Film Festival

West Bank Story
Can the couple's love withstand a 2000 year old conflict and their families' desire to control the future of the chic pea in the Middle East?

Ari Sendel’s musical film "West Bank Story” was one of a handful of Jewish-themed films screened at the Sundance Film Festival, which ended Sunday night in Park City, Utah and the 2006 Academy Award winner for best live action short film.

A musical comedy set in the fast-paced, fast-food world of competing falafel stands in the West Bank... David, an Israeli soldier, falls in love with the beautiful Palestinian cashier, Fatima, despite the animosity between their families' dueling restaurants. When you’re a falafel king/you’re a falafel king all the way/from your first alef-bet/till your last dying day...” OK, maybe that’s not exactly how the musical spoof, “West Bank Story,” begins, but the short film indeed opens with a cadre of snapping dancers taking on the guys on the other side of the tracks. Yet, in this 22-minute film, instead of Maria and Tony, we have David and Fatima, and the war is not between the Jets and the Sharks, but between the Jewish Kosher King and the Palestinian Humus Hut next door.

Shorts:
Ma'ale Film School, Tel Aviv University, Sam Spiegel Academy, and animation from Bezalel.

Israeli Mini Film Festival Schedule
            11:30               Bezalel Animation Shorts
            11:40               Come Back Shulamit
            12:00               West Bank Story
            12:30               Tofu
            1:00                 The First Night
            1:30                 Stand at Ease
            2:00                 Bleach
            2:30                 West Bank Story
            3:00                 Happy Birthday Yemima
            3:20                 Back to Basics
                                    (American Institute of Science )
            3:30 – 5:00      Schedule Repeats

Bezalel animation shorts will be played randomly between the movie shorts.
Note:    Screening times are estimated