“We remain determined and committed to using film as a means of combating antisemitism and creating better understanding and awareness of Jewish life”
(Chief Executive of UK Jewish Film, Michael Etherton)
On Monday 17th September, the official schedule of the UK Jewish Film Festival was released and the film list looks amazing!
The UK International Jewish Film Festival is set to run for 16 days, from 8th to 22nd November, screening movies in cinemas all over the UK. The Festival aims at spreading the culture, awareness, and diversity of the Jewish and Israeli culture and life through various types of films
This 22nd edition will screen 85 movies from 16 countries, hosting 51 UK Premieres!
Films are listed in the following competitions: Galas, The Alan Howard International Documentary Strand, Israeli Cinema, Made in Britain, European Cinema, Across the World, Philip Roth Retrospective, The Sound of Silence, and Shorts.
Being a special year due to Philip Roth passing away, the festival is also going to honor him by screening three movies based on the author’s work: Goodbye Columbus, Human Stain and Portnoy’s Complaint.
The jury composed by Michael Kuhn as Head of Jury, Anita Land, Clare Binns, Andrew Pulver, Henry Goodman and Michael Rose will select the winner of the Dorfman Best Film Award among The Accountant of Auschwitz, Foxtrot, Promise At Dawn, Three Identical Strangers, The Waldheim Waltz and Working Woman.
The opening film is “Working Women” premiering in the UK. Directed by Michael Avid, the movie deals with a topic that is very accurate and probably is at a perfect timing: an ambitious career seeking a woman who struggles with harassment at work. Considering the ongoing #MeToo Movement, this story is a depiction of how women try to rise against harassment and mistreatment.
The special Centrepiece Gala will be the London Premiere of “Three Identical Strangers”. Directed by Tim Wardle, the documentary tells the story of three brothers, who grew up unaware of each other’s existence and raised by adoptive families living in a hundred-mile radius away one from another until they got 19. The siblings (Robert Shafran, Eddy Galland, and David Kellman) will discover fame, but also the story behind their separation.
The closing ceremony will host “Promise at Dawn”, French and Belgian movie, directed by Eric Barbier. Nominated for both Best Screenplay and Best Film, the film is an adaptation of Romain Gary’s memoir and depiction of a heartfelt mother-son relationship.
These are only 3 out of all the interesting movies that will be screened in the Festival. Do not miss the opportunity to be part of it! Tickets will be available for purchase for all from 26th September. Do you want to have a look at all the movies, before deciding? Read through the catalog at the following link: http://ukjewishfilm.org/festival/22nd-uk-jewish-film-festival/films/
In the meantime, here is the teaser of “Promise at Dawn” to start your research!
