Israel's 'Ajami' nominated for best foreign film Oscar
By Nirit Anderman and Uri Klein • Ha'aretz and News AgenciesThe Israeli film "Ajami" was named yesterday as one of the five pictures in the running for best foreign-language film at the 82nd Academy Awards in Hollywood on March 7. This is the third consecutive year in which an Israeli film has been nominated for the prestigious award.
"Ajami" - which depicts the brutal life involving drugs, violence and poverty in the eponymous Jewish-Arab neighborhood in Jaffa - was short-listed alongside nine foreign-language films including works from Argentina, Peru, France and Germany.
Israeli-Arab filmmaker Scandar Copti, who co-directed the movie along with Yaron Shani, said he was overjoyed by the nomination and that he hoped the film would help spread awareness about Israel's Arab minority.
"Maybe with the nomination, people will have a chance to understand what a Palestinian living in Israel is," Copti told the Associated Press in a phone interview from Dubai. "It will put us on the map."…