Archive | 2010 | October | 05

Channel 2 show selected as a contender by a panel of 700 judges from 50 countries.

The Israeli sitcom “Ramzor” (“Traffic Light” ) has been nominated for an International Emmy award for best comedy. This follows the hit show’s earlier coup of having rights for an American version bought by the Fox television network.

In addition, the Argentine soap opera “Ciega a Citas,” which is co-produced by the Israeli company Dori Media, was nominated for best telenovela. This is the first time two television programs with Israeli connections have been nominated for the prestigious award.

“Ramzor” was submitted as a candidate by Keshet, the franchisee that airs it on Channel 2 television. It was selected as a contender by a panel of 700 judges from 50 countries.

Yesterday, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences unveiled the 39 chosen nominees that will compete in 10 different categories. The winners will be announced at the Emmy Awards in New York on November 22.

The Emmy nomination makes the show one of the most successful Israeli television series ever adapted for foreign audiences. Its only rival is the award-winning “In Treatment,” a show adapted from the Israeli hit series “B’Tipul” that airs on HBO.

Filming for the American version of “Ramzor,” which will air on Fox, will begin next month.

“We were totally surprised by this, because we didn’t know Keshet had submitted the show as a candidate,” said Adir Miller, a star and co-creator of the show. “I hope we’ll be able to fly to the awards ceremony, because we’re now shooting the third season.”

“We never imagined the show would reach these dimensions,” added writer Ran Sarig. “We never even thought about America. What we had in mind was a researcher who wanted to study the way men thought and felt in the year 2010. We wrote stories about Givatayim, but they apparently work everywhere.”

Source: Haaretz.com

Wildlife photographer Illia Shalemaev commended in Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for images of little owls in Israel’s coastal region

The British competition, Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year, considered one of the most important wildlife photography competitions, announced Saturday that Israeli Illia Shalemaev has been commended for his photography of little owls (Athene Noctua) on a branch in the coastal region.

The competition, held jointly by London’s Natural History Museum and the BBC’s Wildlife Magazine, and sponsored by Veolia Environment, draws thousands of wildlife photographers each year from throughout the world, both professional and amateur.

Last year marked the competition’s 45th anniversary, and before announcing the official results, the management released a number of the finest images from the various categories.

“This was the second time I sent photos to the competition,” Shalemaev (33) told Ynet. “I am happy and proud they chose me.” Shalemaev, employed at Intel, is also a scenic photography teacher at the Galitz school of photography, and lives in the Latrun area.

The group of owls was photographed two years ago. Shalemaev knew the images were good after he won third place in a bird photography competition in 2008, organized by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.

“During the spring and beginning of summer, many kinds of birds come to an abandoned quarry not far from Kiryat Gat to raise their offspring,” said Shalemaev, who spent many days in a hide near the quarry during the nesting season.

However, these photos were taken during the first day of photographing these nocturnal birds of prey, and despite many more days there he was unable to replicate the success of this first day.

Though Shalemaev will not be flying to Britain this month to receive his award, his photos will be included in a book produced by the competition’s organizers, and will also be exhibited in the Natural History Museum.

Source: Ynetnews.com

Architects Ganit Mayslits Kassif and Udi Kassif honored in European Biennial of Landscape Architecture held in Barcelona, after competing against 470 European projects

BARCELONA – The European Biennial of Landscape Architecture which was held in Barcelona over the weekend awarded the Tel Aviv Port project with the first prize out of no less than 470 projects around Europe. The project was chosen unanimously by a panel of judges and a voting audience.

Architects Ganit Mayslits Kassif and Udi Kassif of Mayslits Kassif Architects who desgined the port recieved the award. It is the most prestigious and esteemed European award in the field of landscape architecture. Thus is the first time an Israeli project has ever won the award.

The two architects developed the project between 2003-2008 commissioned by the Marine Trust in collaboration with the Tel Aviv Municipality. The site has since become a popular favorite among many Israelis.

“We are literally pinching ourselves to make sure this is not a dream,” Mayslits Kassif told Yedioth Ahronoth on Saturday, moments after the award was announced. “We were up against amazing projects by the world’s best architects. People came up to us and showered us with congratulations.”

She further added, “The project’s success is in creating a change and an alternative using the public space. We have managed to affect a process of change for a place that was neglected for 50 years and have turned it popular  among the public.”

Source: Ynetnews.com

Beck is one of a few high-profile foreign stars who have ignored calls to boycott Israel.
Israelis were treated to a live performance by veteran British rock guitarist Jeff Beck, who played in Tel Aviv on Monday.

Beck is one of a few high-profile foreign stars who have ignored calls to boycott Israel as part of a campaign that has seen a series of acts pull the plug on plans to tour the country.

“We’ve chosen to rehearse in Israel and settle there for a few days, rather than rehearse in England and get off the plane – we want to acclimatize ourselves,” Beck was quoted as saying by website Israel 21C ahead of the tour, apparently unaware of the significance of the term ‘settle’ in regional politics.

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