Perfecting the Art of Longing

{{Short description|2021 Canadian short documentary film}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Perfecting the Art of Longing

| image =

| caption = Film poster

| director = Kitra Cahana

| producer = Kat Baulu
Ariel Nasr

| writer = Kitra Cahana

| starring = Rabbi Ronnie Cahana

| cinematography = Kitra Cahana

| music = Olivier Alary

| editing = Kara Blake

| studio = National Film Board of Canada

| distributor =

| runtime = 12 minutes

| released = {{film date|2021|10|8|FNC}}

| country = Canada

| language = English

| budget =

}}

Perfecting the Art of Longing is a Canadian short documentary film, directed by Kitra Cahana and released in 2021. The film is a portrait of Cahana's father Ronnie, a former rabbi who has been living in long-term care since suffering a stroke which left him quadriplegic and unable to speak, and the family's efforts to stay connected to him remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.Pat Mullen, [https://povmagazine.com/now-streaming-watch-hot-docs-winner-perfecting-the-art-of-longing/ "Now Streaming: Watch Hot Docs Winner Perfecting the Art of Longing"]. Point of View, May 17, 2022.

The film premiered in October 2021 at the Festival du nouveau cinéma.

The film won the Betty Youson Award for Best Canadian Short Documentary at the 2022 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival,Sadaf Ahsan, [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-jacquelyn-mills-geographies-of-solitude-wins-hot-docs-best-canadian/ "Jacquelyn Mills’ ‘Geographies of Solitude’ wins Hot Docs’ best Canadian film award"]. The Globe and Mail, May 7, 2022. and the Prix Iris for Best Short Documentary at the 24th Quebec Cinema Awards in 2022.Naomie Gelper, [https://journalmetro.com/culture/2838579/la-24e-gala-quebec-cinema-se-tient-ce-soir-voici-les-finalistes/ "La 24e Gala Québec Cinéma se tient ce soir, voici les lauréats"]. Métro, June 5, 2022. It was released as a New York Times Op-Doc.Kitra Cahana, [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/opinion/perfecting-the-art-of-longing-stroke.html "A Stroke Left Him Isolated. Love Is His Lifeline."] New York Times Op-Docs

The film received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Short Documentary at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023.Pat Mullen, [https://povmagazine.com/2023-canadian-screen-award-nominations-for-documentary/ "2023 Canadian Screen Award Nominations for Documentary"]. Point of View, February 22, 2023.