Michèle Ohayon

Michele Ohayon is an award winning director, writer and producer. Born in Casablanca and raised in Israel, Michele graduated from Tel Aviv University (Film & Television), after serving in the army. Her critically acclaimed feature documentaries include: It was a Wonderful Life (1987, narrated by Jodie Foster) (PBS), Colors Straight Up (1997) (Nominated for an Academy Award, Directors Guild of America, Spirit awards and won 13 National awards), Cowboy del Amor (2005) (winner SXSW both jury and audience award), Steal a Pencil for Me, (2007), produced with Netflix. Winner Jerusalem Film Festival, S.OS./State of Security (2010) (Berlin film festival) and Solar Roadways, (Tribeca film festival). In 1984, she received the Israeli Best Film Award for 'Pressure', one of the first dramatic films on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 1987, she moved to Los Angeles, where she went on to direct many acclaimed documentary features. In 2013 Ohayon made the Academy of Motion Pictures tribute film for Angelina Jolie, narrated by Morgan Freeman, and for Jolie's Governor's academy award for her humanitarian work, and in 2014 tribute film for Jean Claude Carriere, Academy Award, narrated by Jeremy Irons, with Irons, Richard Gere, Natalie Porman, Juliet Binoche and Isabelle Huppert. Michele has also moderated the first TV summit for the Berlin Film Festival 2014, followed by "Hollywood Inside and Out" at the Sarajevo film festival 2014, and served on juries of various festivals, ...

S.O.S.: State of Security (2011)

Even though Richard Clarke was the one who repeatedly warned against Al Qaeda, he was perhaps the only member of the administration who took responsibility for the lack of preparedness for the 9/11 attack. His famous testimony "your government failed you, I failed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Richard Clarke

Even though Richard Clarke was the one who repeatedly warned against Al Qaeda, he was perhaps the only member of the administration who took responsibility for the lack of preparedness for the 9/11 attack. His famous testimony "your government failed you, I failed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Richard Clarke

Steal a Pencil for Me (2007)

1943, The Netherlands is under total Nazi occupation. In Amsterdam, Jack, an unassuming accountant, first meets Ina at a birthday party - a 20-year-old beauty from a wealthy diamond manufacturing family who instantly steals his heart. But Jack's pursuit of love ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST: 

1943, The Netherlands is under total Nazi occupation. In Amsterdam, Jack, an unassuming accountant, first meets Ina at a birthday party - a 20-year-old beauty from a wealthy diamond manufacturing family who instantly steals his heart. But Jack's pursuit of love ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST: 

Cowboy del Amor (2005)

Documentary about Ivan Thompson, self-proclaimed "Cowboy Cupid" who matches up immigrant Mexican women with available American men.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Ivan Thompson

Documentary about Ivan Thompson, self-proclaimed "Cowboy Cupid" who matches up immigrant Mexican women with available American men.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Ivan Thompson

It Was a Wonderful Life (1993)

Documentary - They're clean, educated, articulate and rarely receive public assistance. But following a divorce, job loss or a long illness, a growing number of middle-class women are forced to live out of their cars. Directed by Michèle Ohayon (Colors Straight Up) ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Jodie Foster

Documentary - They're clean, educated, articulate and rarely receive public assistance. But following a divorce, job loss or a long illness, a growing number of middle-class women are forced to live out of their cars. Directed by Michèle Ohayon (Colors Straight Up) ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Jodie Foster

Colors Straight Up (1997)

The non-profit organization, Colors United, teaches drama to a group of inner city kids. The culmination of the theater education is a musical called Watts Side Story.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST: 

The non-profit organization, Colors United, teaches drama to a group of inner city kids. The culmination of the theater education is a musical called Watts Side Story.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST: 

Cristina (2016)

An intimate journey of a 37-year-old Cristina, as fate brings to her life both a new love and an unbeatable challenge. Determined to pass on a message of hope and a 'live in the now' mentality, Cristina's second cancer takes a toll on her diminishing body, however ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Cristina Weigmann

An intimate journey of a 37-year-old Cristina, as fate brings to her life both a new love and an unbeatable challenge. Determined to pass on a message of hope and a 'live in the now' mentality, Cristina's second cancer takes a toll on her diminishing body, however ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Cristina Weigmann

Solar Roadways (2012)

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DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST: 

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DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST: 

Strip Down, Rise Up (2021)

The feature documentary follows women of all walks of life, all ages and ethnic backgrounds, as they shed trauma, body image shame, sexual abuse and other issues locked in their bodies, and embark on a journey to reclaim themselves. The film also gives a rare ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Sheila Kelley  •  Jenyne Butterfly  •  Elizabeth Mihelich  •  Amy Bond

The feature documentary follows women of all walks of life, all ages and ethnic backgrounds, as they shed trauma, body image shame, sexual abuse and other issues locked in their bodies, and embark on a journey to reclaim themselves. The film also gives a rare ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Sheila Kelley  •  Jenyne Butterfly  •  Elizabeth Mihelich  •  Amy Bond

Pressure (1984)

A love story between an arab man and a jewish woman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Orly Zilberschatz  •  Ran Vered  •  Nissim Zohar  •  Neta Ahuvi

A love story between an arab man and a jewish woman.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michèle Ohayon
CAST:  Orly Zilberschatz  •  Ran Vered  •  Nissim Zohar  •  Neta Ahuvi