theOscarSite Bio: Ari Sandel's career in the entertainment industry includes television, film, and music videos. Previously, he created and hosted the comedic TV segment, The Traveler, for the FX Channel's, "The X Show". Sandel wrote, directed, and hosted the segment for two seasons as he traveled the globe, offering a tongue-in-cheek view of the world's unknown hot spots for the young and hip.

He was raised in Calabasas, CA, and studied Media Arts at the University of Arizona in Tucson where he also received a special certificate in Middle Eastern Studies. He went on to earn his Directing M.F.A. from the USC's school of Cinema-Television. He co-wrote and directed the award-winning short film WEST BANK STORY (2005), which premiered at Sundance and has screened at over one hundred film festivals worldwide having won twenty. His most recent project, VINCE VAUGHN'S WILD WEST COMEDY SHOW: 30 DAYS & NIGHTS - HOLLYWOOD TO THE HEARTLAND (2006), was his feature documentary directorial debut and premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. His next feature, BRAD CUTTER RUINED MY LIFE... AGAIN, is slated for release in 2008.

In addition to filmmaking, Sandel has also traveled Europe, Asia, South America and extensively throughout the Middle East including Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Turkey, and Dubai and is very involved with various political organizations for peace in the region.

· Achievement in Live Action Short Films 2006: WEST BANK STORY