A few minutes ago, Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman lost his bid for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Hebrew speaking Waltz With Bashir, an animated documentary film, or documation, was Israel’s eighth nomination in this category and while everybody here hoped it would be Israel’s first win -- unfortunately that was not in the cards tonight. Previous Israeli nominees include:
Here is Ari Folman sitting at a bar, drowning his sorrows, apparently holding someone else’s Oscar statuette (…yes, I manipulated the photo in advance):
After winning numerous awards including a Golden Globe, Ari Folman’s documation ‘Waltz with Bashir’ has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Minutes ago, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made its announcement for the 81st Academy Awards ceremony, that will be held exactly one month from today, on February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California.
If you haven’t had the chance to see the Israeli feature film Yossi & Jagger, here’s another reason why you should: Entertainment Weekly just released a list of the 50 Sexiest Movies Ever, and at 49th place the 2002 movie just made the cut. Here’s what EW had to say:
The titular men (Ohad Knoller and Yehuda Levi) are sturdy Israeli soldiers stationed at an icy outpost on the Lebanese border. Like a less tormented version of Brokeback Mountain’s Jack and Ennis, they keep their coupling a secret. Sexiest Moment: The guys go at it, fully clothed, on a snowy hillside. Because we see mostly close-ups of their faces as they make out, joke, and laugh, what’s sexy is their sweet delight in one another.
Every Jewish person that becomes successful abroad is treated here as an Honorary Israeli: Natalie (Hershlag) Portman, Gene (Chaim Witz) Simmons, the girl in the Yes We Can video – basically if you have experienced worldwide success, no matter how vague your connection to the Holy Land, or how long it has been since you last visited – Israelis will find a way to not only prove you were always one of us, but that your success is directly linked to your being one of us.
I tell you… those Israelis will grasp at anything…
Singer-songwriter and Honorary IsraeliRegina Spektor was one of the artists chosen to sing for the new Narnia film released last week. Have a listen and see if you like the song as much as I and Perez did:
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It started out as a feeling Which then grew into a hope Which then turned into a quiet thought Which then turned into a quiet word And then that word grew louder and louder ’till it was a battle cry
I’ll come back.. When you call me No need to say good bye
Just because everything’s changing Doesn’t mean it’s never been this way before All you can do is try to know who your friends are As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon And follow the light You’ll come back when its over No need to say good bye You’ll come back when it’s over No need to say good bye.
Now we’re back to the beginning It’s just a feeling and no one knows yet But just because they can’t feel it too Doesn’t mean that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stonger and stonger ’til they’re before your eyes
You’ll come back When they call you No need to say good bye You’ll come back When they call you No need to say good bye
Shahar Golan is a digital artist, poet and visionary residing in Israel. [+] This blog immortalizes the noise between his ears. [+]
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