‘Inspired By Israel’ Announces Contest Winners at Jerusalem Ceremony via Live-Stream
An elite panel of judges, tens of thousands of voters and the Israel
Video Network staff chose how to award $20,000 to the creators of the
top 19 video submissions from around the world
JERUSALEM–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Thousands of people around the world watched
12Tribes Films CEO Avi Abelow announce the winners of the “Inspired
by Israel” video contest at a ceremony held at the Tower of David on
Tuesday evening. The contest, in its second year, called for filmmakers
of all ages and experience levels to create videos that entertain,
educate and inspire people about Israel.
A total of $20,000 in cash prizes were awarded to the winning
videos—including a $8,000 grand prize to Sivan Felder and Batsheva
Shachnovitz for their video, “Olah
Chadasha (New Immigrant),” a poetic exploration of a teenager’s
journey in Israel after making Aliyah five years prior. During a ten-day
period of public voting, entries in this year’s competition received
more than half a million views in 236 countries.
In front of a crowd of hundreds of philanthropists, journalists, and
contest participants Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat congratulated the 19
contest winners and thanked the more than 80 entrants from 14 countries
for participating in the contest.
“We always say that a picture is worth a thousand words. One good video
clip developed by real people—that get excited and demonstrate their
love, for our city, for our country—is the best way to promote Jerusalem
and Israel,” Barkat said. “It makes a huge impact around the world.”
Hosted on IsraelVideoNetwork.com,
the contest was sponsored by the Adam
and Gila Milstein Family Foundation in partnership with the 12Tribe
Films Foundation. Judges chose the grand prize, first-place and two
second-place winners from the 10 submissions with the most votes
garnered during a ten-day period of public voting.
“This contest allows people from all around the world to celebrate the
amazing people, places and innovations of Israel,” philanthropist Adam
Milstein said. “The submissions this year show the profound effect
of Israel on individual people and around the world.”
The panel’s distinguished judges included Gila Milstein,
Israeli-American Council CEO Shoham Nicolet, the President of Tribe
Media/Jewish Journal David Suissa and Israeli TV News Anchor Lital
Shemesh, as well as Yoni Kempinski of Arutz Sheva and Shlomo Blass, CEO
of Rogatka. Activists represented on the panel include Students
Supporting Israel founder and president Ilan Sinelnikov and Executive
Director StandWithUs in Israel Michael Dickson.
Seven other winning videos were based on the public’s votes, and three
additional “staff picks” were chosen by the Israel Video Network.
Videos incorporated humor, original music, individual research and more.
They demonstrated Israel’s impact on people around the world, its
religious significance, misconceptions about the country and the
vibrancy of daily life—often from the perspective of first-time
visitors, long-time visitors, or new immigrants.
“These creative and insightful videos had a depth of range rarely seen
in contests open to the public,” Abelow said. “They not only were full
of information about Israel, but full of love and appreciation for the
vibrant, dynamic and thriving country.”
About the Adam
and Gila Milstein Family Foundation: The Milstein Family
Foundation works to safeguard and strengthen the Jewish People and the
Jewish State by igniting Jewish pride in the next generation, providing
pro-Israel Americans with knowledge and expertise to advocate for the
State of Israel, and bolstering the critical U.S.-Israel Alliance. Learn
more at: http://milsteinff.org/.
Contacts
Miller Ink
Nathan Miller or Rachel Bracker
310-571-8264
Nathan@miller-ink.com
/ Rachel@miller-ink.com
