Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Jessica Steinberg speaking with Oscar film nominee Meyer Levinson-Blount.

“Butcher’s Stain" is nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2026 Oscars, after winning second place in the narrative category of the Student Academy Awards in the fall.

The film follows Samir, an Arab butcher in Tel Aviv, who sets out on a journey to prove his innocence after he’s accused of removing posters of the hostages kidnapped to Gaza.

Levinson-Blount discusses his own background as the inspiration for the making of the film during his studies at Tel Aviv Film School, which he describes as a "paradise," particularly during the two years of war.

He talks about the themes of the film -- which draws on Levinson-Blount's own experiences working in Israeli supermarkets -- and revolves around a general thread of suspicion regarding the Arab community in Israel.

The debut director also discusses how the film's story builds suspicion, then breaks that expectation, showing that people tend not to know that much about one another.

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

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