, is a values-driven educational home for youth — including students from across Israel and the world, boarding school students, immigrants, and local residents of Even Yehuda. All are partners in building a diverse, inclusive, and multicultural educational community.

The village operates with a holistic educational philosophy, emphasizing a combination of formal education with social and non-formal activities. Learning takes place in a variety of pedagogical structures, or “campuses,” each supported by professional partners: academic institutions, industry experts, and leading organizations. These collaborations provide students not only with tools and knowledge but also with exposure to the real world, hands-on experience, inspiration, and a genuine opportunity to achieve great things.

The educational work at the village is rooted in a supportive, empowering environment where each student can grow, develop, and explore creativity, research, leadership, teamwork, and personal initiative.

The film “Chance” is both a testament to the students’ talent and a powerful expression of the educational and humanistic vision of WIZO Hadassim.