Israeli film director in Melbourne
The Zionist Council of Victoria and Habayit have showcased the very best of Israeli cinematography to Melbourne.
Dan Wolman explains
Israeli director Dan Wolman enthralled community members as he took them “behind the scenes” of the Israeli film industry.
Both Hebrew and English speakers alike were able to enjoy Dan’s short documentary: “Yolande: an Unsung Heroine”, which was in English and Hebrew and also had English subtitles. The in depth discussion was in Hebrew. This riveting documentary tells the story of Yolande Gabai de Botton, considered by many the Jewish “Mata Hari.” A sophisticated Jewish woman from Alexandria, Egypt, she risked her son’s life and her own while collecting intelligence in Egypt and fighting for the creation of an independent State of Israel while undercover as a reporter.
World renowned, Wolman is known as Israel’s consummate independent filmmaker. His frank and intimate insights into the world of cinematography and Israel’s place on the map as centre for film excellence was both insightful and thrilling.
Born in Jerusalem, Wolman has worked consistently since 1968 and taught cinema at Tel Aviv University, New York University, School of Victual Arts and most recently made a film with the students of Nacta in Beijing, China.
His love of all things cinema has seen him serve as a jury member of the Jerusalem, Haifa, Chicago, Cine-Manila, Goa, Instanbul, Bratislava, Mumbai, Yerevan, Pune, DocAviv and EBA (Korea) as well as many other film festivals.
Both funny, quirky and entertaining, Wolman’s personality and love of cinema was the perfect fit for Habayit’s Hebrew Language and Culture Centre.
Wolman is renowned for not only his feature films and commercial films, but also for his TV dramas, documentaries and extensive theatre experience.
