SPONSORS Welcome to the Sponsors 20th UK International Jewish Film Festival Media Partner Festival Partner Michael Etherton Shoresh The Kobler CHIEF EXECUTIVE Charitable Trust Trust The last twenty years have seen an extraordinary Among this year’s huge range of world films Archie Sherman leap forward, both in the quality and the quantity are hidden gems of European cinema such Presidents Circle Alan Howard Patrons Charitable Trust of international films that explore Jewish themes. as the stylish and gripping French mystery Nadine and Sami Aysoy Louise and Hilton Nathanson Carolyn and Harry Black Andrew Stone We are proud to have played our part in that The Origin of Violence, where we will be joined David and Judy Dangoor Erica and Stuart Peters Muriel and Gus Coren Arthur Matyas & Edward Denise Esfandi Bianca and Stuart Roden Charitable Foundation Wojakovski Charitable development, and in bringing many important for a Q&A by the director Élie Chouraqui; Wendy Fisher Isabelle and Ivor Seddon Paul and Keren Ristvedt Foundation films to the attention of audiences and film Polish police detective thriller A Grain of Truth; industry alike, and into the mainstream of British and sweeping romance in the beautiful Greek Funding Contributors cinema culture. drama Cloudy Sunday. From farther afield we are bringing you no less than two new Argentinian For this landmark anniversary year we are dramas, The Tenth Man and Glories of Tango, excited to present 80 outstanding new films redolent with the spirit of that country. For the from 20 countries through more than 120 final weekend we will be screening the inspiring festival screenings and events in London, true story of Fanny’s Journey, and we will be Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and Nottingham. joined by Fanny Ben Ami. As always there is the question ‘what makes a We remain passionate and dedicated to film Jewish’? There are no easy answers. It is not supporting and nurturing new creative cinema only about Jewish ritual and life, but sometimes talent. As well as premiering the two winning a Jewish sensibility and state of mind. It is our films of the 2016 Pears Short Film Fund at job to open up the question to debate and UKJF we will be holding a FilmLab day during discussion and this is part of the excitement the festival for those embarking on the first and buzz of the Festival. Film Sponsors steps in their filmmaking career and anyone Galaxy Optical Marsha and Alan Lee Charles Rosen We are delighted to be opening this 20th Festival who is curious about filmmaking. The FilmLab Nigel Alliance OBE Selina and Andrew Gellert Sabrina and Eric Lemer Searchlight Julia and Simon Alberga Jane and Michael Grabiner Karen and Lawrence Lever Rosalyn and Nicholas Springer with Indignation, a powerful and profound tale programme continues throughout the year, as do Beaverbrooks Judith Gordon and Alan Spier Dennis and Gillian Levine Liz and Philip Shapiro about the son of a kosher butcher, based on our extensive education programmes for young The Black Family Jeffrey Gruder QC Veronique and Jonathan Lewis The Steen Family the Philip Roth novel, and from award-winning people, and the many other festivals, nationwide Neil Blair and Gillian Gruder Avril and Jonny Manson Lady Steinberg 2016 FESTIVAL FILM JEWISH INTERNATIONAL UK Pam and Leslie Blustin Philip Hodari Jonathan Metliss Techno Constructions Ltd American director-screenwriter James Schamus. year-round screenings, and other projects that Lord and Lady Collins Max Jankel Sterne Richard and Philippa Mintz The UK Friends of The Poignant and moving, it thoroughly deserves the we run year-round as a cultural charity. of Mapesbury Stella and Zamir Joory Mark and Carolyn Mishon Abraham Fund Initiatives warm reviews it has been receiving and will be The Emanuel Charitable Trust Caroline and Michael Kuhn Fiona and Peter Needleman University of Manchester Thank you for your support and we look forward Friends and Admirers Sara and Paul Phillips Marc Worth on release in the UK from the end of the Festival. Kuits Solicitors to welcoming you soon to celebrate with you this of Rabbi Wolff Joyce and David Kustow OBE Susan and John Reizenstein The Ziff Family Israeli cinema is stronger and more varied than 20th anniversary Festival. Manchester Jewish Philanthropic Annie and David Lass Paul and Helen Rose Anonymous sponsor ever, and this year’s Festival includes the pick In Kind Sponsors of the crop – from the Sundance Jury Prize Winner Sand Storm, to the Cannes Film Festival competition nomineesOne Week and a Day and Beyond the Mountains and Hills (from Eran Kolirin, director of The Band’s Visit); not to mention the wry Israeli humour of The 90 Minute War and the untold stories and unseen historical archive from real life stories like Rabin in His Own Words. Bank Leumi (UK) plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. UK Jewish Film is a registered charity No. 1072914. The selection of films and events for the UKIJFF does not reflect in any way the views or preferences of the sponsors or those who support the festival. 1 CONTENTS Contents and Festival Strands Page CONTENT Page CONTENT A guide to the Welcome message: Michael Etherton 45-51 Laugh Because that’s one of the things films of the 2016 5 Welcome message: we do best UK International Jonathan Lewis 6-7 UKIJFF Awards 52-55 Lead Jewish Film Stand out above the rest 8 UKJF at a Glance Festival 9 Education Programme 56-61 Love The pleasures and aches 10-13 Galas of our romantic lives Landmark screenings of major new films 62-66 Rebel Fight for what you believe in 15-20 Believe 67 Special Event: Our search for life’s meaning The Small World of Sammy Lee and purpose 68-71 21-31 Belong Witness And share it with the world Connecting to our families, UK INTERNATIONAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 2016 FESTIVAL FILM JEWISH INTERNATIONAL UK communities and ourselves 72 Pears Short Film Fund 25 Pears Winners 73-75 Shorts A kaleidoscopic range of life 32-34 Celebrate experiences from around the world To life! 76-81 Guests 35-42 Discover 82 UKJF Team We all are on an endless journey of learning 83 Thanks 44 FilmLab 84-86 Venues and Bookings Centre Screening Timetable 88 Index Image: Still from The Tenth Man Cover image: Still from Cloudy Sunday 2 3 WELCOME Welcome from the Chairman Jonathan Lewis CHAIRMAN Dear film lovers Welcome to the 20th UK International Jewish Film and more than 50 UK premieres; but also Festival. It is remarkable that 20 years after it through the Jewish film festivals we run or was founded by our president Judy Ironside MBE programme in Geneva, Zurich and Montreal. as the Brighton Jewish Film Festival, the Festival In addition, our educational programmes use continues to grow and thrive attracting an film to engage young people in Jewish heritage audience at venues around the country of and to combat antisemitism. For young more than 15,000 people. filmmakers we have a new FilmLab project; and There is a resurgence of interest in all forms of our Pears Short Film Fund at UKJF, has entered Jewish culture, as the Jewish community – faced its 10th year of producing award-winning with the threats of the BDS movement and films about British-Jewish life. Year-round we antisemitism across Europe – seeks to strengthen have expanded our audiences for Jewish and its roots in ways that appeal to its diverse Israeli films to include cinemas in Manchester, make up. Glasgow, Borehamwood and East Finchley, as well as the JW3 Cinema in London. Films with Jewish and Israeli connections provide a powerful and accessible way to I am proud to have become chairman of UK stimulate interest and understanding of our Jewish Film following on from Stephen Margolis culture through entertainment. We bring to the who did a fantastic job. All the hard work is UK an amazing variety of films, both features done thanks to our dedicated team led by our and documentaries, from across the globe, which chief executive Michael Etherton, his staff, and would not otherwise be shown in this country. our wonderful volunteers. I would like to thank our sponsors without whose support we would Over the last 12 months our film programme be unable to bring these superb films to you. 2016 FESTIVAL FILM JEWISH INTERNATIONAL UK has reached more people than ever before, not only through our annual festival, now the Enjoy the fascinating array of films that we are largest of its kind in Europe with 120 screenings screening for you this year. 4 5 BEST DEBUT FEATURE AWARD NOMINEES Awards This year we will have three awards including two brand new ones. The films will be judged by our carefully selected jury and the winners will be announced at the Closing Weekend Gala on Sunday 20 November 2016. BEST Best Feature Film Award BEST DEBUT Best Debut Feature Award FEATURE FILM Recognises powerful and outstanding fiction filmmaking FEATURE Recognises new filmmaking talent that displays originality UKIJFF UKIJFF and freshness of vision from a first-time feature film director FILMS IN COMPETITION Beyond the Mountains The Origin of Violence (page 42) FILMS IN COMPETITION and the Hills (page 23) The People vs Fritz Bauer (page 71) Indignation (page 11) One Week and a Day (page 40) Indignation (page 11) The Tenth Man (page 29) Mountain (page 18) Sand Storm (page 60) BEST FEATURE FILM JURY BEST DEBUT FEATURE JURY JASON SOLOMONS RALITZA PETROVA is a Bulgarian NIK POWELL (HEAD OF JURY) SEAN MCALLISTER is a British (HEAD OF JURY) is a British writer and director.