The 2008 animated documentary Waltz with Bashir established Ari Folman as a significant figure in international cinema, blending personal trauma with experimental visual techniques. Born in Haifa in 1962, he has cultivated a career spanning film direction, screenwriting, animation, and musical composition, consistently exploring complex historical narratives and memory through diverse media formats and storytelling structures.
Early Life and Service
Born to Polish-Jewish parents who survived the Łódź Ghetto, Folman spent his early years in Haifa. He attended the Hebrew Reali School before continuing his education at Tel Aviv University. Following graduation, he completed his mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces, where he was assigned to the Golani Brigade. During the 1982 Lebanon War, he was stationed in the vicinity of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, an event that later became a central focus of his creative work.
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Folman’s career in film began with short documentaries and collaborative projects. In 1991, he worked on Sha'anan Si alongside Ori Sivan. He continued this collaboration for his 1996 feature Saint Clara, which earned him his first Ophir Award for Best Director. His 2001 film Made in Israel examined the hypothetical capture and trial of a Nazi official. In 2006, he served as the head writer for the television drama series BeTipul, contributing to the show's script which secured an Israeli Television Academy award.
Waltz with Bashir and Animated Projects
The 2008 production Waltz with Bashir marked a transition toward animated documentary. Folman utilized the format to reconstruct his suppressed memories of the Lebanon War through interviews with former colleagues. The film received global acclaim, including the Ophir Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay, alongside recognition from the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America. He later directed The Congress in 2013, which experimented with mixed live-action and animation. In 2021, he released Where Is Anne Frank, an animated adaptation based on his 2018 graphic novel created with illustrator David Polonsky.
Current Projects
Folman remains active within the Israeli film industry and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Following the October 7 attacks in 2023, he initiated a project titled #BringThemHomeNow to conduct interviews with families of Israeli hostages. He is married to director Anat Asulin, and the couple has resided in Tel Aviv.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Haifa
- Education: Hebrew Reali School, Tel Aviv University
- Military Service: Golani Brigade
- Notable Film: Waltz with Bashir (2008)
- Graphic Novel Adaptation: The Diary of a Young Girl (2018)
- Award: Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (2009)
- Spouse: Anat Asulin
Questions readers ask
What military unit did Ari Folman serve in?
He served in the Golani Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces.
Which literary work did Folman adapt into a graphic novel?
He adapted The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.
Achievements
- Worked as film director, screenwriter and film producer
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