Entertainment

KNS – International Keynote Speakers Agency

KNS (short for Keynote Speakers) is an international Agency that specialises in bringing international lecturers, hosts, and experts in various fields to conferences, conventions, and content events in Israel. The company, which operates from its headquarters in Tel Aviv, is in close contact with the largest and leading speaking and talent agencies in the world and produces unique content events in various fields.

Our Services

KNS serves as a one stop shop for companies and organisations that wish to integrate international speakers and experts in their events and campaigns and provides them with a full service package that includes:

  • Curating – holding content meetings with the client, cracking the event brief and building a list of speakers suitable and customised for the client/event (Custom Made)
  • Booking – Closing the talents (Booking) – closing the international speakers scheduled for the event under direct agreements with the talents and/or with the agencies
  • Hosting – Organising all hospitality services and personal care for speakers: work permits, booking flights, airport VIP services, local transport, hotels, security, catering, backstage management, leisure & tourism tours, etc.

KNS divisions

  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Wellness & health
  • Psychology & relationships
  • Sustainability and environment
  • Finance, business, and economics
  • Politics
  • Beauty
  • Culinary
  • High-tech & AI
  • Design, culture, and art

KNS – who are we?

Marilyn Ambach – event planner, concert producer and hospitality expert. Graduated with honours at Antwerp University with a Masters’ degree in Communication & Philosophy. Marilyn moved to Tel Aviv in 2007 and has been working with A list artists ever since: from Leonard Cohen, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Guns ‘n Roses, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Bon Jovi, Elton John, Maroon5, Rihanna, international DJ’s, actors, models, influencers  etc.

Oren Naim – entrepreneur, content & creative expert, and specialist in communication and digital media. Graduated from the Film and Television Department of Tel Aviv University. In the past, Oren served as the creative-digital director of Network 13, as the head of the digital division of the Moto Mass Communication group of magazines, and as a co-founder of a number of Israeli and international companies and ventures, including: the online magazine “Vitrina” for culture and leisure, the social network for Israelis abroad Toosoo, the onlinemagazine platform Allmag, the production company Koma 2 and the youth project “Tachles”.

Our team of showbiz industry experts are bridging talents and unforgettable Experiences

At our core, we are a dynamic team of professionals hailing from diverse fields within the showbiz industry. From politics to speakers, authors to culinaria, our collective expertise covers a broad spectrum of talent and entertainment. We take immense pride in our excellent personal and direct relationships with talents worldwide, enabling us to curate unparalleled experiences for our clients.

With years of experience under our belts, we have honed our skills and developed an extensive network, allowing us to connect with top-tier artists, influencers, and luminaries.

Our passion and commitment to excellence fuel our drive to go above and beyond for our clients. We take the time to understand their vision, needs, and aspirations, tailoring our services to suit each individual requirement. It is this personalized approach that has earned us the trust and respect of both talents and clients alike.. Each member of our team brings a unique set of skills to the table, ensuring that we handle every aspect of the job with precision and flair. Whether it’s arranging show-stopping concerts, organizing thought-provoking speaker events, coordinating book launches for celebrated authors, or curating culinary experiences that tantalise the senses, we excel in delivering unforgettable moments.

In an industry where success hinges on making the right connections, our team’s extensive network plays a pivotal role. Through years of dedication, we have fostered direct relationships with talents, managers, agents, and representatives, enabling us to navigate the showbiz landscape with ease. These connections empower us to secure exceptional opportunities for our talents and ensure seamless collaborations. Our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and we are thrilled to continue supporting talents as they shine brightly on the global stage.

Baking · Cooking · Entertainment · General · History · Innovation · Israel · Jaffa · Kitchen · Lifestyle · Lilienblum Street · Nightlife · Photography · Restaurants · Tel Aviv · Tel Aviv & Antwerp · Tourism · Travel guide

15 hotspots in Tel Aviv for this summer (2017)

The Norman amazing boutique hotel in my favorite neighborhood right behind Rothschild Boulevard… my advice is to go there for breakfast

“Stay: The Norman”: 
“To find the best value for your money when booking your accommodation in Tel Aviv, have a look at the map of 
Tel Aviv on AllTheRooms.”Onza located in the hippest area in the Jaffa Fleamarket amazing Turkish food and vibe

Orna & Ella perfect for lunch on Shenkin Street 

Cafe Bucke perfect for breakfast and lunch, hip people only  🙂

Cafe Noir timeless! go for the chicken shnitzel.

HaSalon just google Eyal Shani. PS ideal for big groups and parties. need to make reservation ahead. this is the only restaurant I shared that is NOT walking distance from the heart of the city.

Nanuchka 100% VEGAN and then you just dance on the bar ok?Abraxas North as Jessica Biel tweeted: best burger ever
America Burgers my personal favorite burgers in town including an amazing vegetarian one!Delicatessen always good for breakfast and brunch and take away food and delicatessenBrasserie another classic of 24/7 amazing French foodManta Ray the only real gourmet food ON THE BEACH including amazing sea food and sea viewThe Old Man & The Sea real Meditteranean atmosphere and food at Jaffa Port

A few side notes:

  • yes life – and dining – in Israel is expensive
  • almost all restaurants stay open and are cool with menus at any hours (unlike Belgium)
  • another great Israeli invention is EatWith if you want a home dinner
  • contact me for more details or assistance during your trip: marilyn_josephine@ymail.com
Entertainment · Israel · Tel Aviv

Hollywood Made in Israel

Today Fox Network is releasing its newest drama TV-series Tyrant created by Israeli director, screenwriter, and writer Gideon Raff and developed by Howard Gordon and Craig Wright. An amazing cast and crew I had the privilege of working and a great and first experience for Israel of its kind so far: the show was filmed mainly in a huge studio built especially in Kfar Saba with record breaking stages, technology and manpower.  It starts airing today in the US and in Israel on YES on June 26th. Read more about Tyrant on IMDBThe Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.com

tyrant

Gideon Raff is currently also shooting another new project of his in Israel called Dig.

You may have heard of Israeli tv shows before: there have been so many Israeli creations sold abroad lately from TV formats like Rising Star to other drama series such as Homeland, In Treatment etc.

hatufimhomelandHomeland was inspired by Hatufim (which means Prisoners of War) and stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis and won many awards for Showtime. Hatufim as quoted in Haaretz newspaper: “Far more interested in the psyche of a country than a potential psycho returning from captivity”

Watch it: The first series of “Hatufim” is available via Hulu, while series 1 and 2 are available on Israeli DVD (Region 2), with English subtitles.

betipul1In Treatment is an HBO remake of the Israeli program Betipul starring Gabrielbetipuldvd Byrne as the therapist. Betipul was the first to put Israeli television on the global map. From Haaretz newspaper article “Found in Translation”: ‘The genius of the original was to utilize things Israel has in abundance (great actors, writers, people in therapy) to override what it lacks (budgets, studio space). The heart of the program – which ran for two seasons in Israel (one less than its U.S. remake), in 2005 and 2008 – was the late Assi Dayan. The actor-director portrayed Reuven Dagan, a Tel Aviv (where else?) psychotherapist, who sees the same set of clients over five weeks, as well as his own shrink (veteran actress Gila Almagor). “BeTipul” is often referred to as the most successful Israeli drama ever, partly for the sheer weight of awards it won locally, but also the number of remakes it spawned – 14 at last count, including a French-Canadian version in Quebec, plus others in Brazil and Romania.’

Watch it: The first series of “BeTipul” is only available on DVD in Hebrew, but the second series (Region 2, Israel) has English subtitles.


Hostages
also known as Bnei Aruba is an Israeli drama television series that was first broadcast on Channel 10 in 2013. The ten-part series was created by Rotem Shamir and Omri Givon and produced by Haim Sharir. In December 2013, BBC Four announced it had acquired the series. The show was sold to CBS and Canal+. More on Hostages in the Times of Israel article on this latest Sabra export TV. hostages

Entertainment · Israel · Lifestyle · Nightlife · Tel Aviv · Tel Aviv & Antwerp · Tourism · Travel guide

2 years Marilyn & Josephine – Mazel Tov

To celebrate our 2nd blog birthday, have a look at our top 5 most viewed articles and a compiled photo collage

1. Guest Blog: Joy Anna Thielemans in Tel Aviv

watch this video featuring Marilyn and Joy sharing TLV nightlife fun 

2. Off Rothschild

3. First visit to Tel Aviv?

4. Dating a Jew or two

5. Most beautiful Israeli women

beauty · Entertainment · Fashion · Israel

20-something most beautiful Israeli women

Bar Refaeli – model/actress/tv-host

follow her on Instagram along with another million people

bareyalnevo1photo by Eyal Nevo

guykyarivfbar1photo by Guy Kushi & Yariv Fein

Ayelet Zorer – actress

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photo by Eyal Nevo

Or Grossman – model/actress

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photo by Eyal Nevo

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Tehila Rich – model

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photo by Eyal Nevo

Gal Gadot – actress/model

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Rotem Sela – actress/model

Posted at http://www.MeetWithBeauty.com

Moran Atias – actress

moranatias1moranatias

Agam Rodberg – actress

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Esti Ginzburg – model/tv-host

estieyalnevophoto by Eyal Nevo

Eden Harel – actress/tv-hostedenharel

Ania Bukstein – actress/musician

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anyaeyalnevophoto by Eyal Nevo

Shirly Bouganim – model

bouganim

Sendi Bar – actress/model

guykyarivfsendibarphoto by Guy Kushi & Yariv Fein

Melanie Peres – model/actress

melanieperesguykphoto by Guy Kushi & Yariv Fein

Dar Zuzovsky – model/actress

daryarivguyphoto by Guy Kushi & Yariv Fein

Sharon Genish – model

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genish2

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Noa Tishby – actress/producer/model

noatishbyeyalnevophoto by Eyal Nevo

Yael Bar Zohar – model/actress

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photo by Eyal Nevo

Dana Frider – actress/model

guykyarivfdanafriderphoto by Guy Kushi & Yariv Fein

Yael Goldman – actress/tv-host/model

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Shiraz Tal – model

shiraz

Sarai Givaty – model/actress

saraieyalnevophoto by Eyal Nevo

Yamit Sol – actress

yamiteyalnevophoto by Eyal Nevo

Bar Paly – actress

guykyarivfbarpaly1photo by Guy Kushi & Yariv Fein

Entertainment · Israel · Music · Tel Aviv · Tourism

Israeli Folk Dancers – Saturdays on the Tel Aviv Boardwalk

Rak be’Israel (only in Israel) can you find those weekly Saturday gatherings of Israeli folk dancers on the Tel Aviv tayelet (boardwalk). They’ve been there for years, attracting not only pure dance aficionados but passers by from around the world. So many pictures and videos taken. Have a look at this tv item broadcasted on France2 a few years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtrWXUt3NyM – at 1’43”

We shouldn’t really call them folk dancers since most of the dances and choreographies evolve with contemporary Israeli music. It started of as Israeli folk dancing, which is a dance form usually performed to music from Israel, with dances choreographed for specific songs. Most Israeli dances are performed in a circle, although there are also partner dances and line dances. For our Belgian readers interested in learning to dance Israeli Folk Dance, contact Rikske from Isradans

Personally, I find it amazing and it brings me joy and happiness to see that this is what people do on their Saturdays. Quality of life. Have a look:

IMG_3037 IMG_3038 IMG_3039 IMG_3043 IMG_3048 IMG_3053 IMG_3068

Here’s some nostalgia footage of what it used to be like

Or this one by Avi Toledano at the 1979 Eurovision

Or this Israeli Group in France in the sixties

 

Entertainment · Judaism

Dating a Jew or two.

When you write a blog between Tel Aviv and Antwerp, it was bound to happen someday. Yes it’s time for a personal statement that I know isn’t shocking anybody who knows me: I have a thing for Jewish men.

I’ve given “the Reason Why” a lot of thought lately. I don’t care much about God, Jesus or any other prophet. I never fully understood the concept of how something that is supposed to be a good higher power actually divides so many people. I never really made a difference between someone who read the Bible, the Koran, the Torah or just believed in karma. So my preference to date Jewish guys has nothing to do with their belief, that’s for sure. I feel however that most of the guys I go for are Jewish (or, if they’re not, they probably look Jewish). Needless to say that when it comes to their looks, Jewish men are very “interesting”: the intelligent gaze of a young Leonard Cohen, the funny Adam Samberg, my high school crush Jeff Goldblum and the ultimate stud James Franco. My grandma always told me “van een mooi bord kan je niet eten” (freely translated as: you can’t judge a book by it’s cover), so Jewish men must also have a lot of good inner qualities. They are known to be smart and treat their wives with respect. They are family oriented and most of them have a good sense of humor. What sounds better than that? Another reason that I think of a lot is that it might be a more personal challenge, since dating someone who’s not suppose to date you makes you feel all “13 years old and secretly kissed a boy at school” again (minus the teen giggles).

Ari-Gold-Yom-KippurAnyway, who cares about reasons. Leo Dicaprio didn’t have a reason not to get on that piece of driftwood with Kate Winslet when he was floating around in icy water, so I don’t need a reason to like someone. Let’s say: I just do. But I am not Jewish. I’m a Shiksa, as they say in Yiddish (after looking up that word on Wikipedia I most definitely am a Shiksa: “Shiksa refers to any non-Jewish (gentile) woman or girl who might be a temptation to Jewish men or boys, e.g., for dating, intermarriage, etc.“). And this is kind of a problem.

But who am I to burst my own bubble? Let the men do that for me! So, after some serial Jew dating I learned that – like all men – Jewish men possess qualities that make me want to run in all sorts of directions, preferably faster than Forrest Gump on energy drinks.

Of course, I don’t generalize. The experiences I write about are totally my own. I would also like to point out that this article is purely written for entertainment, I am not out to hurt anybody and surely not to make fun of someones religion. It could very well have been Belgian Boys, or Italian Stallions.

1. The “I like dating you, but we have no future together… Or maybe we do… No we definitely don’t” guy.

There’s always this moment in time that you think “where have all the heroes gone?”. At that point I mostly meet a handsome dark curly-haired Mediterranean guy and I’m like “There he is!”. We talk a while, we go out together, watch a movie, have dinner, etc. Basically we’re having a very good time and all seems like a little fairytale with a handsome prince who’s really making an effort to make me feel every inch a women (for readers who’d love a soundtrack to this, click here). Who cares that he’s Jewish? I do what every normal girl does and I already start fantasizing about big family shabbat dinners (who doesn’t like a table full of food) and romantically lighting candles together on Hanukkah. A fairytale indeed. At the moment one least expects it (probably while watching re-runs of Sex and the City to remind myself again how Charlotte handled her Jew-man) he drops the Bomb (bomb being the awkward word). “I’ve thought about it and although you’re great and I have such a good time with you… you’re not Jewish and my parents would never approve.”

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2. The “Let’s keep it casual” guy.

According to Jewish tradition, dating plays a very specific role. Dating is a serious matter and is not intended for entertainment purposes. Well, thanks for the heads up, but some Jewboys don’t seem to share that thought (they are probably the ones who invented the phrase “Shickses are for practice”). But then again, who cares? One can only appreciate honesty. And a busy girl like me doesn’t always have the time for serious dating. A little fling here and there never hurt anyone. So yes, let’s keep it casual! All seems to be going well for a few weeks, but then Drama kicks in. All of a sudden a statement like “you can see other people if you want, we’re casual” seems to be as untrue as Anna Anderson being the long-lost Russian princess Anastasia. Even if I didn’t see anyone else (why would I, when I have a gorgeous Jew man to satisfy me on daily basis), I’m being called names I’d rather not repeat. Maybe it’s the Jewish sense of entitlement, or just the mere thought of me actually living up to his self-proclaimed statement. Eitherway he turned into the Boy who cried Wolf. (I must admit though that drama in this story went both ways. I guess keeping it casual isn’t always that easy.)

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3. The “I don’t care you’re not Jewish” guy.

Ah yes, they do exist. Some of the Jewish men don’t really care if they date a non-Jewish girl. But by then, i was already so submerged into Jewish tradition due to all previous experiences, I was like: “What? You’re not a very good Jew!” This is when I found out that I actually love the Jewish traditions and the “we’re one happy family”-feeling. How could I be part of The Family if he didn’t really care about being Jewish or not? And here come the question marks. Well, at least I found another reason to add to the long list of why I like Jewish people so much.

1I must say, even though a lot of these stories ended in agonizing heartbreak (no not really), I have enjoyed every experience I had so far and the people I’ve met along the way. I would never wish for things to be different. Being the romantic naive fool I am, I’m sure that every experience made me grow and made me wiser about what I want, and how far I would go for someone who really deserves it. And I’m pretty sure we will all get where we want to be, with a wonderful person. In my case preferably Jewish. 🙂

Entertainment

Supersize my Geekmode, please.

I always had this thing for zombies and vampires and other creatures of the night, but since I’m watching AMC’s “The Walking Dead” it’s been reaching a whole new level. The Walking Dead is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. So, when I found out that comics artist Charlie Adlard as well as Norman Reedus (who plays Daryl Dixon – better known as the bad guy on the motorcycle) were attending a comic convention called F.A.C.T.S. in Ghent (Belgium), i just had to go there.

F.A.C.T.S. is the biggest comics, sci-fi and anime festival in the Benelux, organized once a year by Con-Fuse bvba, an organization promoting Science Fiction, Comics, Fantasy and Japanese animation. Con-Fuse bvba creates a forum for all fans of the “fantastic genre”, giving them an entire weekend during which all of their favorite events are united under one roof.

This year the spotlight @ F.A.C.T.S. was on my much beloved TV-show The Walking Dead. Zombies galore! Other well represented comics, Fantasy and Sci-fi stuff: Star Wars, the Lord of the Ring, Star Trek, all Marvel comics, even more Star Wars, E.T., all Japanese anime, etc. Dressed up people were everywhere, guess I wasn’t the only one getting my geek-mode on 😉 I particularly liked what some artist did to the Barbie dolls. Makes me wish I still had mine!

Picture from The Walking Dead

Charlie Adlard

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon

Norman Reedus – all cleaned up

Sien Josephine

Architecture · Art · Entertainment · General · History · Lifestyle · Music · Restaurants · Tel Aviv

Live music on Jaffa Port’s waterfront

Tel Aviv is divided into 9 districts that have formed naturally over the city’s history. The oldest of these is Jaffa, the ancient port city out of which Tel Aviv grew. There’s much to write about Jaffa, I’d talk about the flea-market or the ancient city but let’s focus on the port today. The Old Port of Jaffa is reputed to be one of the oldest ports in the world, notably being the port from which Jonah set off in the famous Biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. Its long and fascinating history as  strategic port in the Eastern Mediterranean continued until only recently when new ports were built south of Tel Aviv in Ashdod and north in Haifa, to cater for modern-day shipping methods. Still functional as a small fishing port, the port is currently a recreational zone featuring many restaurants and cafes with lots cultural and artistic activities.

One of my favorite spots in the Namal (port in Hebrew) is called The Container. The Container is an industrial warehouse from the 1920s that has been converted into an art project space, bar and restaurant, located on the waterfront. The NY times recently wrote: “The space fuses Red Hook grit with Levantine glam, incorporating a sweeping, 45-seat horseshoe-shaped bar under a warehouse-high ceiling that affords nice views of both the oversize wood oven in the open kitchen and the rotating exhibits on the walls. Adding to the mix is a three-times-a-week D.J. set.” And live gigs:

As my brother is coming to visit Tel Aviv again, we set up a little concert there. On Friday July 6th at 10PM, N8n will perform with his Israeli band led by drummer Ori Raz for another night of good vibes by the water, some good old funk and some new ‘raw’ material. People are advised to reserve tables, entrance is free. Join us!

More info: http://www.namalyafo.co.il/http://www.container.org.il/  03- 683 63 21

Jaffa Port – photo credit Dani Jordan

The Container by night – photo credit The Container

The Container inside – photo credit Liron Erel

The Container inside – photo credit The Royal Excursion

https://www.facebook.com/events/318911194866710/

http://n8nmusic.com/

Antwerp · Entertainment · Music

The Throne dominates Antwerp.

“That sh*t cray” is all i can say after last night’s performance of Watch the Throne by the legendary Jay-Z and Kanye West (that, and “get your diamonds up”). Without doubt the craziest and best concert ever! I must say i like Jay-Z more than Kanye, but they both owned up to their music, leaving Antwerp (and especially me) behind with a big smile on our face. Next stop: Paris??

Did you also see the concert? What did you think?

Antwerp · Entertainment · Fashion · Shopping

COMMA, the first Belgian edition.

Last thursday I was invited to go and take pictures at the new Comma store opening in Antwerp. Comma is a German brand that decided to open their first Belgian store on the Meir in Antwerp. Spoiled with finger food and luscious cocktails, free make up corner (mmmm so nice after a long day of work, thanks Sabine!) and live music, Comma presents to you: the first Belgian edition.

P.S.: These pictures also got published on the website of a Belgian newspaper (yaay!). Read the article here.

COMMA, Meir 32-36, 2000 Antwerp.

Antwerp · Entertainment · Fashion · General · Lifestyle · Music

Where have you been?

As you might have noticed, these past few weeks i haven’t really been active on our little blog. Main reason? Swamped with work. Anyway, instead of boring you with stories about what i’ve been doing, I’ll just show you:

Contemporary Fashion Days, Antwerp – organized by F.F.I.

N8N‘s birthday party, dancing with the stars (or at least the stars-scarf of Merrymaker Ruth)

Shooting the new Philadelphia cream cheese commercial

PR agency OONA‘s Housewarming

Above and Under: Vascobelo‘s baristabar @ Contemporary Fashion Days Antwerp: great coffee, amazing taste. This pop-up coffee bar was the perfect getaway from my busy life.  Thanks to Jaime for taking me there!

Above and Under: N8N‘s performance in Amsterdam. Play that funky music white boy!

A LA PROXIMA!

Sien Josephine