The hot month of August brings very attractive activities in equipped rooms: In Tel Aviv: the “Tel Hai” Workshop, “Animix 24” and the Student Festival. In Jerusalem: “Hakaron”.
By Chiquita Levov
El International Piano Master Classes Workshop organized by the Rodman Regional College of Tel Hai in the Upper Galilee, it is an important project founded by Marina Bondarenko (ZAL) and currently directed by her husband, Prof. Emanuel Krasovsky, a prominent concert pianist and teacher. The Lebanon war in 2006 moved the master classes from Tel Hai to Sde Boker in the Negev. The “Iron Swords” War moves its 33rd edition to Tel Aviv. The workshop will take place at the Israel Conservatory of Music (Striker). Let us remember that this piano workshop has an international reputation and has a teaching staff of the best, most important and well-known teachers in Israel and the world. Admission to the workshop master classes is free. At the closing Gala Concert, the winners will be presented accompanied by the Symphonette Raanana. Between August 4 and 16. More data: http://www.masterclasses.org.il
Admony-Kanazawa
This year there will be the participation of two special teachers: Alexander Gavrylyuk (Australia) winner of first prize in the Rubinstein competition and awarded in several other competitions. He appears as a soloist with the world's top orchestras, including the Israeli Philharmonic. On this occasion he will offer a special concert in memory of Pnina Salzman, as well as lessons for outstanding students. Ilya Shmukler (Russia/USA) winner of first prizes and special mentions in many international competitions. He will offer a concert in memory of Dimitri Bashkirov, one of the greatest piano pedagogues who was an integral part of the master classes.
In addition, there will be 3 additional workshops: artistic singing taught by Ido Ariel (Israel) with the participation of opera singers. And this year the unmissable improvisation workshop led by the fascinating pianist Guy Mintus. Also the “piano duet” course taught by Yuval Admony and Tami Kanazawa (Israel/Japan).
This year, prominent pianists from South Africa, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and the United States compete. Approximately half of the participants are young outstanding students who join the best of the Israeli avant-garde. During the master classes, the teachers give private lessons to the pianists every day, in addition there is a master class given by one of the teachers and in the afternoon a concert with the participation of young pianists or a special concert with the participation of teachers and guest artists.
Nosko and Kishka
“Animix” Festival 2024
The Tel Aviv International Animation, Comics and Cartoon Festival which brings together the best creators in all these areas of Israel and the world, will be held this year for the 24th time. Since its inception, the festival has become the largest venue in the country that curates and exposes interesting materials to the general public and the best in these fields, while nurturing and exposing the new generation of animation artists of
Israel. Artistic director Nissim (Nosko) Hezekiah, animation curator and deputy director Ben Molina and producer Galit Barski inform us: the festival
will focus this year on visual works addressing the events of October 7 and the ongoing war in Gaza. The difficult stories, the chilling testimonies and the stories of heroism are expressed in the artistic and unique language of the animators, comic artists and illustrators who will participate in the festival. Between August 6 and 10 at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque. More data: https://animix.co.il/
Mafalda de Quino (Google photo)
Some of the numerous events scheduled: The special participation of Haim Yellin member of Kibbutz Beeri, who grew up in Argentina. He will talk to Michel Kishka about the famous comic series “Mafalda” created by the Argentine illustrator Quino and the connection between the heroine of the Argentine comic and the events in Israel, and also a tribute to the satirical animation series “MK 22” that marks 20 years. The launch of the comic “In the heart of October 7” will be celebrated, an anthology in which 12 cartoonists illustrate stories of heroism that occurred on that black day. The guest of honor Makoto Tanaka, artist of the “Manga” genre, arrives from Tokyo, illustrates the kidnapping of Noa Argamani in that style and will talk about this unusual creation.
The “Iron Pencils” program will be presented, which covers special projects created during the Gaza war, with the aim of perpetuating with lines and colors, a graphic novel and animation the stories that we must not forget. This year, for the first time in Israel, there will be an international animation competition under the artistic direction of Tom Meder. Precisely at a time when the image of the State of Israel in the world is declining, the traditional Israeli “Assif” competition was expanded with international presentations in all categories. More than 300 films from more than 20 different countries around the world will participate. The favorite of this year's festival is the cartoonist, caricaturist and illustrator Ilana Zafaran, whose works will be shown in an exhibition and there will be workshops for children under her direction.
Sahar Marom
The 33rd International “Hakaron” Festival
The festival This year, in its 33rd edition, it presents the best works of visual theater, object theater, puppet theater and contemporary circus works from Israel and the world. With a program of more than 25 original works from Israel and the world for children and adults. And also: the visual work carried out in Israel during the past year, works that combine interdisciplinary scenic languages, including objects, dance, contemporary circus, puppets and unusual use of stage space. It will be inaugurated with contemporary circus works, in which superhuman abilities overcome any obstacle, with 3 famous artists from Israel and the world presenting their works. The festival takes place in the Davidson Theater building, home of the Hakaron Theatre, in the Khan Theatre, the Nurit Katzir Center and throughout the “Bell Garden” (Gan Hapaamon). Between August 18 and 22. More data: www.traintheater.co.il
This year the open-air complex “Hocus Pocus” opens and will offer a world where imagination creates a different reality, 8 original works present an enchanted restaurant, juggling in the air, witches dispensing potions, magical water fountains, miraculous swans and further. Kobi Faji , director of the theater declares: «it is not an easy year and neither is raising children in it. We wonder what the role of culture is for children in times of crisis.” Shahar Marom, artistic director, adds: “We wanted to provide a space for dreams and imagination, that forget reality, and at the same time present works that also address topics that are important to talk about today.”
“Mythos” by Melamed
The 26th International Student Film Festival
In its 26th edition and in accordance with the situation, the international student film festival will present a varied program of films and relevant events that address the new reality in the mirror of cinema. This year, for the first time, the festival will host a round of screenings of all the winning films from the different competitions on its last day. This edition will welcome a series of respected creators from around the world as guests of honor who will give master classes and have their films screened, some for the first time. Among these are the acclaimed screenwriter, director and playwright David Mamet, one of the most important in Hollywood, the creator Isaac Nabwana, director and screenwriter from Uganda. Juliette Welfling, Oscar-nominated and César Award-winning editor, and Lars Henrik Gass, director of the “Oberhausen” International Short Film Festival. Between 14 and 20.8 At the Tel Aviv Cinematheque. More data:
About 100 short films from 20 countries will participate in the competitions, including Ukraine, Japan, South Korea and Burkina Faso. In addition, several films made by refugees from the war between Ukraine and Russia will participate in the international competition. The film “It's Not Time for Pop” by Amit Vaknin will premiere in the Israeli competition, which was nominated this year in the student competition at the Cannes Film Festival. As part of the special events, commemorative meetings will be held for the creator Yahav Viner and the student Maya Poder who were murdered on October 7. And also events about cinema in the light of the time.