Noga Ashkenazi is a multifaceted Israeli writer and director, who has honed her craft through rigorous academic and professional pursuits. She earned a degree in Theater and Dance from Grinnell College, and later pursued filmmaking at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris, France. With her extensive education and training, Noga has successfully navigated various creative endeavors, including playwrighting and dramaturgy at the National Theatre of Israel in her hometown of Tel Aviv.
Ashkenazi's impressive filmmaking resume boasts her debut feature-length documentary, THE GREY AREA: FEMINISM BEHIND BARS, which delves into the lives of inmates at a maximum-security women's prison in Iowa. This thought-provoking documentary not only premiered at the ArcLight Cinemas Documentary Film Festival in Los Angeles but also won the Best Documentary Award at the JDIFF. Following its release in 2013 through distribution by Women Make Movies, THE GREY AREA garnered widespread critical acclaim.
Noga's narrative feature debut, SAINTS REST, marked a significant milestone in her career. Co-written and directed by Ashkenazi, this musical drama stars Hani Furstenberg, Allie Trimm, and Dana Ivgy. Set in small-town Iowa, SAINTS REST features an original song-score performed live on set and tells the poignant story of two estranged sisters who form a connection through their shared love of music as they grieve the recent loss of their mother. The film premiered at the RiverRun International Film Festival in 2018, where it won the Audience Award, and went on to win the Best Feature Film Award at the Iowa Independent Film Festival and the Best of Iowa Award at the Interrobang Film Festival.
Ashkenazi's upcoming feature film, CRACKED WOODEN SPOON (pre-production),is written by Tyson Stock and produced by Rebecca Green and Chris Ohlson. With her unique blend of creativity, dedication, and passion, Noga Ashkenazi continues to make a lasting impact on the film industry, leaving a trail of critically acclaimed works in her wake.
