By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, APtori amos 88 298(photo credit: )Kassams drive film fest out of Sderot
They don't have these problems at Cannes.
Citing ongoing rocket fire from Gaza, organizers of the Cinema South Festival announced Monday that this year's event is being moved from its traditional home, in Sderot, to safer ground in Netivot. Festival planners had said as recently as Sunday morning that the festival would go ahead as usual in Sderot, but changed the event's location after the death later that day of Oshri Oz, a 36-year-old killed when a Kassam rocket exploded next to his car in the southern development town.
Though the six-day festival is now being held at a different location, its program remains the same, kicking off Saturday night with a screening of Hasodot (The Secrets), a new drama from Turn Left at the End of the World director Avi Nesher. The festival will also feature a retrospective of films by Marcel Ophuls, whose 1969 documentary, The Sorrow and the Pity, earned an Oscar nomination for its look at French wartime collaboration in the deportation of the country's Jews to the Nazi death camps.
Also screening at the festival will be films shown at the Human Rights Watch Film Festivals in New York and London. The screenings mark the first time an Israeli film festival has partnered with the HRW festival. - Nathan BursteinTori brings her 'Posse' to Israel
After a few years of negotiations over logistical and scheduling problems, Tori Amos is coming to Israel for a one-time performance on July 21 in Ra'anana's Amphipark. Amos was one of the leading artists of the 1990s and is now releasing her ninth studio album, American Doll Posse. The 44-year-old musician is famous for restoring the piano to its status as a key instrument in rock music, and as a singer of tremendous vocal ability, who writes and sings about a variety of personal and emotional issues.
Amos launched her world tour last week in New York, but won't be traveling lightly. She will bring 11 tons of equipment and a staff of 12 people when she stops in Israel. Her main instrument is the piano, but she will also be accompanied by three other instrumentalists.
On her latest album Amos plays herself and four other women who write Internet blogs. She invites her fans to find the blogs of the women she plays on the Internet and gives her fans a new realm of communication with her and a peek into the minds of the different characters who comprise the "whole" Tori.
Amos will stop in Israel at the end of her European tour, after performing in Greece. The Ra'anana Amphipark will be adjusted for the performance and equipped with seats and VIP areas, in addition to seating on the lawn. Doors open 7 p.m., show starts at 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are priced at NIS 320-400. There will be discounts for Isracard holders: NIS 80 off full price for 410 stars. Ticket can be purchased through www.TKTS.co.il, Castel (03-604-5000) or Klaim (02-622-2333). - Miriam A. Shaviv
Bashmet to conduct UBS concert
UBS, one of the world's leading financial firms, will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary in Israel with a concert given by the UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra (UBS VFCO).
UBS VFCO, which was founded in 2000, is made up of over 100 musicians aged 17 to 29 from around the world, and is regarded as one of the leading training orchestras.
One thousand selected guests will attend this special concert which is being hosted by UBS Chairman, Marcel Ospel. Internationally renowned violist Yuri Bashmet will be conducting the evening, and also performing will be world famous violinists Alexandra Soumm and Sergey Ostrovsky, both of whom have performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in the past. The concert is taking place at the Smolarz Auditorium in Tel Aviv on June 12. - Nicola Graham
A rough evening for Miss USA
Riyo Mori, a 20-year-old dancer from Japan, was crowned Miss Universe 2007 on Monday night in Mexico City, marking only the second time her country has won the world beauty title. The last time Japan won the pageant was in 1959 when Akiko Kojima became the first Miss Universe from Asia.
The United States had a less dazzling night. Miss USA Rachel Smith slipped and fell to the floor during the evening gown competition and was jeered by the Mexican audience during the interview phase. She was the fourth runner-up.
Smith was booed during her interview and several audience members chanted "Mexico! Mexico!" until she spoke in Spanish, saying "Buenas noches Mexico. Muchas gracias!" which earned her applause. - AP