Technion Trailblazers: 100 Years of History Through Film with Uri Rosenwaks

Over one hundred years ago, a few bold visionaries recognized the imperative to establish a nexus of research and technological advancement on Haifa’s Mount Carmel. The goal: to build the State of Israel physically and discover breakthroughs that would drive change around the world. 

From their determination came the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Film producer and director Uri Rosenwaks created the inspiring documentary “Technion 10²” to celebrate and reflect on the impact that the university has had on the State of Israel and beyond. As the documentary moves through the Jewish film festival circuit here in the United States, I had the pleasure of going behind the scenes with Uri to discuss the challenges and joys of the filmmaking process. 

Michael: So far audiences in the US are loving the documentary – it’s been such a great way to come together and celebrate the Technion’s contributions to Israel and world, especially in this time of adversity and growing antisemitism. Why were you interested in creating this film? 

Uri: I was familiar with the Technion from two of my previous projects, “The Nobelists” and “The Bay.” The first is a five-part docuseries about the Israeli Nobel Laureates, three of whom are Technion scientists: Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko, and Dan Shechtman. “The Bay” is a three-part docuseries aimed at highlighting the work of environmental activists in Haifa Bay, and the leader of the movement, Dr. Lihi Shachar-Berman, was a Technion alum. Aside from my work, however, the Technion is of course very well known throughout Israel for its exceptional educational experience and research contributions. 

The Technion approached me to make “Technion 10²” to honor and celebrate its centennial last year, and from the moment I dove into the project, I was captivated. 

Technion president Uri Sivan (left) with Uri Rosenwaks (right) | Credit: Rami Shelush

Michael: Most of your work is documentary-style. How did you get involved in filmmaking, and why do you gravitate toward stories in the scientific field? 

Uri: I’ve been a filmmaker for over 30 years, and the primary goal with all of my work is to synthesize complex material to tell a story that everyone can connect with and understand. As long as you have a basic sense of curiosity, you will enjoy my work. There is an art to introducing complex topics in film without being too reductive or simplistic. I know most people watch a film only once – so I have to be sure to create a compelling story the first time. 

Michael: It feels daunting to take the vast century of history at the Technion and boil it down to one documentary film. How did you manage that challenge? 

Uri: As you know, there are so many different storylines and topics in the film, so condensing all of that history was definitely a huge challenge. As I explored all of the material and archives at my disposal, I identified three primary story arcs that had interesting intersections: the history of Israel, the history of the Technion, and various scientific breakthroughs in the 20th and 21st centuries. The anchor for the story is where each of these timelines connect; and through historic reenactments, interviews with alumni and current faculty, and videos from the last century, all of that history really comes to life. 

Behind the scenes | Credit: Rami Shelush

Credit: Rami Shelush

Michael: The film illuminated for me how quickly the Technion adapted not only to fit the needs of a growing Israel, but also to play a vital role in that growth directly. I think there are so many great nuggets of history and anecdotes that regardless of how much you know about the Technion, everyone is bound to learn something new from the film. Was there anything that surprised you about the Technion during your research and the process of making the documentary? 

Uri: While I was somewhat familiar with the Technion’s legacy because of my previous work, almost everything I learned in the process was new to me. As you said, the connection between the university and the State of Israel itself is much closer than I had ever thought previously. At its core, the Technion is a story of great accomplishment, but I hadn’t seen it told in such a direct way. I wanted to put a spotlight on that relationship to explore how each research development built on others, allowing the Technion to usher in new industry and progress for Israel. At the end of the film, it’s unbelievable to think that at the beginning of the 20th century, many folks did not see a need for more than five or six engineers in the region. 

Historical reenactment | Credit: Rami Shelush

Michael: It is impossible to ignore the devastation and grief that the current war has caused for Israel and the global Jewish community. I can also imagine that it posed some unpredictable challenges for production. How do you think the conflict shaped the way you made the film and how people have been connecting with it? 

Uri: Despite the deep blanket of sorrow that fell over Israel following the events of October 7th, when the war started in the middle of production, we still had to push forward to complete the project in time for the Technion centennial. It ended up having a pretty significant impact on filming because the campus was very empty when many students were called to the front lines. We also had to grapple with the constant stream of air sirens between takes. Especially when the war picked up in the north, logistics became even more difficult, but we had full support from leadership at the Technion. 

That said, I think everyone who worked on the film saw the project as a bright spot amid chaos and sadness. Across the country, people were in mourning, but when we drove to set, we were able to disconnect from reality for a few hours each day. It felt like a breath of fresh air, and I hope everyone who contributed to the project feels a deep sense of pride in their work. 

Michael: The conflict definitely puts a lot of the themes you highlighted in the documentary into perspective and drives home just how important academia is for the health and strength of Israel as a whole. This moment in history demands a film like this where we can reflect on our accomplishments and find those bright spots when they are so rare. What do you hope viewers ultimately take away from the documentary after they see it? 

Uri: At the end of the day, I hope everyone who sees the documentary really internalizes the story and continues to reflect on it well after the credits start rolling. Because of the vast history of the Technion, we were not able to include every piece of information we found in our research. I hope that the documentary can serve as an initial spark of interest in the Technion and Israeli scientific contributions overall so that viewers seek to learn more when they go back out into the world. 

Michael: We’re so excited to bring a piece of Haifa to the US in screenings around the country. Keep an eye out for “Technion 10²” at your local Jewish film festival this year, and if you’re interested in learning more about the Technion’s global impact, you can visit the American Technion Society. 

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All images used with permission.