Austin Jewish Film Festival Offers International, Award-Winning Films
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on January 24, 2009 under Austin Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) | 
The 7th Annual Austin Jewish Film Festival (AJFF), is taking place January 24-30, 2009 at four locations, including the Regal Arbor Cinema at Great Hills, Garrison Hall on the University of Texas campus, Texas Hillel near UT, and City Lights Theatre in Georgetown, Texas. The festival will present an award-winning selection of 28 films from 12 countries, and will feature interactive discussions led by screenwriters, directors, local filmmakers and community leaders. The 2009 films hail from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Slovakia, Tunisia and the USA. The genres are varied, and include drama, thriller, romance, documentary, comedy, adventure and short films, all by Jewish filmmakers. The selection committee has included award-winners from the Israeli Film Academy, Chicago International Film Festival, Jerusalem Film Festival, German Film Award and Montreal World Film Festival, among others. The festival opens today, Saturday, January 24, with Someone to Run With, directed by Oded Davidoff and recipient of numerous awards from the Israeli Film Academy and Miami Film Festival. Screenwriter Noah Stollman will lead a discussion about the film, which is based on David Grossman’s best-selling novel about a shy, seventeen-year-old, Assaf, who follows a lost dog into Jerusalem’s seamy underworld to find its owner, a girl named Tamar. Opening weekend continues on Sunday, January 25, with special events and outstanding films:
- Noodle- Also an Israeli Film Academy award winner, Noodle is a touching, light-hearted comic-drama about the importance of family and emotional healing.
- Praying with Lior- This engrossing and tender documentary chronicles the four months leading up to the Bar Mitzvah of Lior Liebling, known in Philadelphia as “the little rebbe” because of his exuberant spirituality. The audience will learn about the challenges, contributions, and abilities of Lior, who happens to have Down Syndrome.
- Max Minsky and Me- Based on Holly-Jane Rahlens’ award-winning novel, Prince William, Maximilian Minsky and Me, this delightful comedy is about friendship and family in Berlin. Nelly Edelmeister is a skinny, brainy 13-year old schoolgirl who has a hopeless crush on Prince Edouard of Luxembourg, and who is preparing for her approaching Bat Mitzvah. Hazzan Neil Blumofe of Congregation Agudas Achim and Michelle Chandler of Jewish Family Service will lead a discussion following the film.
- Dancing Alfonso- This documentary follows Alfonso, the dynamic lead in a Tel Aviv troupe of older flamenco dancers, whose average age is 75! The film takes a fresh look at the endless, but ever hopeful, search for someone to love.
AJFF’s interactive programs will be offered throughout the week:
- Director Netta Loevy will be present for the screening of Woman From The Bubble on Monday, January 26. This documentary tells the story of Lee Dan, an Israeli sign language interpreter, who signs in “the bubble” on Israeli TV.
- Following its screening on Thursday, January 29, Wendy Corn, a local Austin filmmaker, will discuss Praise HA!, her documentary exploring laughter and its healing effects. Humor and laughter specialists like Clown Activist Wavy Gravy, Dr. Patch Adams and Therapist Loretta LaRoche use movement and humor to lighten up intense medical situations.
- Halakeh, screening on Friday, January 30, is the story of a young religious couple and their son, as they prepare for the ritual halakeh ceremony, which involves cutting a boy’s hair for the first time. Following the film, members of the Austin Jewish community will share their personal experiences with observing this traditional ritual within their families.
In addition, Yisrael Campbell’s film, Circumcise Me, will be screened on Thursday, January 29. The comedy/documentary is about converting to Orthodox Judaism and becoming a successful comedian. Campbell will appear as part of the Israeli/Palestinian Comedy Tour at the Dell Jewish Community Campus, 7300 Hart Lane, on Saturday, January 17 at 8 PM. Both the Israeli/Palestinian Comedy Tour and the Austin Jewish Film Festival are part of the JCAA’s Spotlight on Arts & Ideas series. For more details, visit www.shalomaustin.org/spotlight
Aviva My Love
Bad Faith
Baghdad Twist
Circumsize Me
Dancing Alfonso
Dangerous Acts
Emotional Arithmetic
Halakeh
Love Comes Lately
Mabul
Max Minsky and Me
Moosh
My Mexican Shiva
Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good
Noodle
Offside
Praise HA!
Praying In Her Own Voice
Praying with Lior (pictured)
The Secrets
Someone to Run With
Something Sweet
Strangers
Strangers (Short)
Villa Jasmi
Woman From The Bubble
The Year My Parents Went On Vacation
You Never Know-Shlomo Carlebach