Gaza-Sderot online
Photo: Reproduction
Gaza-Sderot film nominated for Emmy
Internet documentary displays lives of residents living on both sides of Gaza conflict
The internet documentary "Gaza-Sderot. Life in Spite of Everything" has been nominated for an International Emmy in the category of digital media. The joint French, Israeli, and Palestinian production will compete with other projects produced by al-Jazeera, BBC, and the Discovery Channel.
The series, documenting the lives of residents of Gaza and Sderot, became available online in October 2008. In two-minute films, creators from both sides attempted to display the difficult living conditions faced by the residents under rocket and air strike threats.
More Awards
Merav Yudilovitch
Following Oscar letdown last week, Ari Folman and his team of animators return home as winners after scooping France's top film industry award on Friday
The short films, accompanying six main figures from each of the two areas, are currently being aired by the European ARTE television network's internet site.
"We started the project with the belief that people living in Gaza and Sderot want to live their lives just like anywhere else in the world," said Israeli producer Arik Bernstein.
"They want their children to attend school and kindergarten, they want to fall in love, they want to work and make a respectful living and live a normal life."
He said the chosen medium had allowed the producers to obtain different viewpoints on the issues facing the residents, and thanked the Emmy board for its recognition. "We assign great significance to this prestigious competition's acknowledgment for a project of this kind," he said.
Part one of the documentary series ended on December 24, just two days before the Israel's offensive in Gaza kicked off. In the next two weeks producers plan to replenish the site with new footage filmed in Gaza and Sderot after the war.
In addition, the two sides are currently constructing a 50-minute film based on the personal stories published online. The film has already been sold to networks in France, Germany, Holland, and Sweden. Israel's Channel 8 has also purchased rights to air the film.
