Meet The Socially-Conscious Filmmaker, Jake Witzenfeld
Oriented, directed by the British filmmaker Jake Witzenfeld, follows three Palestinians — Khader, Fadi, and Naeem — as they grapple with their society and sexuality in Yafo (Jaffa). Culture Trip caught up with Witzenfeld at New York’s Other Israel Film Festival.
How has it been receiving such excellent acclaim for your work?
Destinations Unlocked:
Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture tripLooking for an expert's perspective?
Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
CentralAmerica
1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.Next
CentralAmerica
2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea. Next
CentralAmerica
3. Mexico
An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different. SouthAmerica
1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.Next
SouthAmerica
2. Peru
An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon. Europe
1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.Next
Europe
2. Scotland
Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers. Next
Europe
3. Portugal
A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers. Asia
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.Next
Asia
2. Thailand
From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise. Next
Asia
3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price Africa
1. Morocco
An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!Next
Africa
2. Egypt
From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt. Next
Truly validating if at times slightly overwhelming.
How has it felt being featured in the Other Israel Film Festival?
The response has been fantastic and I’m excited to continue sharing the film with people. I think Other Israel Film Festival is a particularly comfortable home for Oriented.
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to break into the film industry?
Follow the stories that turn your heart or stomach. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself from day one about where this film could go: feature film, web, news, one-off for TV, series, iPhone video for sharing with your friends on Facebook. Being savvy about where your story fits in the distribution landscape can save you an enormous amount of time, energy, and money.
What’s next?
Lots. We are working on the first season of a scripted web series at the moment – the show explores the digital dating/hook-up world. That’ll drop in Tel Aviv in early 2016, and we are working on the English-language version too. We have a fleet of projects in development, both scripted and doc. Beyond that, I’m excited for the growth of the creative agency I’ve co-founded, and I’m also partnering with some great guys in the US to build a distribution agency that is filmmaker-friendly.
What is your dream project?
The story of how Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir’s relationship upturned our understanding of monogamy. I’ve been working on it for five years, on and off. It’ll happen.
How would you like to be remembered’
As a decent and loving human being who made the most of it all.
How would you describe your work?
That’s tricky. I’ve made one film, so to describe ‘my work’ would be premature. But based on the stories I’m interested in telling, I only care for projects that are rationale-driven — i.e. have something to say — and take on contemporary taboos or questions. With regards to how I tell them, I think paradox is to be embraced and observation goes further than didacticism.
Steven Spielberg or Wes Anderson?
Wes Anderson.
Charles Dickens or F. Scott Fitzgerald’
F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Salvador Dalí or Frida Kahlo?
Salvador Dalí.
Istanbul or Buenos Aires?
Istanbul – because I’ve been – but I’m very excited to experience and explore South America at some point soon.
Kebab or gyro?
A big, fat guilty kebab.
35mm or digital camera?
35mm.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
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