Media Arts Alum Receives Oscar Nomination!

“West Bank Story,” a short film by 1998 Media Arts graduate, Ari Sandel, has been nominated for an Oscar. The Oscars will be broadcast live on February 25, 2007 on ABC.

Of his nomination, Ari relates that it has been a "truly an amazing ride from Sundance to Dubai and around the world and the US. To finally end at the Oscars is a storybook ending whether we win or not."

“West Bank Story” has been nominated for the Best Live Action Short category, along with four other films. “West Bank Story” premiered at Sundance International Film Festival and screened at over 100 film festivals around the world, winning 20 awards.

A musical comedy set in the fast-paced fast food world of competing falafel stands on the West Bank, “West Bank Story,” tells the tale of a budding romance between an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian fast food cashier. The respective families of the unlikely couple clash over dueling family-owned falafel stands. The couple’s love leads to the destruction of both establishments, after which hope is renewed when the families join forces to rebuild.

After graduating from the Department of Media Arts with a B.A. and a special certificate in Middle Eastern Studies, Sandel went on to earn and M.F.A in Directing from the University of Southern California.

Sandel's career in the entertainment industry includes television, film, and music videos. Previously, Ari created and hosted the comedic TV segment for the FX. Ari wrote, directed, and hosted the segment for two seasons as he traveled the globe, offering a tongue-in-cheek view of the world's unknown hot spots for the young and hip.

His most recent project, “Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland” (2006), was his feature documentary directorial debut and premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. The Weinstein Company has purchased the distribution rights and the release date is pending. Ari is currently developing several feature comedies.

For more information, please visit Westbankstory.com