Triler Dox

The Green Prince

Nadav Schirman
Screening time  
24.02. / Tuesday, 17:00 - 19:00 Theatre 4  
This real life thriller tells the story of one of Israel’s prized intelligence sources, the son of a top Hamas leader. Under the code name “The Green Prince”, he is recruited to spy on his own people for over a decade.

Strange, but true: the son of Palestinian Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef worked for the Israeli security agency Shin Bet. Mosab Hassan Yousef was just 17 when he was recruited by the Israeli agent Gonen Ben-Yitzhak, and worked undercover for the enemy for many years. In this psychological thriller containing elements that seem borrowed directly from a Greek tragedy, both of the chief protagonists speak candidly about the more than 10 years that the Palestinian worked undercover for Shin Bet under the code name “The Green Prince.” Why did Mosab sign up in the first place? Why did he deliver his own people, including members of his own family, into the hands of their enemy? Extended interviews with both Mosab Hassan Youssef and Gonen Ben-Yitzhak, punctuated by news reports and drone footage, reveal this ultra-secret story taking place behind the scenes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is a tale of impossible choices and how your enemy can end up being the only friend you have left.

Nadav Schirman

Nadav Schirman is writer and director. He was born in Israel and raised in Paris, Montreal, and in the US. The Champagne Spy (2007) is his debut feature. Following on from The Champagne Spy and In the Darkroom (2013), The Green Prince (2014) completes Schirman’s documentary trilogy.

General sponsor

The Green Prince

Germany, Great Britain, USA, Israel
2014, 101', DCP

Directed by:
Nadav Schirman

Cinematography:
Hans Fromm, Giora Bejach, Raz Dagan

Edited by:
Sanjeev Hathiramani, Joelle Alexis

Producers:
Nadav Schirman, Simon Chinn, John Battsek

Produced by:
A-List Films, Red Box Films, Passion Pictures

Festivals & Awards:

Sundance Film Festival 2014 – Audience Award World Cinema Documentary; Moscow International Film Festival 2014 – Audience Award Documentary Competition; Doc Aviv Film Festival 2014 – Best Editing Award; Israeli Academy Awards, the Ophirs, 2014 – Best Documentary Feature; Bavarian Film Award Pierrot 2014 – Pierrot for Best Documentary Feature