An Indo-Israeli murder mystery has earned a spot at one of Europe’s newest genre film events. Murders Too Close – Love too Far, co-directed by Dan Wolman and Manju Borah, has been selected for the Lakes Noir International Film Festival in Italy. The festival runs from September 24 to 27, 2026, across Varese and Luino. The film will screen in the Omicidi troppo vicini segment, a category dedicated to thrillers, noir, and crime cinema.
The selection marks another milestone for what is described as the first co-production between India and Israel. The film had its initial festival run earlier in 2026 at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), where it screened in the Global Cinema section on January 17 and January 19.
A Story Born from a Turning Point in Delhi
The idea for Murders Too Close – Love too Far took shape after the 2012 Delhi gang r*pe case, widely known as the Nirbhaya case, which sparked nationwide protests across India. Dan Wolman was in New Delhi at the time for the New Delhi International Film Festival.
“On December 28, 2012, I attended the New Delhi International Film Festival with my film ‘Gei Oni’. A few days earlier, the horrific gang r*pe and murder had happened. I was there in the streets of Delhi witnessing the huge demonstrations and marches of mainly women after the incident.”
“It was then and there that the idea for the film Murder Too Close – Love Too Far was born. I wrote to my friend Manju Borah from Assam about my idea and fortunately she agreed to co-produce and co-direct the film with me.”
What the Film Is About
The 108-minute crime drama is set against the backdrop of a rural police station in Assam, India. The story follows senior CBI officer Ram Chaudhary, who is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of two policemen. During the investigation, he meets Gita, a gifted artist whose work explores mob psychology and collective behaviour. As their relationship develops, further murders complicate the case, mixing personal emotions with the procedural investigation.
According to Wolman, the film explores themes of abuse, violence, corruption, group behaviour, and mob mentality.
“These are a part of life here in Israel as anywhere else in the world. I have made films in America, Europe, Africa and China and all deal with similar stories, issues and problems.”
The Cast and Creative Team
The film features an ensemble cast including Siddharth Nipon Goswami, Shaminn Mannan, Seema Biswas, Bhagirathi Bai Kadam, Adil Hussain, and Diganta Hazarika. The screenplay was jointly written by Manju Borah and Dan Wolman. The creative team includes cinematographer Partha Borgohain, editor Eyal Amir, sound designer Debajit Gayan, and music composer Sanket Joshi.
The film was shot entirely in Assam using a local Assamese film crew. The project received support from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Indian government. This was the first international co-production involving an Assamese production house and a foreign partner to receive such backing.
Dan Wolman to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lakes Noir International Film Festival will present Dan Wolman with its Lifetime Achievement Award, known as the Premio alla Carriera. Wolman is a well-known Israeli filmmaker whose credits include Floch, My Michael, An Israeli Love Story, and Valley of Strength. He was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2018.
“My heartfelt thanks to Manju Borah who unfortunately cannot join me there and to the entire film crew in Assam for their dedication, talent, and spirit of collaboration, and to our editor, Eyal Amir, for his sensitive and creative work in shaping the film.”
“I’m grateful to the festival for this recognition and delighted that the film will meet new audiences.”
Manju Borah is a National Award-winning Assamese filmmaker known for her culturally rooted cinema that addresses social, indigenous, and women-centric themes. Her partnership with Wolman blends international storytelling with strong regional authenticity.
Borah spoke about the importance of the film’s festival journey when it was selected for PIFF earlier in 2026.
“Being selected at PIFF is a proud moment not just for our film, but for Assamese cinema. This project shows that stories from Assam can find space on global platforms when backed by strong collaboration and local talent.”
What to Know About Lakes Noir Film Festival
The Lakes Noir International Film Festival is a competitive event entirely dedicated to thrillers, noir, and crime sub-genres. The 2026 edition is the festival’s first, running from September 24 to 27 in Luino and Varese, Italy. The festival’s top prizes include the Golden Swan for Best Noir Feature Film and the Silver Swan for Best Noir Short Film.
The opening film for the festival is Il Falsario, directed by Stefano Lodovichi. Other honorees at the 2026 event include Francesco Pellicini and Camilla Filippi, who will receive career awards. Israeli filmmaker Dan Wolman and producer Amir Gedalia will also receive international tributes at the opening gala on September 24.
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Screening Details
Murders Too Close – Love too Far will be shown as part of the Omicidi troppo vicini segment at Lakes Noir. The festival takes place across Varese and Luino in Italy from September 24 to 27, 2026. Specific screening times and venues are listed on the festival’s official platform, Ltvonline.it, which handles exclusive festival coverage.
For audiences in India, Israel, and other regions, the film previously screened at PIFF 2026 in Pune. The film had its initial release in January 2026. Further distribution and streaming details for Murders Too Close – Love too Far have not been announced by the filmmakers.
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