Houston Jewish Film Festival
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One of the many reasons to be relieved, upbeat, and positive that we have finally turned the calendar from 2020 to 2021 is the Houston Jewish Film Festival! While some restrictions will prevent us from having a typical, in-person festival, we are excited to announce that we will continue the 17-year honored tradition of connecting community through film with a virtual festival. Join us from the comfort of your own home and at our drive-in experience as we laugh together at hilarious comedies, cry together at heartfelt dramas and so much more. –Jody Sweed, Houston Jewish Film Festival Chair OPENING NIGHT Honeymood DIRECTED BY TALYA LAVIE Black Mercedes DIRECTED BY JANUSZ MAJEWSKI Sunday–Tuesday, Israel, 2020, 90 minutes Monday–Wednesday, Poland, 2019, 123 minutes February 28–March 2 LANGUAGE March 1–March 3 LANGUAGE Join us live Sunday, February 28 at Hebrew with English subtitles Things are seldom what they seem German, Polish with English subtitles 7:00 PM for Opening Night Festivities in this harrowing film noir set in GENRE GENRE Screening includes Q&A with 1942 Warsaw against the backdrop Comedy of WWII. A woman is murdered, but Thriller Director Talya Lavie who, exactly, is the victim? Is the Instead of spending their wedding night in a luxurious hotel suite, these two investigator to be trusted? The husband? The lover? newlyweds are journeying across Jerusalem to return an inappropriate gift Sponsored by June and Leonard Goldberg from the groom’s ex. Hilariously written and directed by filmmaker Talya Lavie who also made Zero Motivation. The J is pleased to announce that opening night is sponsored by the newly When Hitler Stole established Margolis Family Endowment. We want to thank and recognize Pink Rabbit Judy and Rodney Margolis, Rosalyn and Barry Margolis, and Judy and Ken Margolis for their support and generosity. Wednesday–Friday, March 3–March 5 Presented with Holocaust Museum Holy Silence Houston Tuesday–Thursday, In 1933, nine-year-old Anna must March 2–March 4 DIRECTED BY CAROLINE LINK flee Berlin with her family to join her Germany/Switzerland, 2019, 119 minutes Q&A with Director Steven Pressman father, a well-known Jewish journalist Thursday, March 4 | 12:00 PM escaping the Nazis, in Zurich. She has LANGUAGE to leave everything behind, including German with English subtitles DIRECTED BY STEVEN PRESSMAN her beloved pink rabbit, and face a USA, 2020, 72 minutes new life full of challenges and GENRE hardships abroad. Drama LANGUAGE What was the role of Pope Pius XII English during the Nazi era? What will be the GENRE history’s judgment? “Neutrality helps DRIVE-IN SCREENING the oppressor, never the victim. Documentary Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” -Elie Weisel Saul and Ruby’s Holocaust Survivor Band Thursday–Saturday, March 4–March 6 Live performance and Q&A with Saul Dreir and Ruby Sosnowicz Thursday, March 4 | 6:00 PM A celebration of life and music! DIRECTED BY TOD LENDING This uplifting and timely documentary DIRECTED BY EMMA SELIGMAN showcases mankind’s ability to find USA, 2020, 80 minutes Shiva Baby USA, 2020, 77 minutes purpose and joy in life even after LANGUAGE Saturday, March 6 | 8:00 PM experiencing the horrors of English Presented with LANGUAGE antisemitism and bigotry, all while Congregation Beth Yeshurun English facing the struggles of growing old. GENRE 4525 Beechnut St. Documentary GENRE Live Performance and Q&A This is not your traditional shiva. Comedy underwritten by the Doreen Joffe and Sharon Kagan Founders Fund This is a laugh-out-loud dark comedy and single-location anxiety roller coaster that explores a young Jewish Menachem Begin: woman’s coming of age in the most awkward and surprisingly powerful ways possible. Peace and War Sponsored by Alamo Title-Bellaire Sunday–Tuesday, Supported by The Medallion Assisted Living Residence & Seven Acres Senior Services March 7–March 9 DIRECTED BY LEVI ZINI CLOSING NIGHT Israel, 2020, 87 minutes LANGUAGE Hebrew with English subtitles A man of contradictions, a warrior GENRE and a peacemaker, a member of Documentary the Haganah, and signer of a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin had supporters and detractors. His complicated legacy is explored through archival footage and contemporary interviews with key figures from his past. Sky Raiders Sunday–Tuesday, March 7–March 9 DIRECTED BY LIOR CHEFETZ Asia DIRECTED BY RUTHY PRIBAR Israel, 2019, 103 minutes Tuesday–Thursday, Israel, 2020, 85 minutes LANGUAGE March 9–March 11 LANGUAGE Hebrew with English subtitles Israel’s entry into the 2021 Oscars, Hebrew with English subtitles GENRE Asia stars Shira Haas (Unorthodox) as GENRE Suitable for the entire family, Family a sullen, ill teenager whose mother, Drama Sky Raiders is a heartwarming and largely absent, is having an affair with engrossing film about the adventures of two young teens who follow their a married doctor. Their relationship dreams of restoring an old airplane to its former glory and flying in an air appears that of sisters rather than parent and child, each disappearing show. It’s the perfect antidote to 2020. into her own world until each finally takes tentative steps toward mutual understanding. HOUSTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL: THE SEQUEL My Name is Sara FILM + CONVERSATION Sunday–Tuesday, April 4–April 6 Hollywood’s II. DIRECTED BY STEVEN ORITT USA, 2019, 111 minutes World War LANGUAGE Monday–Wednesday, English Twelve-year-old Sara escapes from April 26–April 28 her Polish village on the eve of the GENRE Nazi takeover. Posing as a Christian, Drama DIRECTED BY JASCHA HANNOVER she finds refuge on a farm working for Germany, 2019, 90 minutes room and board. Almost exposed several Courage and a desire to document LANGUAGE times, the tension is palpable as Sara manages to survive by wit and instinct. the truth led four famous Hollywood English, German with English subtitles directors to risk it all and return GENRE There are No Lions to their home countries during Documentary World War II. Each produced unique in Tel Aviv and, until now, long-forgotten Wednesday–Friday, documentaries for the US Army. April 14–April 16 David Mikics DIRECTED BY DUKI DROR Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker Israel, 2019, 63 minutes Thursday, April 29 | 7:00 PM LANGUAGE Drawing on interviews and new Celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut with There archival material, David Mikics for Hebrew with English subtitles are No Lions in Tel Aviv. The story of the first time explores the personal GENRE the chief Rabbi of Copenhagen’s side of Stanley Kubrick’s films in Documentary Jewish community, who would come this engrossing biography of one of to be known as Rabbi Doolittle. In the most influential filmmakers in 1935, Max Shorenstein left his honorable cinematic history. position as chief Rabbi of Copenhagen, to fulfill a longtime dream: to build a zoo in Tel Aviv and teach the local children about the love of animals. Crescendo SNEAK PREVIEW NIGHT May 2021 | DATES TBA The End of Love DIRECTED BY DROR ZAHAVI Tuesday–Thursday, Germany, 2020, 106 minutes February 16–February 18 LANGUAGE English, German with English subtitles DIRECTED BY KEREN BEN RAFAEL When a world-famous conductor GENRE France/Israel, 2019, 90 minutes tries to create an Israeli-Palestinian Drama Perhaps the timeliest of our films! LANGUAGE orchestra, it takes all his skill and Separated by visa renewal issues, French and Hebrew with English subtitles resources to overcome the discord and get them to play in harmony, rising to a young couple struggles to stay GENRE a tense and emotional finale. A remarkable theatrical movie and contribution romantically connected over Skype. to the world-wide efforts towards understanding, humanity and peace. She’s in Paris, he’s in Tel Aviv. Drama A uniquely funny and emotional exploration of the importance of For details and to purchase tickets and passes, visit communication. erjcchouston.org/filmfest or contact Judy Weil at 713.595.8173. EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC OF HOUSTON J @Home Platform 5601 S. Braeswood | Houston, TX 77096 erjcchouston.org Non-Profit Org. J @Home is your personal portal to all of your virtual programs at U.S. Postage the J. Purchase a ticket, log into your portal and your content will PAID Permit No. 6217 all be in one place with no Zoom links required! Films will all be Houston, Texas available for a 48-hour window, and several include a Q&A with the filmmaker. erjcchouston.org/virtual FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS Evelyn Rubenstein JCC The Maurice Amado Patrons of the Arts Foundation LILLIAN KAISER LEWIS FOUNDATION EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC HOUSTON @HOME HoustonJewish Film Festival FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 11, 2021 Celebrating 17 Years of the Best Jewish and Israeli Films erjcchouston.org CONNECT Play WITH US! #JHouFilmFest Asia Honeymood Black Mercedes When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit My Name is Sara.