BIOGRAPHY
Ofir Raul Graizer was born in Israel in 1981, immigrated to Germany in 2010, and is now based in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the Film School in Sapir College, Sderot. His short films were screened in numerous film festivals including Cannes, Clermont-Ferrand, and more. His first feature The Cakemaker was a huge arthouse success. It was released theatrically in 26 countries, won 18 film awards and became the Israeli Entry to the American Academy Award - The Oscar®. It was aquired by Netflix to stream in North America. With 98% at Rottentomatoes The Cakemaker is still being viewed today, 6 years after its release.
Graizer's second feature America won both critics and audience awards and was released internationally in 7 markets, including North America. It was praised for its “intoxicating sensory quality” and even called “a masterpiece for the ages”. Andrew Wright wrote in The Take-Out: “Ofir Raul Graizer is the real deal”.
Graizer was a guest speaker at the Columbia University, Wesleyan University, and the Atelier-Ludwigsburg-Paris in the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg. He served as the development mentor of the Negev Film Fund. He also served as a Jury in the Oscar® Qualified Drama Shorts Competition of Out On Film in Atlanta, for the NDR Young Talent Award at the Hamburg Film Festival, for the Europa in Film project of the German Film Academy and in the main feature competition at the Funf Seen Filmfestival.
Graizer published a book of short stories and recipes in German. He is currently working on several films, TV, and literary projects for the international market. He is represented by Hertz Lichtenstein Young & Polk LLP (Will Smith, Keke Palmer, Esther Perel and more).
AWARDS AND SPECIAL MENTIONS
2024
Winner - Audience Award - Filmfestival Kitzbühel
2023
Winner - Best Narrative Feature - BendFilm
Winner - Critics Prize - Miami Jewish Film Festival
2022
Winner - Audience Award, Best Narrative - Philadelphia JFM
Winner - Best Actress - Oshrat Ingedashet - Jerusalem IFF
2018
Winner of the Ophir Award - Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay - The Israeli Academy of Film and Television
Winner of The Critics Prize - Miami Jewish Film Festival
Winner of the Audience Award - Kosmorama Trondheim Internasjonale Filmfestival
Winner of The Best Film Award - Provincetown International Film Festival
Winner of the Special Jury Diploma - Molodist International Film Festival
Winner of the Jury Prize - Festival du Cinéma Israelién de Montréal
Winner - The Best Director, the Best Israeli Film - Berlin Jewish Film Festival
Winner of the 2nd Best Feature - Würzburg International Filmweekend
Granted the Script Development Fund from the IDM Sout Tyrol ("The Dream of the Shepherd")
Granted the Script Development Fund from The Israeli Film Fund ("America")
2017
Winner of the Ecunomal Jury Award - Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Winner of The Lia Van Leer Award - Jerusalem Film Festival
2016
CINELAB - Pitch Point, Jerusalem Film Festival
Rabinowich Film Fund for Post Production
Best Film – Basta Fest Serbia
2015
Selected to participate in Chile Factory - Director's Fortnight, Cannes
2014
Talent Project Market - Berlinale Talents
2013
Agora Film Market - Thessaloniki Film Festival
2012
Development Fund - Jerusalem Film & Television Fund
Berlinale Talent Campus
The Nipkow Program - Expanded support for project exellence
2011
The Nipkow Program - Development Grant - "The German Cakemaker"
REGIOFUN Film Festival - Best Film for "DOR" - Short Film Competition
2010
3rd Award - Gottlib Screenplay Competition for the screenplay of “September”
The Southern Filmmaker Award, Cinema South Festival
2nd Prize for Treatments - Tel Avid Student Film Festival
2009
Goldfarb Film Scholarship
Eli Gelfend Short Film Fund
Best Editing for "Fragments", CSFF
Best Film - Student Competition DocAviv
Best Film Cinema South Festival
2008
Best Editing for "Reds - Chronicle of a Struggle” Cinema South Festival
2007
Dean's Scholarship, Sapir Academic College
Winner of Filmmaker’s Scholarship Sapir Academic College
CREATIVE CONSULTING
Ofir Raul Graizer offers screenplay, treatments and rough cut evaluation for production companies, independent filmmakers, and writers of all levels. In some cases he also affers tailored guidance and assistance for actors who wish to elevate their talent. To receive a quote or book a session, please contact via the form.
"My approach is personally tailored to your needs. Trusting me with your material will provide you with honest, uncompromising and above all practical advice. Improve and heighten the quality of your screenplay; receive full-time mentoring and support in your process from idea to a full draft; obtain usable and specific solutions, practical tips, tools, strategies, and more. I’m here for you."
- Ofir Raul Graizer