In this powerful courthouse drama, Gett: The Trial of Vivian Ansalem, Vivian (Ronit Elkabetz) fights five years for a Gett (divorce) from her estranged husband.
Israel's Official Entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 87th Academy Awards.
OWINGS MILLS, MD (PRWEB) January 22, 2015
Film fans, welcome to the 27th Annual William and Irene Weinberg Baltimore Jewish Film Festival! The Gordon Center for Performing Arts is thrilled to present this year's festival from March 22nd - April 28th, 2015.
This year’s films touch on several themes: the Holocaust and its aftermath; Israeli/Palestinian relations; modern Israeli culture; and international intrigue and immigration. On three nights, we will present double features and screenings will be followed by speakers.
Prior to our list of screenings, here are a few important logistical details:
Who/Venue:
The Gordon Center for Performing Arts, JCC of Greater Baltimore
What:
The 27th Annual William and Irene Weinberg Family Baltimore Jewish Film Festival
When:
March 22 - April 28, 2015
Where:
The Gordon Center for Performing Arts
on the campus of the Rosenbloom Jewish Community Center
3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Fee:
Tickets are $12 in advance; $14 at the door; $5 for students (at the door only, as available)
Tickets are also available online at http://www.gordoncenter.com or at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC or the Weinberg Park Heights JCC.
Contact:
For more information or to purchase tickets visit http://www.gordoncenter.com/film or contact Marilyn Zvili at 410-599-3510 or mzvili(at)jcc(dot)org.
For media inquiries, please contact Billy Treger at 410.559.3616 or btreger(at)jcc(dot)org.
And, finally, our list of this year's screenings:
Hannah Cohen’s Holy Communion (Drama)
Great Britain 2012; Director: Shimmy Marcus
Sunday, March 22, 3:00 pm
Language: English; 13 min.
Set in Dublin in the 1970’s this film explores a rarely glimpsed Ireland, as seen through the eyes of spirited seven year old, Hannah Cohen. Hannah can’t wait to make her Holy Communion – only problem is she’s Jewish! An Irish/Jewish film with an international feel, the beauty of the story lies in its simplicity, humor, and the universal desire to fit in.
Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem (Documentary)
Baltimore Premiere
USA 2014; Director: John Lollos
Sunday, March 22, 3:00pm
Language: English; 76 min.
Portraits of two beloved icons -- Sholom Aleichem and Theodore Bikel -- are woven together in this enchanting new documentary. The two men have much in common: wit, wisdom and talent, shot with deep humanity and Yiddishkeit.
Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (Drama)
Wednesday, March 25, 7:30 pm
Israel/German/France 2014; Directors: Ronit Elkabets, Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew w/English sub-titles, 115 min.
A powerful drama, this is the story of Viviane Amsalem's five year fight to obtain a divorce in front of the only legal authority competent for divorce cases in Israel, the Rabbinical Court. Viviane and her lawyer must face the uncompromising attitude of Elisha, the husband, who does not respond to the rabbis’ convocations. When he is finally obliged to come to court, he continues to refuse the divorce (Gett) even though he and his Viviane have been separated for years.
24 Days (Drama, based on a true story)
Maryland Premiere
Sunday, March 29, 3:00 pm
France 2014; Director: Alexandre Arcady
Language: French w/English subtitles, 108 min.
In January of 2006 a beautiful young woman walks into a Parisian cellphone shop, looks around, and asks for the sales attendant's number. Later, she calls him, asking to meet. Who could have known Ilan, the 23 year old man, was flirting with death? The next time his family hears from him is through a cryptic online message from kidnappers demanding ransom.
Winner of the Lia Award, Jerusalem Film Festival 2014
Barriers (Drama)
Wednesday, April 15; 7:30 pm
Israel 2012; Director: Golan Rise
Language: Hebrew w/English subtitles; 22 min
Uri, a young officer, together with two soldiers under his command, are manning a checkpoint in the territories. Two women from the "Watch” organization are monitoring their work. Uri is confused when he receives an order to close the checkpoint because of a bomb threat. Tensions rise as a number of unpredictable events unfold, and Uri is faced with difficult ethical decisions.
Best Short Film Jerusalem Film festival 2011
Prix Intercultural Munich Film Festival 2011
International Student film Festival Tel Aviv 2012
San Diego Jewish Film festival 2012
First Prize Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2012
Above and Beyond (Documentary)
Baltimore Premiere
Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 pm
USA/UK/Israel 2014; Director: Roberta Grossman
Language: English, 90 min.
In 1948, a group of World War II pilots, mostly from America, volunteered to fight for Israel in the War of Independence. As members of "Machal" - volunteers from abroad - this ragtag band of brothers not only turned the tide of the war, preventing the possible annihilation of Israel at the very moment of its birth, they also laid the groundwork for the Israeli Air Force.
Co-Presented with FIDF
Strangers (Short)
Monday, April 20; 7:30 pm
Israel; Directors: Erez Tadmor and Guy Nattiv
Language: Hebrew w/English subtitles; 7 min.
Strangers tells the compelling tale of two young men, one Arab and one Jewish who are motivated by fear to overcome their racial prejudice and hatred when suddenly confronted with a menacing gang of skinheads.
Won Best Short at Sundance Film Festival 2004.
Run Boy Run (Drama)
Maryland Premiere
Monday, April 20, 7:30 pm
Germany/France 2014; Director: Pepe Danquart
Language: Polish, German w/English subtitles 107 min.
Run Boy Run tells the extraordinary true story of a Polish boy who seeks the kindness of others in his solitary struggle to outlast the Nazi occupation and keep alive his Jewish faith. Escaping the Warsaw ghetto at the behest of his father, nine-year old Srulik flees to the woods. There, he learns to hide from SS patrols and scour for food, until loneliness and the harsh onset of winter drive him back to civilization.
Audience Choice Award, Jewish Film Festival of Dallas 2014
Audience Award - Best Drama, Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival 2014
Farewell Baghdad/The Dove Flyer (Drama)
Maryland Premiere
Thursday, April 23, 7:30 pm
Israel 2014; Director: Nissim Dayan
Language: Arabic w/English subtitles, 105 min.
Between the years 1950-51 nearly 130,000 Jews left Iraq, and the most ancient community in the world ceased to exist. Farewell Baghdad tells the story of the Jewish community in the Iraqi capital on the eve of the State of Israel's establishment, and the way Jewish families and heads of the Jewish underground dealt with the authorities' hostility.
Stateless (Documentary)
Maryland Premiere
USA 2014; Director: Michael Drob
Sunday, April 26, 3:00pm
Language: Russian w/English subtitles; 86 min.
In the late 1980's, on the brink of the collapse of the Soviet Union, tens of thousands of Soviet Jews were finally allowed to leave the USSR. What these people did not expect was that their final destination, America, no longer welcomed them with open arms. In 1988, American policy suddenly changed and thousands of Soviet Jews were stranded in Italy.
Guest Speaker: Michael Drob, Director of Stateless
Co-presented with the Jewish Museum of Maryland
The Art Dealer/L’antiquaire (Drama)
Maryland Premiere
Tuesday, April 28, 7:30 pm
France 2014; Director: Francois Margolin
Language: French w/English subtitles, 95 min.
The Art Dealer follows a Jewish woman who embarks on a journey to recover family paintings that were stolen by the Nazis. During her investigation, she discovers family secrets that are best kept hidden.
Film Festival Tickets may be ordered online at http://www.gordoncenter.com. The Gordon Center is located on the campus of the Rosenbloom JCC at 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills, MD 21117. The Box Office can be reached at 410.356.7469.
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The Peggy and Yale Gordon Center for Performing Arts is Baltimore County’s premiere arts destination. The Gordon Center offers an eclectic variety of professional entertainment in music, theater, dance, family programming and film. You will experience world-class acoustics in an intimate, state-of-the-art venue. Free parking in well-lit spaces, handicap accessible, and equipped with a special RF system for the hearing impaired, the Gordon Center can be enjoyed by all.
