APSA for Best Animated Feature Film



 

‘Vals Im Bashir’ (Waltz with Bashir) Israel/France/Germany
Produced by Ari Folman, Serge Lalou, Yael Nahlieli, Gerhard Meixner and Roman Paul

One night at a bar, an old friend tells director, Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there is a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon war of the early 80’s. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember anything about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images.

“Waltz with Bashir, I think is very important because A) It is very well crafted and secondly, it’s a very wonderful anti-war film and it talks about the futility of war and how often when young people are involved in the war they don’t even know why they are fighting the war. It is an Israeli film, also it’s very against the atrocities on Palestinian Territories which makes it extremely significant.” - Aparna Sen (Jury Member)

“This is a very powerful film.” - Bruce Beresford (Jury President)