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Israeli transgender pioneer Efrat Tilma was persecuted by the police in the 1960’s for wearing a dress in the streets of Tel-Aviv. She fled to Europe on her own at seventeen, made a name for herself as a lip-sync artist, landed her dream job as a flight attendant, returned to Israel in the early 2000’s, and finally, at almost sixty years old, became the first transgender police woman in the country. Now in her seventies and a celebrated activist, Efrat must fight for her rights once again, while the country spirals into unprecedented political and social regression.

Udi Nir is a writer, director, and producer of documentaries. He studied playwriting at the Israeli School of Dramaturgy, and worked in theater before meeting his partner Sagi Bornstein and turning to documentary filmmaking. Since 2022, Udi serves as a board member of the Israeli documentary association.

Efrat Tilma, the subject of The First Lady, is an Israeli transgender activist and the first trans woman to volunteer in the Israeli Police. A play based on her autobiography, Made He a Woman, was performed at Habima Theatre, the national theatre of Israel. In 2019, Tilma was recognized by Tel Aviv for her public work.