Ari Sandel

Ari Devon Sandel (born September 5, 1974) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for directing the short film, West Bank Story (2005), which won the 2006 Academy Award in the category Best Live Action Short Film.

Life and career

Sandel was born and raised in Calabasas, California, the son of Kathy (Hale) and Dan Sandel. His father is Israeli and his mother is American. He studied Media Arts at the University of Arizona in Tucson where he also received a special certificate in Middle Eastern Studies. He went on to earn his Directing M.F.A. from the University of Southern California's school of Cinema-Television. West Bank Story premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has screened at over one hundred fifty film festivals worldwide, winning prizes from 30.

Sandel also directed a 2006 documentary, Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In addition to film making, Sandel has also traveled in Europe, Asia, South America, and extensively throughout the Middle East including Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Turkey, and Dubai and is very involved with various political organizations with interests in the region.