The 19

th Annual

DECEMBER

4−14, 2008

Co-sponsored by the Embassy of Israel and Washing Presented by t

WJFF is supported in part by a grant from the United Jewish Endowment Fund

he WashingtonInternational DC Jewish Community Cinema Center’s

and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities,An Exhibition an agency of

supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts Morris Cafritz Center for the Arts

ton Jewish Week

wjff.org The 19th Annual WASHINGTON JEWISH

sunday monday tuesday

Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Embassy of France Goethe-Institut Washington Goethe-Institut Washington Pauwel’s Circus Being Jewish in France Pauwel’s Circus John F. Kennedy: 1917-1963 with Revelation E 11:00 am E 12:30 pm and Robert Kennedy Remembered E Noon E 12:30 pm Family on the Edge National Gallery of Art Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater E 2:00 pm Miss Universe 1929 Waves of Freedom Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater E 3:30 pm E 6:00 pm Bridge Over the Wadi Charles Guggenheim in Retrospect: E 6:30 pm A Talk with Grace Guggenheim Mom I Didn’t Kill Your Daughter AFI Silver Theatre E 8:00 pm To See If I’m Smiling Screening of Jerusalem Lives Lemon Tree Presentation of Inaugural E 8:15 pm E 4:30 pm WJFF Visionary Award Avalon Theatre Like a Fish Out of Water Dear Mr. Waldman Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema E 4:00 pm and A Green Chariot E 6:15 pm Tulip Time Strangers E 7:00 pm Arab Labor E 6:30 pm E 7:00 pm E 8:15 pm One Day You’ll Understand E 8:15 pm 7 8 9 sunday

Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Avalon Theatre About Yossi A Touch Away with Life in the Shadows E 11:00 am E 11:30 am Max Minsky and Me Berga: Soldiers of Another War E 5:00 pm E 1:30 pm Who Am I? The Found Children of Argentina E 3:30 pm Let’s Dance! Closing Night Film and Party E 7:00 pm 14 calendar of events thursday friday saturday

Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger Journey to America The Beetle Opening Night Film and Party E 1:00 pm E 6:15 pm E 7:00 pm­ FREE Lemon Tree E 8:15 pm Beau Jest E 10:30 pm

AFI Silver Theatre One Day You’ll Understand E 7:30 pm Strangers E 9:30 pm 4 5 6 wednesday thursday friday saturday

Goethe-Institut Washington Goethe-Institut Washington Goethe-Institut Washington Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater At the End of the Day Darling: The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story Max Minsky and Me and E 12:30 pm E 1:30 pm E 6:00 pm E 12:30 pm Stefan Braun Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater with A Trip to Prague Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater At Home in Utopia The Making of Liberty E 8:30 pm E 6:00 pm E 1:00 pm Dancing Alfonso Shorts Program: E 1:00 pm FREE Darling: The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story Love and War The House on August Street E 7:45 pm Between the Lines with A Letter to an Absent Child Circumcise Me! E 10:30 pm E 6:15 pm E 9:15 pm Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema Hannah Senesh The Beetle E E 8:15 pm 6:30 pm Beau Jest Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema E 8:15 pm Salonica E 6:15 pm AFI Silver Theatre Villa Jasmin Two Lives Plus One E 7:00 pm E 8:15 pm 10 11 12 13 wjff.org calendar of events General INFORMATION Ticket INFORMATION

E For the latest information on Festival Ticket Prices advance tickets films, guests and events, call the Opening Night Film by Phone or Fax Washington Jewish Film Festival and Party:...... $20 Please call (800) 494-8497 hotline at (202) 777-3231 or visit us Closing Night Film or fax (800) 329-8497 at WJFF.ORG and Party:...... $20 Open Evening and Monday through Friday 10:00 am–6:00 pm E General seating begins 15 minutes prior Weekend Screenings:...... $10 Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am–4:00 pm to screening time. Guggenheim Retrospective, Closed E All theaters are wheelchair accessible. Visionary Award and Reception...... $11 ($1 of every ticket sold goes towards restoration of Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving) E A limited number of free tickets the filmJerusalem Lives) are allocated for each screening for Special screening of Same Day Tickets Same day tickets (starting after 11:00 pm the those who cannot afford the cost of A Touch Away (8 episodes)...... $18 day prior to screening) can be purchased one admission. Arrangements must be Daytime Doc Screenings at the 16th Street J and Goethe-Institut...... $6 hour before the show at the box office of the made at least one day before the show theater where the film is being screened. by calling (202) 777-3231 or email Student and Senior Discount:...... $1 off [email protected]. (For all evening and weekend screenings except Opening and Closing Nights) Box Office Information Free Friday matinee screenings at the 16th Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Security Notice Street J and National Gallery of Art. Free Monday through Friday, the box office opens Please arrive early to allow enough time for screenings do not require reservations. one hour prior to the first daytime screening security checks at all venues. Briefcases, and re-opens one hour prior to the first evening shopping bags, etc. are not permitted Group Ticket Sales screening. Saturday and Sunday, the box office Special rates are available for most screenings in theaters. All backpacks, purses and opens one hour prior to the first screening of the except Opening and Closing Nights. Please call day and remains open. For further information, handbags are subject to inspection. (202) 777-3231 at lease 5 days in advance of call the Festival office at (202) 777-3231. screening date for prices and availability. No advance ticket sales at the Washington E FILMS AND GUESTS ARE DCJCC—same day sales only. Box Office and SUBJECT TO CHANGE. E All Ticket Sales Are Final. Will Call tables are located in the Elizabeth E no refunds. no exceptions. E PARENTAL DISCRETION M. and David Bruce Smith 16th Street Lobby. ADVISED FOR MOST FILMS. E no passes accepted. The entrance to the Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater is on the 2nd floor. E PLEASE BRING A PHOTO ID online Advance Tickets WITH YOU TO ALL SCREENINGS For the following venues, the Box Office Secure online advance tickets are available at opens one hour prior to screening—same day WJFF.ORG. Washington DCJCC members and sales only: KEY WJFF funders have priority ticket purchasing on November 17 and 18. Tickets for the general Avalon Theatre Suitable for ages 11 and Up public go on sale on November 19. There is a Afi Silver Theatre $1.50 handling fee per order for advance tickets. Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema Advance tickets are not available at theater box Goethe-Institut Washington Guggenheim Retrospective offices. • Tickets ordered 10 days or more prior Embassy Of France to the screening date are mailed to the For the following venue, all screenings are free. Gay & Lesbian Outreach purchaser. Seating is first come, first served. and Engagement (GLOE) • Tickets ordered less than 10 days prior to the screening date and by 11:00 pm the day National Gallery Of Art Daytime Docs before must be either printed out online For recorded information, call (202) 842-6799. using BOT Ticket at the time of purchase or picked up at the Will Call table at the screening. Online tickets cannot be ordered after 11:00 pm the day prior to the screening. THEATER LOCATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION

Aaron & Cecile Avalon Theatre Goethe-Institut Washington Goldman Theater 5612 Connecticut Avenue NW 814 Seventh Street NW at I Street Washington District of Columbia Washington, DC Washington, DC Jewish Community Center (between McKinley and Northampton goethe.de/washington Streets, just over a quarter mile south 1529 16th Street NW at Q Street Metro/Metrobus washingtondcjcc.org of Chevy Chase Circle) theavalon.org Red, Yellow or Green Lines to Gallery Place- Metro/Metrobus Chinatown. Exit at 7th and H Streets and walk Red line to Dupont Circle. Exit north to Q Street. Metro/Metrobus North one block. The 70, X2 and P6 buses The S series (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) runs north and Red Line to Friendship Heights Metro. Transfer provide transportation to 7th and I Streets. to the E2, E3, E4 or E6 bus, which will drop south along 16th Street. Bus #G2 originates in Public Parking Georgetown and travels across P Street (1 block you a half-block from the theater at the corner Surrounding streets have unrestricted parking in south of Q Street). of McKinley and Connecticut Avenue. The L1, L2 and L4 bus lines provide transportation the evening, and there are commercial garages Walking from points south of Chevy Chase Circle on within a few blocks walk. The Washington DCJCC is an easy, well-lit stroll Connecticut Avenue to the Avalon. from the Dupont Metro. Exit at Q Street and Embassy of France turn right (East) when you get off the escalator. Public Parking 4101 Reservoir Road NW Cross Connecticut Avenue, and walk five blocks Surrounding streets have unrestricted parking in Washington, DC until you see the building. the evening and on weekends. la-maison-francaise.org Public Parking AFI Silver Theatre Metro/Metrobus If you are planning to drive, remember to leave 8633 Colesville Road The D6 and D3 (mornings only) buses provide plenty of time for parking. There is limited on- Silver Spring, MD transportation to the front gate of the Embassy. street parking available. afi.com/silver Public Parking Colonial Public Parking Garage Metro/Metrobus There is public parking (mostly metered 1616 P Street (between 16th and 17th streets). Red Line to Silver Spring Metro. Exit onto spaces) on the streets in front of and around $5 per car, only $4 when you have your ticket Colesville Road and walk north two blocks. the Embassy. Individuals who are on the event validated at the 16th Street J’s front desk The Silver Spring metro station is served by guest list have access to limited parking in the bus routes 70, 71, J5, F4, F6, JH1, J2, J3, J4, Embassy’s parking garage. Colonial Parking Lot Hours: Q2, S2, S4, Y8 and Z5. Monday through Saturday National Gallery 5:30 pm–1 hour past the Public Parking of Art – East Wing end of the last film of the night Surrounding streets and public garages have 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW Sunday unrestricted parking in the evening and on (Enter on 4th Street) 10:00 am–1 hour past the weekends. Commercial parking is available nga.gov end of the last film of the night behind the Lee Building at the corner of Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue or at Metro/Metrobus Washington DCJCC Parking Lot the Gateway Plaza after 6:00 pm. Judiciary Square on the Red Line, Archives on Enter on Q Street just after the building. the Yellow/Green Lines, and Smithsonian on the Hourly fee, $5 maximum. Discounts available Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema Blue/Orange Lines. The 32, 34, 36, P1, P2 and P3 for members and seniors when you have your 7235 Woodmont Avenue buses provide transportation to 4th Street. tickets validated at the 16th Street J’s front desk. Bethesda, MD Public Parking landmarktheatres.com Surrounding streets have unrestricted parking in Metro/Metrobus the evening and there are commercial garages Red Line to Bethesda Metro station. The theater within a few blocks walk. Parking areas, ramps is minutes by foot from the Bethesda Metro and elevators provide access for visitors with station (on the Woodmont side). The J2, 3, 4, 7 disabilities. and 9 buses all go to the Bethesda Metro station. Public Parking There are three major parking lots in the immediate vicinity of the theater. Two outdoor lots are across the street from the theater and one large parking garage is located between Woodmont and Arlington Road on Bethesda Avenue. a message from ALPHABETICAL LISTING of FILMS

the director (Please see corresponding pages for descriptions of movies) See. Think. Feel. A Green Chariot...... 12 Like a Fish Out of Water...... 12 Film invites each of us to expand our world. Since WJFF is a Jewish film festival, you might think that A Letter to an Absent Child...... 16 Love Ties...... 20 the field of vision is somehow narrowed or more limited in the possibilities of what we might see up A Time for Justice...... 16 Max Minsky and Me...... 21 there on the screen. But the reality is really quite different. A Touch Away...... 22 Merdy Birdy...... 20 Over recent years, there has been an explo- sion of moving images about the “diversity of the A Trip to Prague...... 22 Miss Universe 1929...... 11 Jewish experience.” Film is a prefect medium for About Yossi...... 22 Mom I Didn’t Kill Your Daughter...... 13 examining what this often-used phrase means, and for telling stories that need to be told and asking Arab Labor...... 14 Musical Chairs...... 20 questions: What has happened along the way? Where are we today? Where might we be going as Around Trip...... 20 My Olympic Summer...... 20 we imagine the future? This year, WJFF brings you that diversity with At Home in Utopia...... 18 New Year’s Day...... 20 more films than ever before! There are 59 features, documentaries and shorts to choose from over the At the End of the Day...... 18 Nine from Little Rock ...... 16 Festival’s 11 days…outstanding work by talented first-time filmmakers and accomplished veterans. Beau Jest...... 9 One Day You’ll Understand...... 8 And who do these filmmakers bring for us to meet on screen? Everyone from a Jewish circus family Being Jewish in France...... 10 Pauwel’s Circus...... 10 to star-crossed lovers…from a satirist dedicated to AIDS education to a filmmaker trying to keep his Berga: Soldiers of Another War...... 23 Revelation...... 10 car and his family intact…from women living with the aftermath of conflict to a senior citizen proving Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Robert Kennedy Remembered...... 14 we all need love at any age. There are heroes of all Death of Hannah Senesh...... 17 kinds—some more obvious like Hannah Senesh Salonica...... 17 and the men who sailed off to rescue Jews from Bridge Over the Wadi...... 14 Stefan Braun ...... 21 war-torn —and some, like Yossi, who make Circumcise Me!...... 19 living life every day a heroic act. Strangers...... 9 Although we don’t go looking for a theme or Dancing Alfonso...... 16 focus to the films in any given year, sometimes the Tell Your Children...... 20 focus finds us. This year seems to be particularly Darling: The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story...... 19 strong for documentary films. In addition to out- The Beetle...... 8 standing features, we present 31 documentaries. Dear Mr. Waldman...... 13 These are films that look at life and ourselves, The House on August Street...... 16 sometimes in great fun and other times, delving Enemies By Default...... 20 into the pain and challenges of the world around The Kiddush Man...... 20 us. We are proud to present a special retrospective Family on the Edge...... 10 of DC’s own Charles Guggenheim (z”l), one of the The Making of Liberty...... 21 most honored documentary filmmakers ever, along Green Mercedes...... 20 with the first annual WJFF Visionary Award to him The Tunnel...... 20 and his daughter Grace, who carries on his legacy Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger...... 7 in addition to being an accomplished filmmaker in To See If I’m Smiling...... 15 her own right. Jerusalem Lives...... 11 I love film most when it both provokes and Tulip Time...... 15 pleasures me, prodding and poking at my thoughts John F. Kennedy: 1917-1963...... 14 Two Lives Plus One...... 19 and feelings, challenging me to explore, ponder, Journey to America...... 8 react…opening my eyes and my heart. In the end, Villa Jasmin...... 18 a good film leaves us glad to have had the experi- Lemon Tree...... 9 ence of seeing it. What did it make us think about? Waves of Freedom...... 12 What will we remember after the lights come up? Let’s Dance!...... 7 What will stay with us—lingering in our thoughts, Who Am I? touching our feelings—tonight, tomorrow, next Life in a Box...... 20 The Found Children of Argentina...... 23 week or even longer? Welcome to the Festival. Come, let’s sit in the Life in the Shadows...... 22 dark together and share a film.

Enjoy!

Susan H. Barocas Director opening night closing night Thursday Sunday DECEMBER 4 DECEMBER 14 E 7:00 pm E 7:00 pm followed by party followed by party

Sponsored by Sponsored by The Jacob & Charlotte CrossCurrents Lehrman Foundation Foundation

HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER BLUEBURGER LET’S DANCE! Australia, 2008, 35 mm France/Switzerland, 2007, 35 mm 103 minutes 100 min English French with English subtitles Director: Cathy Randall Director: Noémie Lvovsky US Premiere Nominated for 2008 César Awards of France for Best Actor, Esther Blueburger (perfectly-cast newcomer Danielle Best Supporting Actress and Best Music Written for a Film Catanzariti) is not your typical teenager. No, Esther Eighty-year-old Salomon Belinsky (Jean-Pierre Marielle) Blueburger has ambitious plans: she wants to defy the lost his family in the Holocaust, but has worked meanness, absurdity and isolation of this world. Her quest throughout his life to maintain his joie de vivre. He refuses gets a big push at her bat mitzvah party from cool, hip to surrender to his age and spends his days dodging Sunni (Keisha Castle-Hughes, Whale Rider). With Sunni’s funeral obligations of friends, taking tap dancing lessons help, Esther leaves her old life behind, including her strict inspired by his favorite actor Fred Astaire and dating a private school where being Jewish is definitelynot cool. much younger woman, the charming but insecure Violette Pretending to be a Swedish exchange student at the less (Sabine Azema). He also visits Geneviève (Bulle Ogier), reputable public school that Sunni attends, Esther is no his ex-wife of 25 years who is disappearing into the final longer the unpopular kid everyone loves to push around. stages of dementia, attended to by her devoted caregiver She starts spending less time with her dysfunctional Mr. Mootoosamy (Bakary Sangare). Geneviève has Jewish family—disorganized mother, sentimental father developed the bad habit of giving away all her money to and manic twin brother—and more time hanging out with strangers. Through all of these emotional intersections, Sunni’s incredibly hip mother, Mary (Toni Collette, Little Salomon and Genevièves’s 40-something daughter Sarah Miss Sunshine, Muriel’s Wedding). Soon, cracks begin to (Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi) is still trying to figure out her show in one of Esther’s worlds. In the end, it’s up to Esther parents, her marriage and her own life. The captivating to reconcile the chaos and contradictions in her life, and characters refuse to surrender to self-pity as the jam- she does it by breaking out and being her truly original, packed script moves along with insight, compassion and smart, feisty self. humor to a musical score by jazz great Artie Shepp.

SPECIAL GUEST Miriam Stein, producer SPECIAL GUEST Noémie Lvovsky, director (invited) CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Australia CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of France, the Alliance Française de Washington and the Embassy of Switzerland 4 4 6 6 er er 5 5 b b er b ecem ecem D D ecem D aturday, aturday, hursday, hursday, riday, riday, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 DECEMBER SATURDAY, T F S

Hey Hey It’s esther blueburger Journey to america The Beetle

tion to the New World between 1890 and attempts to renovate the old car and ends 1920, then following the immigrants’ stories with the birth of Yishai’s son. The emotional Thursday after arrival at Ellis Island and their new lives and enlightening encounters blend with Yis- in New York, , Chicago and hai’s personal journey toward fatherhood and DECEMBER 4 across America. his attempt to save his two loves. SPECIAL GUEST Yishai Orian, director Sponsored by the Jacob & Charlotte CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel Lehrman Foundation Saturday ONE DAY YOU’LL HEY HEY IT’S ESTHER UNDERSTAND BLUEBURGER DECEMBER 6 E 7:30 pm E 7:00 pm Sponsored by AFI Silver Theatre Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Michael & Barbara Smilow France, 2008, 35mm Opening Night Film and Party 89 minutes See page 7 THE BEETLE French with English subtitles Director: Amos Gitai E 6:15 pm Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater DC Premiere

Israel, 2008 Victor, a French Catholic businessman in his 70 minutes, video forties, tries to make sense of his life, espe- Friday Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles cially his family’s experience during the Holo- Director: Yishai Orian caust. His Jewish mother Rivka (played per- DECEMBER 5 DC Premiere fectly by acclaimed actress Jeanne Moreau) is Director Yishai Orian is married to Eliraz, but an old lady living in an apartment full of beau- tiful antiques, overwhelming memorabilia and JOURNEY TO AMERICA is also in love with his old Volkswagon Beetle. Eliraz is about to give birth to their first child, painful memories of France during the Nazi E 1:00 PM occupation. But Victor has questions: Why Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater and the soon-to-be-mother is anxious to get rid of the old wreck, which she feels is were he and his sister raised Catholic? What FREE absolutely unsafe for a baby. As the argu- happened in the village where his mother’s USA, 1989, 16mm ment heats up whether to junk or invest in parents hid from the Nazis? The film moves 52 minutes rehabilitating the Beetle, Yishai’s reluctance seamlessly from present to past and back English as mother, son and other family members Director: Charles Guggenheim to let go of the past leads him on an exciting, funny and touching road trip that begins with explore and avoid experiences and emotions Produced for the PBS series “American Expe- the intimate memories of previous owners never openly confronted. An adaptation of rience,” the film chronicles the great migra- of the yellow Beetle, continues in Jordan with Jerome Clement’s autobiographical novel,

 For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 one day you’ll understand Lemon Tree strangers Beau jest

Gitai’s newest film is not only the heart- undertakings of this arresting film. this film). The striking film brings to life an wrenching and complicated history of one SPECIAL GUEST Eran Riklis, director (invited) unlikely scenario that ultimately highlights family and the Holocaust, but also a beauti- hope in the face of constant conflict. REMARKS BY Larry Garber, CEO, New fully-shot, universal story of suffering and war. Israel Fund CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of France CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel and Alliance Française de Washington and the New Israel Fund BEAU JEST E 10:30 pm LEMON TREE STRANGERS Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater E 8:15 pm E 9:30 pm USA, 2008, 35mm Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater AFI Silver Theatre 98 minutes English Israel/Germany/France, 2008, 35mm Israel/France, 2007, 35mm Director: James Sherman 106 minutes 85 minutes Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles English, French, Hebrew, Arabic, German and DC Premiere Director: Eran Riklis Aramaic with English subtitles Playwright James Sherman’s popular tale DC Premiere Directors: Erez Tadmor and Guy Nattiv about relationships, romance and intrigue Based on a true story, middle-aged Palestin- DC Premiere moves from stage to screen, starring Mary- land native Robyn Cohen, Lainie Kazan, Sey- ian widow Salma, played flawlessly by Hiam A chance encounter for two travelers on a mour Cassel and Willie Garson (Stanford in Abass (The Visitor, Paradise Now, The Syrian Berlin train turns into a modern-day, sensual “Sex in the City”). In this romantic comedy, Bride), lives to take care of her lemon grove, and political Romeo and Juliet. When Eyal, Sarah Goldman, a young school teacher is once the pride of her family. But when the an Israeli living on a kibbutz, and Rana, a dating Chris Cringle, a great guy with just Israeli Minister of Defense builds a house on Palestinian living in exile in France, meet to one apparent flaw—he’s not Jewish. So Sarah the other side of Salma’s fence, her lemon exchange look-alike backpacks, the attrac- invents the perfect boyfriend and delights trees become a “security risk” and are tion is unavoidable. Their romance begins her parents with stories about the man of her ordered destroyed. Salma fights back, taking amid the World Cup soccer finals in Berlin mother’s dreams. When her parents insist her case all the way to the Israeli Supreme and continues with a reunion in Paris amid on meeting this nice Jewish surgeon, Sarah Court. Things get even more complicated growing awareness of political and cultural resorts to desperate measures. Enter Bob, an as Salma and her attorney find themselves differences. The film confronts the realities actor, to play the role of her new beau. The romantically drawn to each other. Surpris- of these differences, including a very candid antics that follow are what have made this ingly, Salma’s struggle is noticed by the discussion in a cafe with Rana’s friends about comical, heartwarming tale such a huge suc- defense minister’s wife (Rona Lipaz Michael), the conflict in the Middle East. The nearly cess since its first stage production in 1989. lonely in her beautiful new house as her hus- flawless script is played with just the right band’s political career skyrockets. The strong amount of awkward charm and passion by SPECIAL GUESTS Robyn Cohen, actor; David and universal bond that connects two women Liron Levo (Kippur, Munich) and Lubna Azabal and Sandy Newton, executive producers; from their close, but very different worlds is (winner, Wolgin Award for Most Promising Dan Newton, producer a human counterbalance to the stark political Actress, Jerusalem Film Festival 2007, for

For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497  7 7 er b ecem D unday, unday, S

being jewish in france Pauwel’s circus Revelation Family on the edge

attitudes toward Israel. Lushly illustrated and Preceded by: presented with rare news footage and photos, Sunday film clips and memorable music, the film is REVELATION narrated by actor Mathieu Almaric (The Israel, 2008, animation Diving Bell and The Butterfly). 4 minutes DECEMBER 7 Director: Guy Zinger CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of France Sponsored by the and Alliance Française de Washington A small monkey lives on a big island. One David Bruce Smith day, a strange object reaches his island. What Family Foundation does this mean? PAUWEL’S CIRCUS SPECIAL GUEST Agnès Bensimon, director BEING JEWISH IN FRANCE E Noon CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Belgium, E 11:00 am Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Women in Film and Video DC, and the Embassy of France Belgium, 2008, video Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning France, 2007, 185 minutes 51 minutes (Part I, 73 minutes French with English subtitles Help keep kids warm this winter! Part II, 112 minutes) Director: Agnès Bensimon French with English subtitles When coming to see Pauwel’s Circus, Director: Yves Jeuland DC Premiere bring donations of new winter hats, gloves, Mid-Atlantic Premiere In this Jewish family, everyone is a clown, a scarves and socks for children in homeless Winner, Jewish Experience Award— musician or a juggler…and has been for over shelters in the greater DC area. In conjunc- Jerusalem Film Festival, 2007 125 years before them! These days, Marquis tion with the 16th Street J’s Morris Cafritz Pauwel is passing on the heritage of the art This sweeping documentary explores the rich Center for Community Service. Items will be and business of the circus as well as Jewish and complex history of Jews in France—the collected in the theater lobby. first European country to grant Jews citizen- traditions to his son Samuel, 16. A brilliant ship. Beginning with Revolutionary cries of juggler, Samuel has been chosen to become “Vive la France” in Yiddish, the film moves the next manager of Belgium’s Pauwels Cir- FAMILY ON THE EDGE cus. But how will he juggle his juggling with through high and low points including the E 2:00 pm his homework from the Jewish day school? explosive Dreyfus Affair, Vichy’s murderous Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater betrayal during WWII and the absorption This delightful and fascinating look at what of Sephardic Jews from Arab countries in really goes on behind the scenes of a circus Israel, 2008, video 58 minutes the 1960s. Boasting interviews with leading family today also reveals some of the long, rich history of Jewish circus people in Europe Hebrew and English with English subtitles French politicians, intellectuals and artists, Director: Gilad Goldschmidt the film boldly continues into the 21st Cen- and the pressures of keeping the circus going tury, discussing charges of rising anti-Semi- in the 21st Century. World Preview Screening tism in France and the country’s complex Yoram Drucker, a 42-year-old Modern Ortho- dox Jew from Jerusalem, has a dream. He wants to take his family—wife Yael and four

10 For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 CHARLES GUGGENHEIM IN RETROSPECT E 4:00 pm Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater

Introduction — A Talk with Grace Guggenheim WJFF is honored to present this festival-long retrospective of eight of Charles Guggenheim’s films, a first-time look at his work through a Jewish lens. Rarely has a filmmaker created such a body of work as did Charles Guggenheim: over 500 films in nearly 50 years, from the 1950s until his death at 78 in 2002. His documentaries have been recognized by many honors including a Peabody, four and a historic record of twelve Academy Award nominations. Throughout Charles’ work flow distinct and strong themes miss universe 1929 he returned to over and over: social justice, the equality and “It’s presumptuous to think worthiness of all individuals, a passion for seeing with an you leave a legacy at all. You unflinching eye and telling with a caring heart, a sense of wonder do what you can do. You feel children from ages 8 to 17—to the top of and spirituality and, above all, a belief that we can “do something Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa about tomorrow.” blessed if other people think at over 19,000 feet. Yoram is sure this type Charles’ daughter Grace went to work with him in 1986 and it’s worthwhile.” of experience is what builds the long-term has produced more than twenty of Guggenheim Productions’ — Charles Guggenheim most current titles. In addition to being an accomplished foundation of both individual personality documentary filmmaker in her own right, Grace carries on her and strong family bonds. Director and cin- father’s legacy, working with the Academy of Motion Picture ematographer Gilad Goldschmidt follows Arts and Sciences Film Archive to preserve critical titles from the Drucker family on their improbable (and Charles’ work as well as programming events with The Charles strictly kosher) journey, from the first care- Guggenheim Center for Documentary Film at the National ful preparations and throughout the physical Archives. Grace is working to make public as many film titles and mental challenges of their effort, until from the collection as possible, focusing on distribution to the dramatic ending at (or near?) the “roof of educators and museums around the world. Her hope is to inspire and celebrate our American heritage and contribute to a Africa.” The adventure of this spirited family clearer understanding of the American journey in order to make prompts each of us to think about our own the world a better place. families and dreams. “My father was not a religious SPECIAL GUEST Gilad Goldschmidt, director Screening of JERUSALEM LIVES man; however, the films he The 53-minute film, made in 1975 for the Embassy of Israel, has cared about most became a CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel rarely been seen in the past 30 years and is being screened in visceral and religious experi- it’s un-restored condition. A profile of the city as seen through the eyes of a Jew, a Catholic, a Protestant and a Muslim, the ence for him. This can only be MISS UNIVERSE 1929 film follows each person as they cope with the daily challenges fully understood when you expe- E 3:30 of living in this fractured city. We see a kaleidoscope of rience the details of his work National Gallery of Art perspectives as well as the common bonds and love they all have first-hand in a theatrical setting. for their city. With this screening, WJFF, the Washington DCJCC FREE Though I was quite young at the and our audience together are helping to initiate funding for the time, I do know that the making restoration of this important and unique film. , 2006, digital beta of Jerusalem Lives and May 70 minutes Peace Begin with Me—both pro- German with English subtitles Presentation of Inaugural duced for the Israeli Embassy Director: Peter Forgacs WJFF Visionary Award in the late sixties and early The delicate story of cousins Lisl Goldarbeiter With great pleasure and pride, we present the Inaugural WJFF Visionary Award to Grace and Charles Guggenheim (z”l). seventies—resonated deep in his and Marci Tanzer, both born in 1907 to a large This annual award has been established to recognize courage, Jewish core and throughout the middle-class Austro-Hungarian Jewish family, creativity and insight in presenting the diversity of the Jewish rest of his life.” is retold largely through Marci’s home movies experience through the moving image. We can think of no better — Grace Guggenheim of his beloved Lisl, whose rise to international recipients for this first presentation. beauty pageant stardom culminated in her crowning as the first Miss Universe. SPECIAL GUESTS Grace Guggenheim, producer, and Joan Nathan, author and assistant to Mr. Guggenheim on SPECIAL GUEST Peter Forgacs, director the film PRESENTED IN COOPERATION WITH the National Gallery of Art For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 11 8 8 7 7 er er b b ecem ecem D D onday onday unday, unday, S M

like a fish out of water A green Chariot Waves of Freedom

LEMON TREE comedy and romance ensue, as both Marcelo E 4:30 pm and Anat get caught up in each other’s lives, with a little help from their “families.” AFI Silver Theatre Monday and See page 9 DECEMBER 8 A GREEN CHARIOT Sponsored by Norman Pozez & Melinda Bieber STRANGERS Israel, 2005, video E 7:00 pm 48 minutes Hebrew with English subtitles Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Director: Gilad Goldschmidt PAUWEL’S CIRCUS E 12:30 pm See page 9 All that Sasha, a 22-year-old Russian immi- Goethe-Institut Washington grant, wants is to live an Orthodox Jewish life See page 10 LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER in Israel. Changing his name to Ya’ir, he sepa- rates himself from his father and old friends SPECIAL GUEST Agnès Bensimon, director E 7:00 pm AFI Silver Theatre to delve into his new life. On the eve of a special dinner with his fiancée and her par- Israel, 2006, video ents, Ya’ir receives a package from his aunt WAVES OF FREEDOM 50 minutes containing items from his dead mother. The E 6:00 pm Hebrew with English subtitles most spectacular piece is his mother’s music Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Director: Leon Prudovsky box with a green chariot on the cover. After Israel, 2008, video Marcelo, an actor and a single parent, has opening this “Pandora’s box,” Ya’ir realizes his 53 minutes emigrated from Argentina to Israel with his life will never be the same. In this touching English and Hebrew with English subtitles 11-year-old daughter Lucy. Finally, Marcelo drama, one young man realizes he must con- Director: Alan Rosenthal has found the perfect job as an actor on an front his past to ensure his future. Israeli soap opera. The only catch is that he East Coast Premiere SPECIAL GUEST Gilad Goldschmidt, director must speak Hebrew flawlessly and without Recruited in 1947 by the Haganah to break CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel any Spanish accent. Enter Anat, an Orthodox the British naval blockade of Palestine, Jewish woman who teaches Hebrew. Unfor- Paul Kaye and twenty-five other American tunately, she is neither fond of Marcelo, nor recruits set sail in a dilapidated ship, “The his choice of acting work. Multiple layers of Tradewinds,” from Baltimore to Palestine. Along the way, they picked up 1,500 dis- placed persons in in the dead of night, and engaged in a naval battle with three Brit- ish warships. And that is just the beginning of their astounding true story, upon which the

12 For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 Dear Mr. Waldman Mom I didn’t kill your daughter

award-winning novel and film Exodus was rather survived to become the “Jack Wald- pany his transformation; from cutting his based. Through poignant, insightful, colorful man” he sees pictured in a newspaper. When ponytail right through to the operating room. and sometimes humorous interviews, inter- a deluded Moishe writes a letter to Wald- Yuval initiates a legal battle for his identifica- spersed with historic footage, the film docu- man, Hilik takes matters into his own hands. tion card to state that he is a man. Alongside ments the amazing stories of American men, A coming-of-age story written and directed them both for this important journey is Lior’s Jewish and non-Jewish, who volunteered to by the son of survivors, the film beautifully mother facing her own struggle to find the run the British blockade and smuggle survi- captures the milieu of mid-century Israel and strength to accept her new son in place of the vors of the Holocaust into Israel. The film is the peculiarities of growing up amid the emo- daughter she raised for 22 years. based upon the book, The Jews’ Secret Fleet, tional wreckage of the Holocaust. SPECIAL GUESTS Simon Aronoff, LGBT Public by Murray Greenfield and Joseph Hochstein. CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel Interest Communications Specialist; Dana SPECIAL GUESTS Alan Rosenthal, director; Beyer, Health and Gender Rights Advo- and Paul Kaye, rescuer cate; Rhodes Perry, National Field and MOM I DIDN’T KILL CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel Policy Manager, PFLAG (Parents, Families YOUR DAUGHTER and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) PRESENTED IN COOPERATION WITH the E 8:00 pm 16th Street J’s Literary, Music and Dance CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Programs PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH the Reception to follow 16th Street J’s Kurlander Program for Gay Israel, 2007, video & Lesbian Outreach and Engagement DEAR MR. WALDMAN 50 minutes (GLOE) E 6:15 pm Hebrew with English subtitles Director: Orna Ben Dor Avalon Theatre DC Premiere Israel, 2006, 35 mm 86 minutes A poignant film about an Israeli transgender Hebrew with English subtitles couple that struggles to become what they Director: Hanan Peled were meant to be in a world that doesn’t Nominated for three Israeli Academy Awards, understand them. Lior is from a Kibbutz near including Best Actor the Dead Sea and is opinionated and outspo- In Tel Aviv in the 1960s, 10-year-old Hilik ken, Yuval is from the bourgeoisie area of cen- knows his goal in life is to make his parents tral Israel and is introverted and quiet. These happy and compensate for the grief they both differences amount to very little in compari- suffered in the Holocaust. The fragile equi- son to what they share. Both men were born librium of Rivka and Moishe’s new, post-war female, and each is struggling to change life begins to waver when Moishe convinces perceptions all around them. Lior turns the himself that Yankele, his son from his first camera on himself and beautifully documents marriage, didn’t actually die in Auschwitz, but the fear, excitement and bravery that accom-

For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 13 9 9 er b ecem D uesday, uesday, T

arab labor John F. Kennedy: 1917–1963 Robert F. Kennedy remembered

ARAB LABOR it brought the convention proceedings to a E 8:15 pm standstill, and the crowd, in tears, to its feet. Avalon Theatre Tuesday This film biography evokes the spirit, quality and commitment Robert Kennedy brought to Episodes 1, 4 and 5 his life and work. Israel, 2007, video DECEMBER 9 90 minutes (30 min. each episode) Hebrew with English subtitles Sponsored by Director: Ron Ninio Washington Jewish Week BRIDGE OVER THE WADI E 6:30 pm Best Israeli Series–Jerusalem International Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Film Festival 2008 JOHN F. KENNEDY: 1917-1963 Peace Café to follow film Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old E 12:30 pm Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor 2006, Israel, video (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” Goethe-Institut Washington 57 minutes Hebrew, Arabic and English with English subtitles which colloquially implies “shoddy or second- USA, 1979, 35 mm Director: Tomer and Barak Heymann rate work”) focuses on Amjad, a Palestin- 33 minutes ian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of Director: Charles Guggenheim DC Premiere In 2004, Arab and Israeli parents embarked acceptance into Israeli society. Married to CINE Golden Eagle Award 1981 Bushara, a social worker, and father to Maya, on a joint initiative to establish a bilingual Produced for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Amjad is an Israeli, yet his car is searched elementary school in Kara, an Arab village in Library and Museum in Boston, the film com- everyday when he drives from his neighbor- Israel’s northern Wadi Valley. This documen- memorates the life of the late President. hood to his job in Jerusalem. Amjad’s only ally tary candidly follows the ups and downs of is his friend Meir, an Israeli Jew and photogra- and the first year of Bridge Over the Wadi School. pher who works with him at the newspaper. A The students, their parents and teachers sworn bachelor, Meir falls in love with Amal, face all the usual educational challenges as Bushara’s feminist Arab friend. While poking ROBERT KENNEDY well as unique ones. The children learn each fun at the cultural divide, the series explores REMEMBERED other’s language, culture and religious tradi- the daily conflicts that Arabs face between the USA, 1968, 16 mm tions. Even the calendar presents obstacles as desire to integrate into the mixed society that 29 minutes parents and educators seek the best way to is Israel and their own values and traditions. Director: Charles Guggenheim “teach” Ramadan, Chanukah and, most dif- The show marked a milestone on Israeli televi- Short Subject Live Action–Academy Award 1968 ficult of all, Israeli Independence Day and the Palestinian Al-Nakba. Outside the classroom, sion as the first program to present Palestinian Shown on all television networks in 1968 more dissonance surfaces as some parents characters speaking Arabic on primetime. and during the Chicago Democratic National leave for Army reserve duty while others are SPECIAL GUEST Gilad Goldschmidt, Convention simultaneously, this moving film turned away at checkpoints. And yet, the exu- Israeli filmmaker tribute to a man who had hoped to lead our berant moments of the children at play, inter- CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel country, created a historic moment when

14 For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 bridge over the wadi Tulip Time to see if i’m smiling

acting with curiosity and openness, provide of Italy’s musical heritage and in this affec- women as they look back on their time in the a sense of optimism in spite of the challenges. tionately rendered film. Territories and realize the people they have CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel CO-SPONSORED BY the Italian Cultural Insti- become and those they thought they were. and Rabbis for Human Rights of North tute of Washington, DC Tamar Yarom’s poignant film provides proof that the pain, suffering and trauma these America This film is funded by the Arthur Tracy women suffered was caused by conflict—and PRESENTED IN COOPERATION WITH the “The Street Singer” Endowment honoring that is universal. 16th Street J’s Department of Dialogues the memory and musical legacy of Arthur and Public Affairs Tracy—the renowned radio, stage and SPECIAL GUESTS Rabbi Tamara Miller, Direc- screen singer and entertainer whose talent tor of Spiritual Care, George Washington delighted millions around the world—the University Hospital; Amy Street, PhD, TULIP TIME arts programs supported by this fund con- Clinical Psychologist, National Center for E 6:30 pm tinue Tracy’s ability to entertain for years PTSD; Riki Herzberg and Adi Timor, for- Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema to come. mer IDF soldiers CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel , 2008, video 53 minutes Dutch and Italian with English subtitles TO SEE IF I’M SMILING Directors: Marco De Stefanis and Tonino Boniotti E 8:15 pm ONE DAY YOU’LL Mid-Atlantic Premiere Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater UNDERSTAND E 8:15 pm, Virtually everyone in Italy knows songs like Israel, 2007, video Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema “Tulli-Tulli-Tullipan” and “Ciribiribin,” but 59 minutes See page 8 hardly anyone remembers who made these Hebrew with English subtitles classics popular—the Trio Lescano, three Director: Tamar Yarom Dutch sisters with Jewish roots. After leaving East Coast Premiere Holland and being discovered by an Italian It’s long been cliché that wars change the talent scout, Alexandra, Judith and Ketty men who fight in them. But what about the Leschan reveled in unprecedented popular- women? In Israel, where military service for ity in 1930s and 1940s Fascist Italy. Their women is compulsory, six former soldiers catchy harmonies to swinging tunes were the describe how they were indelibly marked European response to the Andrew sisters. by their experiences serving in the West Even Mussolini was a fan of these engaging Bank and Gaza. Their testimonies reveal the beauties! Despite their great success, the Trio alternate reality of the occupation where Lescano suffered as WWII progressed, due in moments of violence, hatred, cruelty and fear part to their being Jewish. Luckily for music assume their own normalcy. The film’s title lovers, the harmonies and contagious spirit of reflects the contemplative attitude of the the singing sisters continue to live on as part

For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 15 10 10 er b ecem D ednesday, ednesday, W Nine from little rock A time for justice Dancing Alfonso The House on august street

footage and the voices of those who took part THE HOUSE ON in it. It shows firsthand the movement’s most AUGUST STREET Wednesday dramatic moments, and the extraordinary E 6:15 pm DECEMBER 10 courage and sacrifices of its participants. Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Israel, 2007, video Sponsored by DANCING ALFONSO 63 minutes Ralph and Louie Dweck E 1:OO pm Hebrew and German with English subtitles Director: Ayelet Bargur Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater NINE FROM LITTLE ROCK Mid-Atlantic Premiere Israel, 2008, video E 12:30 pm 50 minutes Goethe-Institut Washington Nominee, Best Documentary Film - Israeli Film Hebrew with English subtitles Academy Awards 2008 Director: Barak Heymann USA, 1964, 35 mm This moving documentary pays tribute to 21 minutes DC Premiere the director’s extraordinary great-aunt Beate English Director: Charles Guggenheim Alfonso is the lead dancer in a flamenco Berger, a German Jew who single-handedly troupe, which rehearses in a Tel Aviv suburb. rescued over 100 children during the Holo- Documentary Short Subject–Academy Award 1964 The average age of the group members is caust. Berger founded the House of Love Chil- This film profiles the lives of the nine African over 75. When Alfonso is suddenly widowed, dren’s Home in Berlin, but her true courage American students who integrated Central he begins to determinedly court Sima, also surfaced as she recognized the Nazi threat High in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the a dancer with the troupe. This affection- and resolved to save “her” children by bring- fall of 1957. Seven years after their historic ate and honest portrayal of a vital senior ing them to a new children’s home she built in achievement, Jefferson Thomas and his fel- explores how he is sustained physically and Israel. The film, shot in the now-empty Berlin low students talk about those events and emotionally by the rhythm and movement of building that was once a house filled with their impressions of both past and present flamenco, while the dance troupe provides a love, weaves together rare archival film mate- discrimination, and their hopes for the future. community with whom he can share his feel- rials and interviews with Berger’s “children” and ings and his life. In a perhaps unfamiliar view with dramatic monologues based on letters of seniors, Alfonso demonstrates that the written by this remarkable woman. A TIME FOR JUSTICE search for love is endless, yet ever hopeful, regardless of age. USA, 1992, 16mm Preceded by: 38 minutes CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel A LETTER TO English PRESENTED IN COOPERATION WITH the AN ABSENT CHILD Director: Charles Guggenheim Behrend-Adas Israel Senior Fellowship Israel, 2003, video Program Documentary Short Subject–Academy Award 1994 4 minutes Hebrew with English subtitles The struggle and heroism of the Civil Rights Director: Ayelet Bargur Movement is captured through both historic

16 For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 A letter to an absent child salonica Blessed is the match

On the eve of the 21st Century, the filmmak- nationalists reveal the city’s complex reality nah embarked on a special mission and re- er’s father Yonah writes a letter to his son Ziv and historical layers. Their stories resemble entered Hungary as part of the only military about life, memories, loss and hope. short novels with interwoven plots that result rescue mission for Jews during the Holocaust. SPECIAL GUESTS Ayelet Bargur, director; in a captivating cinematic narrative about the Her capture, torture and eventual execution and Susan Weidman-Schneider, Editor-in- power and burden of the past, personal and are movingly recreated through interviews, Chief, Lilith Magazine cultural loss, and the individual and collective eyewitness accounts and the writings of search for identity. Hannah and her mother Catherine. What CO-SPONSORED BY The Embassy of Israel, emerges is a powerful portrait of a dynamic Lilith Magazine, The Generation After, SPECIAL GUEST Paolo Poloni, director young woman driven by her unparalleled Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Friends CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Switzer- inner strength and a deep and unbreakable of Greater Washington land and Las Vijitas de Alhad: The Greater relationship with her mother, her new home- Washington Ladino Association land and her people. SALONICA SPECIAL GUEST Roberta Grossman, director E 6:15 pm BLESSED IS THE MATCH: CO-SPONSORED BY The Embassy of Hun- Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema THE LIFE AND DEATH OF gary, The Generation After, Jewish Holo- caust Survivors and Friends of Greater Switzerland, 2008, video HANNAH SENESH 87 minutes E 8:15 pm Washington English, Hebrew, Greek and Ladino Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater This film is supported by the Milton and with English subtitles Helen Covensky Fund at the Washington Director: Paolo Poloni USA, 2008, video 86 minutes DCJCC Mid-Atlantic Premiere English A sense of loss hangs over Salonica or Thes- Director: Roberta Grossman saloniki, the northern Greek city where, for DC Premiere 450 years, most citizens were Sephardic Jews Blessed is the heart with strength to stop whose ancestors found refuge from Catholic its beating for honor’s sake. Blessed is the Spain’s Inquisition. Then, in 1943, nearly all of match consumed in kindling flame. Salonica’s Jewish citizens—over 50,000 peo- ple—perished in Auschwitz. There has never Hannah Senesh, the World War II poet and been another predominantly Jewish city of diarist, paratrooper and resistance fighter its size anywhere in Europe. The film is a por- wrote these words just days before her cap- trait of the beautiful city as well as that of an ture by the Nazis. Hannah is often referred unknown Greece. Jewish survivors, Russian to as the modern-day Joan of Arc. In 1944, immigrants, gypsies and Greek-Macedonian after having settled safely in Palestine, Han-

For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 17 10 10 11 11 er b er b ecem D ecem D ednesday, ednesday, hursday hursday T W villa jasmimn at the end of the day at home in utopia

VILLA JASMIN AT HOME IN UTOPIA E 8:15 pm E 6:00 pm Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema Thursday Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater

France, 2007, video USA, 2008, video 87 minutes DECEMBER 11 57 minutes French and Arabic with English subtitles Sponsored by English Director: Ferid Boughedir Director: Michal Goldman DC Commission on the On the verge of becoming a father, Serge Arts and Humanities A home of one’s own: that’s the American returns to his childhood home to explore his dream. But what happens when the dreamers Tunisian-Jewish roots in La Goulette–a town AT THE END OF THE DAY are immigrants, factory workers and Com- covered in the intoxicating scent of jasmine. E 12:30 pm munists? In the mid-1920s, thousands of Jew- Orphaned at an early age, Serge attempts Goethe-Institut Washington ish immigrant garment workers catapulted to put the pieces together to learn about his themselves out of urban slums and ghettos parents. This compelling double love story Israel, 2000, video by pooling their resources and building four 50 minutes follows Serge and his wife, and the story of cooperatively owned and run apartment com- Hebrew with English subtitles his parents’ courtship. Also revealed is infor- Director: Ayelet Bargur plexes in the Bronx. Award-winning filmmaker mation about his father’s activities with the Michal Goldman’s documentary focuses on anti-facist movement in the 1930s against the Four young men, all commanders in the same the United Workers Cooperative Colony, Vichy Government under German occupa- Israel Defense Forces Paratrooper unit, were the most grassroots and member-driven of tion. Based on a novel by Serge Moati, Villa killed over a 22-month period from 1995 the Jewish labor housing cooperatives. An Jasmin is brought to life by award-winning to 1997. Their families, from diverse back- epic tale of the struggle for equity and jus- director Ferid Boughedir (A Summer In La grounds and lifestyles, realize they all suffer tice across two generations, the film tracks Goulette). a common fate, and agree to meet and share the rise and fall of one community from the their stories. With great sensitivity and skill, CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of France, 1920s into the 1950s, paying close attention Bargur—whose brother Zvi was among those Alliance Française de Washington to the passions and forces that bound them who died—intimately documents the ongoing together and those that tore them apart. attempts by these families to come to terms SPECIAL GUEST Michal Goldman, director with the deaths of their loved ones. Although brought together by tragic circumstances, the INTRODUCED BY Aviva Kempner, filmmaker families share a journey towards healing. CO-SPONSORED BY the DC Labor Film Fest SPECIAL GUEST Ayelet Bargur, director This film is supported by the Chaim CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel Kempner Fund

THE BEETLE E 6:00 pm Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema See page 8

18 For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 Two lives plus one Darling: The Pieter-Dirk uys story circumcise me!

TWO LIVES PLUS ONE DARLING: THE BEAU JEST E 7:00 pm PIETER-DIRK UYS STORY E 8:15 pm AFI Silver Theatre E 7:45 pm Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater See page 9 France, 2007, 35mm 90 minutes Australia, 2007, video French with English subtitles 54 minutes Director: Idit Cebula CIRCUMCISE ME! English E 9:15 pm Director: Julian Shaw DC Premiere Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Actress Idit Cebula’s feature directing debut East Coast Premiere Followed by Yisrael Campbell stars award-winning actress Emmanuelle “I am an Afrikaner Jew!” declares one of in a live performance! Devos (One Day You’ll Understand, WJFF the film’s stars, social reformer and satirist 2008), as Eliane Weiss, a devoted mother, Israel, 2006, video Pieter-Dirk Uys. The other star is the director, 49 minutes wife, daughter and teacher who says “yes” to Australian Julian Shaw, who, at age 15, saw English everyone else and “no” to herself all too often. a performance by Uys that changed his life. Director: David Blumenfeld and Matthew Kalman All is well until Eliane realizes she wants more Uys, the well-known and outspoken opponent DC Premiere and decides to pursue her passion for writ- of apartheid, has taken up the fight against “Is it hot in here, or am I the only one dressed ing. With advice from her loving, deceased Aids—calling it South Africa’s “new” apart- for Poland in the 17th Century?” Hasidic father and direction from her handsome and heid—and polarized the country. After that comedian Yisrael Campbell was not always attentive publisher, Eliane takes up smoking, fateful show, Shaw asked the entertainer if he one of the funniest Jews in Israel. In fact, he buys a laptop and builds an alternative life would be the subject of a documentary, and started out as Chris Campbell, son of an ex- for herself. Her dream becomes a reality, but Uys agreed, although he never really thought nun and a Catholic schoolteacher, growing just as Eliane is growing more confident and he’d hear from the teenager again. The result up in Philadelphia. After three conversions to independent, her family—loving husband and is this intimate and captivating portrait of a Judaism—Reform, Conservative and finally somewhat rebellious teenage daughter—is man with enormous talent, heart and dedica- Orthodox—he found what he had always been having difficulty adjusting to her new, not-so- tion. Uys has presented his “Aids awareness in search of: a religion he believed in and a available lifestyle. Creative flashes of Eliane’s entertainment” to over a million schoolchil- plethora of material for his stand-up comedy colorful thoughts and drawings add to this dren in his country, demonstrating that with routine. Currently starring in a one-man Off- French romantic comedy’s depth and charm. honesty and a good dose of humor, youth can, Broadway show It’s Not in Heaven, Yisrael will SPECIAL GUEST Idit Cebula, director in fact, get them the life-saving information have us laughing at the truth, both in the film about Aids that they desperately need. CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of France, and live on stage when the lights come up. Alliance Française de Washington and SPECIAL GUEST Julian Shaw, director SPECIAL GUEST Comedian Yisrael Campbell Women in Film & Video DC CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Austra - in performance lia and Metro TeenAIDS PRESENTED IN COOPERATION WITH the 16th Street J’s J on Demand Program

For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 19 Love and War Between the Lines Saturday December 13 E 10:30 pm Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Total running time 81 minutes Films will not necessarily be presented in order listed.

MERDY BIRDY ENEMIES BY DEFAULT Israel, 2008, animation, 1 minute Israel, 2008, animation, 1:30 minutes No dialogue No dialogue Film and Television School, Sapir College Film & Animation Department, Director: Nir Green Tel-Hai Rodman College A meeting between a bird and Rodin’s Director: Matan Yam “The Thinker.” A strange fellow, attacked in the middle of the street, returns for sweet and arrogant revenge with deadly wrong results. LIFE IN A BOX Brandon Israel, 2008, animation, 2 minutes enemies by default No dialogue MUSICAL CHAIRS Film and Television School, Sapir College Israel, 2007, animation, 4 minutes Director: Em-Li Noy and Inbar Rotstein No dialogue A character locks up her love life in a match- Director: Yonni Aroussi and Ben Genislaw box and struggles to keep it contained. Five characters compete for a seat in the game “Musical Chairs,” also known as “Going to Jerusalem.” A cute children’s AROUND TRIP game or a ruthless fight to the finish? Israel, 2008, video, 12 minutes life in a box Hebrew with English subtitles musical Chairs Director: Gur Bentwich THE TUNNEL Best Short Film – Jerusalem Film Festival 2008 Israel, 2008, video, 18 minutes No dialogue Joan of Arc, on her way to meet Zappa 69, Director: Gennady Kuchuk runs into a man without a cell phone who changes the course of her life forever…or at Winner Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Production – Minshar School least for an hour. of the Arts 2007 In a surprising encounter between a Rus- NEW YEAR’S DAY sian-Israeli soldier and a Hamas member, around trip Israel, 2007, animation, 4 minutes The Tunnel two soldiers find themselves isolated in a Hebrew with English subtitles tunnel used for smuggling weapons. Television and Multimedia Arts, Haifa School of Communication Director: Alon Meler TELL YOUR CHILDREN The truth behind the routine of married life Hungary, 2007, video, 5 minutes is discovered in just another situation of No dialogue people living together, but feeling emptiness Director: Andras Salamon and loneliness. A four-year-old girl survives the 1945 mass murder of Jews on the banks of the new year’s day Tell your children Danube. MY OLYMPIC SUMMER USA, 2007, video, 12 minutes English THE KIDDUSH MAN Director: Daniel Robin USA, 2008, video, 11 minutes Mothers, fathers, and internal and external Hebrew with English subtitles events of childhood resonate in a thoughtful, Director: Yitz Brilliant somber meditation on love and the integrity A young, restless boy attending syna- of the photographic image. gogue with his father each week finds out there is another side to his nemesis. my olympic summer The Kiddush man GREEN MERCEDES Israel, 2007, animation, 4 minutes LOVE TIES English with Hebrew subtitles Israel, 2007, video, 6 minutes Film & Animation Department, Film & Animation Department, Tel-Hai Rodman College Tel-Hai Rodman College Director: Sarit Zarivach Director: Omer Sasson and Oran Shtang The filmmaker remembers from her From perfect love to a lovers’ argument childhood the day her father revealed her and back again, things get tangled up and parents’ divorce. Sadness and relief fill almost magically put back together. green mercedes them both. Love ties 13 13 er 12 12 b er b ecem D ecem D aturday aturday riday riday F S

The making of liberty max minsky and me stefan braun

ing novel, Prince William, Maximillian Minsky and Me, which received the German Award for Friday Saturday Young Peoples Literature in 2003. A charm- ing story about friendship, dedication and DECEMBER 12 DECEMBER 13 dreams, this film is a comedic coming-of-age film adults and teens will enjoy equally. Sponsored by Sponsored by SPECIAL GUEST Maria Köpf, producer United Jewish Endowment Fund Michael Salzberg and Deborah Ratner Salzberg CO-SPONSORED BY the German Embassy THE MAKING OF LIBERTY and the Goethe-Institut Washington E 1:00 pm MAX MINSKY AND ME Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater FREE E 6:00 pm STEFAN BRAUN Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater E 8:30 pm USA, 1986, 16mm Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater 58 minutes Germany, 2007, 35 mm English 94 minutes Israel, 2007, video Director: Charles Guggenheim German with English Subtitles 62 minutes Director: Anna Justice Hebrew with English subtitles The birth, building and re-building of the Director: Itamar Alcalay Statue of Liberty are seen through the eyes of DC Premiere artisans and laborers whose tasks are sepa- Best Film, Cinekid Film Awards DC Premiere rated by a hundred years, but whose vision Audience Award, Sarajevo Film Festival Lavish parties, models in luxurious furs, fancy transcends time. Nelly Sue Edelmeister (Zoe Moore) is a cars and bronzed bodies are only part of the skinny, 12-year-old future astronomer. To her story in this beautifully rendered documen- DARLING: THE schoolmates, she’s a nerd. But, what they tary. Starting in the 1950s and for 39 years, don’t know is that Nelly has a crush on fellow tailor Eliezer (Latzi) Rath shared a life with PIETER-DIRK UYS STORY astronomy fan, Prince Edouard of Luxemburg. Stefan Braun, Israel’s top furrier and a fashion 1:30 pm When she discovers that the winners of the innovator. Sixteen years after Braun’s death, Goethe-Institut Washington school basketball tournament get to play in Rath recounts his view of the life they shared See page 18 the Prince’s championship tournament, she together, while recording many hundreds of SPECIAL GUEST Julian Shaw, director strikes a mutually beneficial deal with the daily messages to his lost love. Candid inter- new boy in town, ace basketball player Max views with Braun’s family members and col- Minsky. Meanwhile, Nelly’s Bat Mitzvah is leagues tell a different story about a relation- quickly approaching, but her mind is on other ship they saw rapidly transform from lover to things, including the tension between her servant. Archival clips, personal diaries, rare parents. Author Holly-Jane Rahlens (WJFF recordings and dramatic re-enactments com- 1994) based the screenplay on her best-sell- plete the portrait of love and a complex man

For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 21 13 13 7 7 er er b b ecem ecem D D aturday aturday unday, S S

A trip to prague A Touch away about yossi life in the shadows

who was at the center of Tel Aviv’s garment Seven prizes, Made-for-TV Drama— ABOUT YOSSI Israeli Academy Awards, 2007 industry and Israel’s underground gay society. E 11:30 am Sit back and enjoy a good, long, satisfying Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater Preceded by: look at one of the best television dramas around! It’s so good that you won’t want to Israel, 2006, video A TRIP TO PRAGUE 53 minutes USA, 2006, video get up (although there will be a 45-minute Hebrew with English subtitles 4 minutes intermission in the middle so you can catch Director: Avi Hemy English your breath). This series has it all: forbidden Director: Neil Ira Needleman love, cultural clashes, secrets, life-altering Thirty-year-old Yossi is in search of a bride…or Sketches come to life as the director tells the dilemmas…all within a smartly written and at least a girlfriend, but it’s a challenge. No story of a life-changing trip to Prague with a superbly acted program. In this multi-family more so, however, than Yossi’s life has been. nice Jewish couple. drama, Russian immigrant Zorik must find Born in 1977 into Jerusalem’s orthodox com- munity, Yossi and about 300 other babies CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel a place to live so the rest of his family still in Russia can join him in a new life in Israel. received a defective vaccine. The effect was PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH the Unknowingly, Zorik moves into an apart- staggering, as this sweet, active child became 16th Street J’s Kurlander Program for Gay ment building in Tel Aviv’s orthodox Bnei deaf, blind and unable to control much of & Lesbian Outreach and Engagement Barak neighborhood. Soon enough, sparks his motor skills. Yossi’s parents traveled the (GLOE) fly between Zorik and Rochele, the daughter world in hopes of finding a cure. Returning of his strictly religious neighbors. Things get unsuccessful to Israel, they chose to keep him even more complicated (of course) when at home rather than institutionalize him like Zorik’s father, mother and sister finally arrive most of the other affected children. When he Sunday from Russia. Surprising twists and turns was seven years old, the true breakthrough keep coming as both families must face their occurred—Yossi spoke his first word—with deeply held assumptions about identity, the help of his “Anne Sullivan,” his therapist DECEMBER 14 religion, culture and the power of love to Shoshana. Yossi’s unique wit and understand- Sponsored by overcome obstacles. Through it all, “A Touch ing of life’s complexities teaches his family CrossCurrents Foundation Away” is very much in touch with the reality how important it is for Yossi to move to the of Israel’s social challenges in an increasingly next stage in his life—finding a woman to love. A TOUCH AWAY diverse society. Preceded by: E 11:00 am CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel Avalon Theatre LIFE IN THE SHADOWS USA, 1999, video Special screening of the entire first season 10 minutes Israel, 2007, video English 304 minutes (8 episodes, 38 minutes each) Director: Charles Guggenheim Hebrew and Russian with English subtitles Director: Ron Ninio President John F. Kennedy’s pioneering efforts to improve the lives of people with mental

22 For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 Berga: soldiers of another war who am i? The found children of argentina let’s dance!

retardation culminated in the 1963 signing of WHO AM I? THE FOUND have been found must now face the truth and the first legislation in US history addressing CHILDREN OF ARGENTINA mourn the loss of their “real” families, while their needs and improving the lives of millions trying to regain their own true identities. E 3:30 pm of people. Eunice Kennedy Shriver narrates Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater SPECIAL GUESTS Nora Eisenberg, pro- the story, reinforcing the Kennedy family’s ducer; Ambassador Hector Timmerman, commitment to this global crusade, spurred Argentina, 2007, video Embassy of Argentina; Estela Carlotto, on by the eldest sibling Rosemary who lived 75 minutes Spanish with English subtitles president, Grandmothers of the Plaza de with mental disabilities. Director: Estela Bravo Mayo; Juan Cabandie, found child CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of Israel CO-SPONSORED BY the Embassy of DC premiere and the Jewish Social Service Agency Argentina What if…your mother gave birth to you one minute and was killed the next? Or as a young BERGA: SOLDIERS OF child you were kidnapped and given to friends MAX MINSKY AND ME ANOTHER WAR of those who tortured and killed your par- E 5:00 pm E 1:30 pm ents? Estela Bravo’s award-winning documen- Avalon Theatre Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater tary is the extraordinary story of the “found” children of Argentina’s “Dirty War.” Between See page XX USA, 2002, 35 mm 1976 and 1983, 30,000 people who opposed 85 minutes SPECIAL GUEST Maria Köpf, producer English the country’s military junta “disappeared” Director: Charles Guggenheim and were never found. Although the Jewish population of Argentina at the time was only LET’S DANCE! CINE Golden Eagle Award 2003 one percent, ten percent of the disappeared E 7:00 pm Charles Guggenheim dedicated the last six were Jewish. The Grandmothers of the Plaza Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater months of his life to finishing this film—the de Mayo (Las Abuelas de la Plaza de Mayo), led moving story about his fellow American infan- by Estela Carlotto, established their group in Closing Night Film and Party trymen, who were captured during the Battle hopes of finding their stolen grandchildren. Party sponsored by Washington Jewish Week of the Bulge, then sent to a Nazi slave labor So far, nearly 100 have been found, with 400 and Dahan Caterers camp where many of them died. A documen- children still unaccounted for. Those who tary about American prisoners of war caught See page 7 in the tragedy of the Holocaust, their story had remained untold, lost in the trauma of the Second World War. SPECIAL GUEST Grace Guggenheim, producer CO-SPONSORED BY CINE

For Tickets Visit wjff.org or call (800) 494-8497 23 Print sources

A Green Chariot Dancing Alfonso Merdy Birdy The Making of Liberty [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.gpifilms.com www.go2films.com http://www.ruthfilms.com www.go2films.com The Tunnel A Letter to an Absent Child Darling: The Miss Universe 1929 [email protected] [email protected] Pieter-Dirk Uys Story [email protected] To See If I’m Smiling [email protected] www.fischerfilm.com A Time for Justice [email protected] http://www.darlingmovie.com.au www.gpifilms.com Mom I Didn’t Kill www.wmm.com Dear Mr. Waldman Your Daughter A Touch Away Tulip Time [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.jewishfilm.org http://www.ruthfilms.com Musical Chairs Two Lives Plus One Enemies by Default [email protected] A Trip to Prague [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] My Olympic Summer www.7thart.com Family on the Edge www.neighborhoodfilms.com About Yossi Villa Jasmin [email protected] [email protected] New Year’s Day [email protected] www.go2films.com www.israelfilms.co.il [email protected] http://www.kino.com/theatrical/ Green Mercedes Arab Labor Nine from Little Rock Waves of Freedom [email protected] [email protected] www.gpifilms.com [email protected] www.go2films.com Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger One Day You’ll Understand Who Am I? The Found www.lightning-ent.com Around Trip [email protected] Children of Argentina www.estherblueburger.com [email protected] http://www.kino.com/theatrical [email protected] http://www.ruthfilms.com Jerusalem Lives http://www.estelabravo.com Pauwel’s Circus www.gpifilms.com At Home in Utopia [email protected] [email protected] John F. Kennedy: 1917-1963 Revelation http://filmmakerscollab.org www.gpifilms.com Washington [email protected] DCJCC At the End of the Day Journey to America Robert Kennedy Remembered [email protected] www.gpifilms.com www.gpifilms.com Robert Tracy www.jewishfilm.org Lemon Tree President Salonica Beau Jest [email protected] [email protected] Diane Wattenberg [email protected] www.ifcfilms.com www.7thart.com Fesitival Chairperson www.beaujestmovie.com Let’s Dance! Stefan Braun Arna Meyer Mickelson Being Jewish in France [email protected] [email protected] Chief Executive Officer [email protected] Life in a Box http://www.ruthfilms.com www.jewishfilm.org Margaret Hahn Stern [email protected] Strangers Chief Operating Officer Berga: Soldiers of Another War www.Go2films.com [email protected] Joshua Ford www.gpifilms.com Life in the Shadows www.ifcfilms.com Chief Programming Officer Blessed Is the Match: The Life www.gpifilms.com Tell Your Children Angie Moore and Death of Hannah Senesh Like a Fish Out of Water [email protected] Chief Financial Officer [email protected] [email protected] http://www.blessedisthematch.com The Beetle Mark Spira www.go2films.com [email protected] Chief Development Officer Bridge Over the Wadi Love Ties http://www.ruthfilms.com [email protected] Ari Roth [email protected] www.go2films.com The House on August Street Co-Director, Morris Cafritz Max Minsky and Me [email protected] Center for the Arts Circumcise Me! [email protected] www.jewishfilm.org [email protected] Susan Barocas http://www.frvmedia.com ?? www.7thart.com The Kiddush Man Director, Washington Jewish Film Festival [email protected] STUDENT FILM CONTEST

Next year, the Washington Jewish Film to think originally around the theme. Some of Festival celebrates our 20th anniversary. the questions and ideas you can consider include: Seems like a good time to make a film about celebrations, so E What do we as Jews celebrate and how? WJFF invites Washington-area high school students to submit E What makes our celebrations Jewish? short films related to the theme of celebrations in Jewish life. E What is the role of ritual in Jewish celebrations? From the morning blessings that celebrate and express E What do the Torah and other Jewish writings say about gratitude for life and the world around us, to those big blow-out celebrations including holidays, birth and other life events? events… and everything in between, filmmakers are encouraged E Is there a serious side to Jewish celebrations?

WHAT YOU WIN E Films can be done in any form including documentary, WJFF wants to recognize our winning filmmaker with: feature, animation and music video. E Screening of winning film during the 20th anniversary E Total run time (including titles and credits) may not festival in December 2009 exceed ten minutes. All entries that violate this rule will be E Listing in the festival catalog disqualified without exception. E 4 tickets to next year’s Opening Night Film and Party E Submission may be created in any format, but final format E A festival t-shirt for screening films is DVD. E Films must be in English or subtitled in English. SUBMISSION RULES E Submissions must include a CD containing hi-res (300 dpi) Please read carefully images from the film. E All work must be original by the filmmaker submitting. E Filmmakers include the completed submission form (below) Compilations of non-original materials, newscasts, other with their entry. movies are not permitted E The entries will be judged by designated representatives E Films must be produced and directed by high school of the Washington Jewish Film Festival, the Washington students, although you do not need to be sponsored by a DCJCC and the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning. The specific school. You must have been born after December decisions of the judging committee are final. 31, 1990.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 1, 2009 Send entries to: Celebrations Student Film Contest Washington Jewish Film Festival · c/o Washington DCJCC · 1529 16th Street NW · Washington, DC 20036  Please print

NAME BIRTHDATE

FILM TITLE RUNNING TIME

PHONE EMAIL

ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP

SCHOOL GRADUATION YEAR

On a separate piece of paper that includes the filmmaker name and film title, please include: E A list of key production personnel E A short 100 word synopsis of the film $10,000 – $24,999 THANK YOU Anonymous Patty Abramson and Les Silverman 19th WASHINGTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL FUNDERS Anne and Ronald Abramson Carolyn Small Alper Michele and Allan Berman Beverly and Leo Bernstein FESTIVAL SPONSORS Lynn Levin Oshinsky and Melinda and Robert Robbins Lisa and Josh Bernstein DC Commission on the Arts Stan Oshinsky Phyllis Schottenstein Ann and Donald Brown and Humanities Gerald Levine and Sarah Pokempner Samantha and Peter Seigman Deborah Carliner and Robert Remes Embassy of Israel Sherry Levy-Reiner Carolyn and Martin Shargel Rose and Robert Cohen Jewish Federation of Dalya and Edward Luttwak Alan and Anexora Skvirsky Ginny and Irwin Edlavitch Greater Washington Stuart Meyers Howard Sokolove Alexander Greenbaum Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Joy Midman Yulia Spivak and Roman Svirsky Brenda Gruss and Daniel Hirsch Washington Jewish Week Linda and Sidney Moskowitz Paul and Rose-Helene Spreiregen Susy and Thomas Kahn Miriam Mörsel Nathan and Sam and Cecille Steinberg Barbara and Jack Kay EVENING SPONSORS Harvey Nathan John Tolleris The Jacob & Charlotte CrossCurrents Foundation Laura and Louis Offen Mindy and Sheldon Weisel Lehrman Foundation Ralph and Louie Dweck Zelda Porte Andrea Weiss Jacqueline and Marc Leland Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Deborah and Juan Prawda Joan Weiss Thelma and Melvin Lenkin Foundation Elaine Reuben Sandra Weiswasser Marion and Larry Lewin Norman Pozez and Melinda Bieber Georgette Sobel and Nicholas Kittrie Faye and Jack Moskowitz Deborah Ratner Salzberg and Deborah Tannen and DONORS TO THE National Endowment for the Arts Michael Salzberg Michael Macovski Points of Light Foundation Barbara and Michael Smilow Francine Zorn Trachtenberg and WASHINGTON DC JEWISH Diane and Arnold Polinger The David Bruce Smith Family Stephen Joel Trachtenberg COMMUNITY CENTER Henry and Anne Reich Foundation Lizabeth and David Wagger Family Foundation United Jewish Endowment Fund Joan Wessel Thank you to everyone in the commu- Charlotte and Hank Schlosberg nity who gave so generously to help the Rhea Schwartz and Paul Wolff DIRECTOR FAN Washington District of Columbia Jewish The Abe & Kathryn Melanie Franco Nussdorf and Anonymous Community Center raise over $3.5 mil- Selsky Foundation Lawrence Nussdorf Elaine Braverman lion last year to support the programs The Shubert Foundation Stuart Carlow and operations of the entire Center. Patti and Jerome Sowalsky LIGHTS Lois K. Cohen Francine Zorn Trachtenberg and Sue Cohen and Larry Novey Due to space requirements, the follow- Brenda Gruss and Daniel O. Hirsch Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Bonnie Cole ing lists donors whose total giving was Tamara and Harry Handelsman Martha Winter Gross and Victoria R. Cordova $1,000 or more during the 2008 year— Lynn Skolnick Sachs and John Sachs Robert Tracy Hynda Kleinman and Nolan Danchik July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. For Richard Solloway United Way of the National Miryam M. Davis a complete list visit washingtondcjcc. Diane Abelman Wattenberg Capital Area Vera and Ralph Deckelbaum org/donate. George Wasserman Family Anne-Marie Deutsch Foundation, Inc. CAMERA Larry and Natalie Dickter $100,000 + Dava Berkman Marvin Weissberg Alison Drucker and Thomas Holzman Ann Loeb Bronfman Beverly Bernstein Irene and Alan Wurtzel Herman and Rosalyn Efron Jewish Federation of David Bernstein and Deborah Brudno Eva Feglova and Lawrence Somer Greater Washington Herb and Dianne Lerner $5,000 – $9,999 Debra and Marvin Feuer Nextbook Iris Lipkowitz Esthy and James Adler Leesa Fields and Jonathan Band Toyota Motor Sales USA Allen and Myra Mondzac The Family of H. Max and Michael Fleischhacker United Jewish Endowment Fund Dorothy Moss and Larry Meyer Josephine F. Ammerman & Ronna and Stan Foster Andrew Ammerman Zelda Porte David Fox Juan Prawda $50,000 – $99,999 Blum-Kovler Foundation Sharyn and Arthur Fuchs DC Homeland Security and Marcella Brenner* Pauline Rabin and Mort Miller Debbie Goldberg and Seth Waxman Tabard Corporation Emergency Management Agency Susie and Kenton Campbell Marcia F. Goldberg Louie and Ralph Dweck Children’s Charities Foundation Marion and Michael Usher Heidi Goldsmith Natalie Wexler and James Feldman Susan and Michael Gelman Debra Lerner Cohen and Vivian and Phil Gorden Arlene and Robert Kogod Edward Cohen Hazel A. Groman Howard and Geraldine Polinger Ryna and Melvin Cohen ACTION Judyth Groner Family Foundation Rabbi and Babs Abramowitz CrossCurrents Foundation Bonnie and Alan Hammerschlag Elizabeth M. Smith and Charlotte and Michael Baer The Max & Victoria Rachel Hecht David Bruce Smith Dreyfus Foundation, Inc. Miriam and Eliezer Benbassat Naomi and Jack Heller Sanders H. Berk and Sally Berk Embassy of Israel Linda and Jay Herson $25,000 - $49,999 Ellen and Jack Esformes Mitchell Berliner and Debra Moser Edith and Arthur Hessel Barrett Brick and Antonio Ruffini Jamie and Joseph A. Baldinger Natalie Wexler and Linda Kahan Diane and Norman Bernstein James Feldman Frances and Leonard Burka Sid Kaplan Toby Dershowitz Melinda Bieber and Norman Pozez Lois and Michael Fingerhut Marilyn Klein The Morris and Gwendolyn Lisa Fuentes and Thomas Cohen Diana R. Engel Amy Kotkin Lorraine Gallard and Richard Levy Cafritz Foundation Rhoda and Dan Glickman Lawrence and Marjorie Kravitz DC Commission on the Arts Marilyn and Michael Glosserman Larry Garber and Gayle Schwartz Gary Laden Joan Nathan Gerson and Allan Gerson and Humanities Cheryl and Ken Gorelick Roslyn Lang Lois and Richard England Mary and Robert Haft Paula Seigle Goldman Les and Elaine Lawrence Susan Sachs Goldman Ellen and Joseph Goldstein G. Scott Hong Carol and Fred Levison Rena and Michael Gordon Iona Senior Services Lisa and Tom Goldring Paul and Sophie Nemirovsky Sandra Hoexter (Harriet Newman Fund) Tamara and Harry Handelsman Irene and Edward Kaplan Ruth and Pedi Neta Stuart S. Kurlander Betsy Karmin and Manny Strauss Jonathan Kempner and Debby Prigal Lise Van Susteren Melanie Franco Nussdorf and Judy and Peter Kovler Bonnie Ram Kasperson Lawrence Nussdorf Sandra and Stephen Lachter William Kreisberg Anita Reiner Stuart S. Kurlander Deborah and Michael Salzberg Eugene Lang Foundation Marilyn and Barrie Ripin Clarice and Robert Smith The Annette and Theodore Trish and George Vradenburg Lerner Foundation Barbara and Michael Smilow Pam Sams Linda Lipsett and Jules Bernstein Saul I. Stern Froma and Jerome Sandler SPECIAL THANKS MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger Katherine and Thomas Sullivan Leslie and Leonard Shapiro The Meltzer Group Marjorie and Matthew Watson Victor Shargai Sarah Armstrong, Landmark Theatres Prince Charitable Trusts William Wolfe Carolyn and Martin Shargel Caitlin Barile, Box Office Tickets Kathy and Thomas Raffa Shelia and Richard Sloan Sylvia Blume, Goethe Institut Washington Betty Moseley Brown, Assoc. Director, Georgia Ravitz $1,000 – $2,499 Janet Solinger Center for Women Veterans, Renay and William Regardie Wendi and Daniel Abramowitz Richard Solloway Department of Veteran Affairs Elaine Reuben Natalie and Paul Abrams The Sprenger Lang Foundation Juliet Burch, National Center Rae Ringel and Amos Hochstein Susan Agger and Richard Budson Margaret Hahn Stern and for Jewish Film Debra and Jonathan Rutenberg Shari and Stephen Ashman Stephen Stern Roland Celette, Embassy of France Lynn and John Sachs Loleta and Larry Bailey Barbara and Stanley Tempchin Marcelo Cima, Embassy of Argentina Evelyn Sandground and Grace and Morton Bender Beverly Walcoff Karen Davis, Palm Beach JFF Bill Perkins Bender Foundation Inc. Margy Waller Tara Dennard, Embassy of the Federal Emily Schoenbaum Susan Bernstein Diane Abelman Wattenberg Republic of Germany Deborah Harmon and The Estate of Walter Blumenthal* Judith and Herbert Weintraub Ruth Diskin, Ruth Diskin Marketing Robert Seder Katherine and David Bradley Debra and Steven Weiss and Distribution Tina and Albert Small Jr. Mara Bralove and Ari Fisher Sharon Wilkes and Robert Kinberg Bill Dougherty, The Madison Hotel Jane and Daniel Solomon Amelie and Bernei Burgunder, Jr. Cynthia Wolloch and Joseph Reid Esther Finder, Generation After, Inc. Mindy Strelitz and Preston and Carolyn Butcher The Woodbury Fund Lawrence Fishbein, President and Andrew Cornblatt Susan and Dixon Butler Eric Zelenko Publisher, Washington Jewish Week SunTrust Bank Cindy and Mitchell Caplan Margot and Paul Zimmerman Nancy Fishman, San Francisco JFF Les and Lori Ulanow David Carliner* Nicola Galliner, Berlin JFF The Washington Post Company Arlene and Harvey Cherner * of blessed memory Larry Garber, New Israel Fund The Weissberg Foundation Mimi Conway and Dennis Houlihan Members of the 2008 Board Chris Garlock, Labor Film Festival Joan Wessel Nancy and Morris Deutsch of Directors appear in italics Bela Gedeon, Embassy of Hungary Rosa Wiener Elizabeth and Richard Dubin Michele Giacolone, Italian Cultural Ellen and Bernard Young Carol Ann Dyer Institute of Washington Judy and Leo Zickler Nava and Mark Ely WJFF FILM COUNCIL Sharon Gil, Embassy of Israel Rory and Shelton Zuckerman Gayle and John Engel Diane Abelman Wattenberg, Chair Hedva Goldschmidt, Go2Films Laura and Michael Faino Babs Abramowitz Jean Graubart, Smilow Center for $2,500 – $4,999 Eve and David Farber David Epstein Jewish Living and Learning Anonymous Karen and Baruch Fellner Roberta Hantgan Grace Guggenheim, Guggenheim Babs and Rabbi A. N. Abramowitz Barbara and Matthew Forman Robbie Hare Productions Inc. Miriam and Sanford Ain Diane Lerner and Herbert Blicher Linda Kaufman Todd Hitchcock, AFI Silver Theatre Sandy and Clement Alpert Lorraine Gallard and Richard Levy Aviva Kempner, Founding Director Andrew Hollinger, US Holocaust Amy and Stephen Altman Richard Gerber Joy Midman Memorial Museum Joan and Peter Andrews Donna and Jon Gerstenfeld Alan Mondzac Murray Horwitz, AFI Silver Theatre Atlantic Trust Nancy and Carl Gewirz Miriam Mörsel Nathan, Director Emeritus Aviva Kempner Dorothy Bennett Albert Girod Georgia Ravitz and Peter Basser Stuart Kurlander Freddi Lipstein and Scott Berg Diana and Stephen Goldberg Renay Regardie Justin Lerner, Kurlander Gay & Lesbian Joan and Alan Berman Paula Siegle Goldman Barbara Smilow Outreach and Engagement (GLOE) The Bernstein Companies Pamela and Thomas Green Deborah Lipnick, Embassy of Israel B’nai B’rith Sylvia and Harold Greenberg Sarah McPhie, Cutting Edge Design Rita and David Brickman Erwin Gudelsky 2008 WJFF VOLUNTEER Laurent Mellier, Alliance Francaise de Carol and Robert Burman Ira Hillman and Jeremy Barber STEERING COMMITTEE Washington Arnold and Sandra Chase Humanities Council of Washington, DC Andy Mencher, Avalon Theatre Cyna and Paul Cohen Max Kagan Family Foundation Ed Askinazi, Hospitality Rabbi Tamara Miller Richard Cohen Sally and Louis Kaplan Bonnie Cole, Special Projects Andrea Murphy, Embassy of Belgium Joy and S. Robert Cohen Laine and Norton Katz Rebeccah Goldstein-Gan, Audience Miriam Mörsel Nathan Beth and Ronald Dozoretz Shelley Kay and Al Policicchio Award Peggy Parsons, National Gallery of Art Myrna and Arthur Fawcett Aviva Kempner Robbie Hare, Hospitality Sam Phillips Linda and Jay Freedman Lise Van Susteren and Trish Kent, Volunteer Coordination Ricarda Redeker, Embassy of the Joanne Fungaroli Jonathan Kempner Shira Keyes, Special Events Federal Republic of Germany Benno Gerson Ceceile Klein Erik Ladinsky, Webmaster Noa Rembiszewski, Boston JFF Sarah and Bernard Gewirz Linda Klein Bill Levenson, Theater Operations Wendy Revel, CINE Golden Eagle Ann and Frank Gilbert Dana and Ray Koch Judy Levy, Volunteer Coordination Film & Video Competition Marjory Goldman Adrienne Kohn and Garry Grossman Bruce MacIver, Theater Operations Younes Rhiwi, graphic designer Susan Sachs Goldman Laurie Kramer Linda Posell, Special Events Lisa Rivo, National Center for Grossberg, Yochelson, Martha Kahn and Simeon Kreisberg Elaine Ron, Theater Operations Jewish Film Fox and Beyda Simma and Ronald Liebman Sharon Pucker Rivo, National Center for Rosalyn and Robert Hirsch Cathryn and Scot McCulloch Jewish Film Joy Lerner and Steven Kelin Paula McMartin STAFF, WASHINGTON Ari Roth, Artistic Director, Theater J William Kreisberg Jeff Menick JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Tumi Rufai, festival trailer Connie and Jay Krupin Arna Meyer Mickelson and Jane Scott, Embassy of Australia Sandra and Arnold Leibowitz Alan Mickelson Susan Barocas, Festival Director Antoine Sevire, Embassy of France Edward Lenkin Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Jennifer L. Katz, Public Relations Director Gail Shirazi, Library of Congress Richard Levy Myra and Allen Mondzac David Horowitz, Festival Coordinator Susan Weidman Schneider, Zena and Paul J. Mason Shirlee and Erv* Ornstein Seth Finkle, Festival Assistant Lilith Magazine Linda and Sidney Moskowitz Politemps Inc. Katherine McCann, Box Office George Spina, Pillsbury Travel Alfred Munzer and Joel Wind Ruth and Stephen Pollak Samantha Greenberg, Intern Karen Paul Stern, New Israel Fund Ratner Family Foundation Posner-Wallace Foundation Stephen Stern, Washington DCJCC Irma and Marc Reshefsky RCLCO Foundation Inc. Rita Venturelli, Italian Cultural Institute Sylvia Ritzenberg* Carol Risher of Washington Loretta Rosenthal Toni Ritzenberg Christine Washington, Embassy of Trina and Lee G. Rubenstein Daryl and Steven Roth Switzerland Sanford Schwartz Chaya and Walter Roth Peggy and David Shiffrin Paul Rothstein the washington jewish film festival will be 20 years old in 2009

Make plans to join us December 3–13 2009

Look for special programs and events throughout the coming year

Keep up to date on wjff.org or washingtondcjcc.org/film The festival starts here...

…with your support. Help us raise the curtain on next year’s festival, our very special 20th anniversary year. Even with our ever-growing audience, ticket sales represent only about 30% of our income, which means the Festival can only happen with generous support from individual and corporate donations. When you give to WJFF at any level, you are helping to enrich, explore, present and preserve Jewish culture and history on film.

EVENING SPONSOR ($5,000 or more) CAMERA ($550-1,099) Listing as Evening Sponsor on Festival Calendar 2 Tickets to Funder’s Night 2 Tickets to VIP Opening Night 4 Additional Tickets to Festival (excluding Closing Pass for 2 to all other Festival screenings Night) 10 Additional Tickets for the evening sponsored Listing in the Festival Brochure Listing in the Festival Brochure, Festival Website and Festival Trailer Priority Ticket Purchasing Privileges Priority Ticket Purchasing Privileges Private Reception with Special Guests of the Festival ACTION ($275-549) 2 Tickets to Funder’s Night DIRECTOR ($2,750-4,999) 2 Additional Tickets to Festival (excluding Closing 2 Tickets to Funder’s Night Night) Pass for 2 to all other Festival screenings Listing in Festival Brochure Listing in the Festival Brochure, Festival Website and Festival Trailer Priority Ticket Purchasing Privileges Priority Ticket Purchasing Privileges Private Reception with Special Guests of the Festival FAN ($36–274) Listing in Festival Brochure LIGHTS ($1,100-2,749) Priority Ticket Purchasing Privileges 2 Tickets to Funder’s Night 6 Additional Tickets to Festival Listing in the Festival Brochure Priority Ticket Purchasing Privileges Private Reception with Special Guests of the Festival

Make checks payable to WJFF/Washington DCJCC Please fill out and mail to: Washington DCJCC, 1529 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.

My tax-deductible contribution is: name

address EVENING SPONSOR $5,000 or more DIRECTOR $2,750–4,999 city, state, zip LIGHTS $1,100–2,749 CAMERA $550–1,099 PHONE EMAIL ACTION $275–549 CREDIT card master card visa amex DISCover FAN $36–274 credit card no. Exp. Date MORRIS CAFRITZ CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE DECEMBER 25TH DAY OF SERVICE our sponsors & partners voices from a changing middle east: 19th WASHINGTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 2009 Festival

Serve your community on our largest single event of the year. The 16th Street J’s December 25th Day of Service is the premier interfaith volunteer event in the nation’s capital. Register now to make a difference in the metropolitan area—go to washingtondcjcc.org/volunteer.

The numbers are impressive and we need you to make it all work:

Over 1,000 volunteersAll in one day needed of service! Serve over 50 community organizations

Distribute 6,000+Help 10,000 gifts people

Buy a Festival Package To See It All! Hotline: [email protected] (202) 777-3243 or Get all the details you need at washingtondcjcc.org/d25

The Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service is supported by Children Charities, United Way of the National Capital Area, Morris & Gwendolynn Cafritz Family Foundation and Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

E E E our sponsors & partners 19th WASHINGTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

Embassy of France

Embassy of Argentina

PILLSBURY TRAVEL

Embassy of Australia Bridge Street Books

AFI Silver Theatre • Alliance Française de Washington • Avalon Theatre • Dancing Moose Photography • DC Labor Film Fest • Embassy of Hungary • Gary Rosenthal Collection • JCC Café • Landmark Bethesda Row Cinemas • The Madison Hotel • National Gallery of Art • Planet Cotton • Trader Joe’s • Women in Film & Video DC wjff.org

The 19th Annual WASHINGTON JEWISH

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Hanover, MD Permit No. 149

Washington District of Columbia Jewish Community Center Morris Cafritz Center for the Arts 1529 Sixteenth Street NW Washington, DC 20036 wjff.org washingtondcjcc.org