Dani Menkin

Menkin's professional career began in 1994, when he joined the Israeli Sports Channel (Sport5) as a reporter. In 1995, he moved to Israeli Channel 2, where he covered the Sports Section in the popular program "HaDaka ha-91" with Yoram Arbel. Between the years 1998 to 2004, he directed articles for the investigative program Uvda with Ilana Dayan. In 2001, Menkin worked in a series for National Geographic Society. During those years, Menkin was Director Supervisor for the Israeli cult film "Hochmat HaBeygale" ("The Wisdom of the Pretzel") along with the director Ilan Heitner.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonjfilm.org/dani-menkin-speaks-with-bjffs-ken-shulman/|title=On the Map – Interview with Director Dani Menkin|work= Boston Jewish Film|access-date= 5 October 2023}}

In 2005, Menkin created his own independent film production company "Hey Jude Productions".

Menkin is a speaker at some distinguished panels over International Festivals around the world, as well as a juror and film professor in American and Israeli universities and colleges.{{cite web|url=https://www.lionhouseagency.com/dani-menkin|title=Dani Menkin|work=LionHouse Agency |access-date= 5 October 2023}}

Menkin taught at Syracuse University{{cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2011/10/israeli_filmmaker_dani_menkin.html|title=Israeli filmmaker Dani Menkin to introduce 3 films during fall series at Jewish Community Center|work=Syracuse |access-date= 5 October 2023}} as well as at Wesleyan University. {{cite web|url=https://owaprod-pub.wesleyan.edu/reg/!wesmaps_page.html?stuid=&facid=NONE&crse=013399&term=1141|title="Israel on the Road": Making Road Trip Films with Filmmaker Dani Menken

|work= Wesleyan University|access-date= 5 October 2023}}

Menkin has collaborated with other filmmakers and creatives—most recently [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_uL5Tjpgac interviewing the creators] of sports documentary miniseries The Last Dance, and featured on a [https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1178714926&i=1000380622111 podcast]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} alongside basketball all-star Chris Webber.{{cite web|url=https://player.fm/series/fearless-or-insane-with-chris-webber/on-the-map-my-interview-with-tal-brody-and-dani-menkin|title=On The Map: My interview with Tal Brody and Dani Menkin|work= Player FM|access-date= 5 October 2023}}

Menkin is married and has two children.{{cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sybi0pbxn

|title='Israel is misunderstood': Israeli director making waves in Hollywood with new film|work= YNet|access-date= 5 October 2023}}

The story of Ronnie, 60-year-old Israeli film projectionist, who has been fired from his job and is going now to the U.S. in search of Rachel, the love of his youth. Is That You?{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/That-You-Alon-Aboutboul/dp/B01M7SG5SI | title=Watch is That You? | Prime Video | website=Amazon }} is a romantic roadtrip journey. This film found success at several International Film Festivals, such as Hollywood, Montreal, Haifa and Syracuse Film Festivals, the 28th Israel Film Festival in LA, and the Jewish Film Festivals across the US. It has also won the "Best Indie Film of the Year" award (2014), and has been nominated for the "Best Film of the Year" award (2014) by the Israeli Academy.{{cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sybi0pbxn|title='Israel is misunderstood': Israeli director making waves in Hollywood with new film|work=YNet News |access-date= 5 October 2023}}

[https://www.amazon.com/Je-Taime-Love-You-Terminal/dp/B01C0220TE A romantic drama]Merav Yudelovich, [http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3866993,00.html "Osim laSeret Sof", Ynet.co.il] (23 March 2010) which follows Ben, a 29-year-old Israeli on his way to New York to re-join his fiancée and start his new life. During the flight he meets a flirtatious, outrageous, and somewhat dysfunctional Emma. Over the course of 24-hour connection in Prague, the two contemplate life, love, and relationships. Starring Israeli musician Danny Niv (Mooki)as Ben, and Naruna De-Macedo Kaplan as Emma.

Menkin wrote, produced and directed the award winning film. The film has participated and won International Festivals, including "Best Feature film" award at Houston International film festival.

A documentary film which follows Ami Ankilewitz, who was diagnosed at childhood with an extremely rare form of SMA/2 that severely limits his physical growth and movement. Ami was given 6 years to live and outlived the doctor's predictions to the age of 34.David Lamble, ClaudesPlace.com (2006) [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5799528418615299060# Interview with Dani and Asaf - 39 Pounds of Love] The film won multiple awards including the Ophir award in 2005. Menkin was awarded the Israeli Academy Award for this movie. The film, written, produced and directed by him, has been sold to HBO, and was shortlisted for the Oscars.{{cite web|url=https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-documentary-39-pounds-of-love-makes-hbo-debut/|title=Israeli documentary ’39 Pounds of Love’ makes HBO debut|work=Israel21C |access-date= 5 October 2023}}

Directed along with Jonathan Nir, this [https://www.amazon.com/Dolphin-English-Subtitled-Morad-Ezbe/dp/B00EUGPOPQ documentary film] tells the story of Morad, a teenage boy from an Arab village in the north of Israel, who suffered a violent attack, which led to trauma. Morad stopped having contact with the outside world, and just before hospitalization in a mental institute, he was taken by his father to be treated with Dolphins in Eilat. The film follows Morad's therapy over the course of four years.Lauren Smart, Syracuse.com (2011)[http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2011/10/post_61.html "Israeli filmmaker, who is visiting artist in Syracuse for a year, will screen two films at film festival"]Iain Stott, [http://1linereview.blogspot.com/2011/06/dolphin-boy-2011.html The One-Line Review], 2011

This won several nominations and awards, the "Jury Mention Award" at the Jerusalem International Film Festival, the French-German Arte and British Channel 4. Dolphin Boy was sold to over 20 countries around the globe, and was bought by Disney for a fiction adaptation.

A movie about the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team prevailing over CSKA Moscow in the 1977 Champions Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Map-Tal-Brody/dp/B07D9VTV52|access-date=2020-07-09|website=www.amazon.com|title=Watch on the Map | Prime Video}}

Moments after this highly charged and historical win, Israeli-American basketball hero Tal Brody captured the heart of the nation when he famously said, "Israel is on the map, not just in sport, but in everything." The story of this triumph against all odds is told through the eyes of six American basketball players who joined Maccabi Tel Aviv. This was sold to Lionsgate.{{cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sybi0pbxn

|title='Israel is misunderstood': Israeli director making waves in Hollywood with new film|work= YNet|access-date= 5 October 2023}}

Directed alongside Jonatan Nir, this documentary film follows the journey of underwater photographer Amos Nachoum as he sets off on a journey to photograph the world's largest carnivore: the polar bear.{{Cite web|title=Picture of His Life {{!}} About the Film|url=https://www.pictureofhislife.com/about-the-directors|access-date=2020-07-09|website=Picture of his Life|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/18/movies/picture-of-his-life-review.html|title=‘Picture of His Life’ Review: A Shot Too Much to Bear|work=New York Times |access-date= 5 October 2023}}

Nachoum tried before and barely escaped, but now, as he nears the end of his career, he is determined to give it one last shot. As the journey unfolds, Nachoum contemplates the series of unspoken events that drove him here, to the end of the world. It has been a long and painful journey, after serving in an Elite Commando unit and witnessing the horrors of war, but where others find fear, Nachoum finds redemption.

"Aulcie" tells the inspiring story of Aulcie Perry, a basketball legend who led Maccabi Tel Aviv to an upset win in the European Championship.{{Cite web|title=ABOUT THE FILM|url=https://www.aulcie.com/about-the-film|access-date=2020-07-09|website=Aulcie|language=en}} During the summer of 1976, Aulcie Perry was spotted by a scout for Maccabi Tel Aviv while playing at the Rucker courts in Harlem and was quickly signed to play for their fledgling team. The Israeli players immediately responded to Aulcie's leadership and that year they had what one Sports Illustrated writer described as "the most extraordinary season in its remarkable history" and what Perry later called "the best nine months of my life." In 1977, Perry helped the team to its first European Championship, a prize they took four years later again under his leadership. After the season, to the surprise of many, Aulcie Perry converted to Judaism, adopted the Hebrew name Elisha Ben Avraham, and became an Israeli citizen. This inspiring film tells the story of this remarkable athlete who captured the spirit of a nation, triumphant and victorious against all odds, and put Israel on the map.

=== Little Town (2023) ===

The story follows Jason, a failed stand-up comedian who takes his little son to an imaginary town over the mountains, to look for his mother who has passed away. They make their journey with an unknown lady, who claims she knows the town, and implores them to follow their dreams and heart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sybi0pbxn|access-date=2023-03-24|website=Ynet|title=Israeli director making waves in Hollywood with new film}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|1836981}}
• [https://www.heyjudeproductions.com/ Hey Jude Productions]

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Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Israeli film directors

Category:Israeli film producers

Category:Israeli male screenwriters

Category:Film people from Tel Aviv

Category:Ophir Award winners