Because our offices are tucked inside the MJCC, it’s been impossible to miss the buzz as they prepared for the Morris and Mollye Fogelman International Jewish Film Festival, which kicks off this Thursday, February 16, with a screening of Remember, 7:30 P.M. at the Malco Paradiso.
With nine screenings over eleven days, this year’s Jewish Film Festival brings a diverse batch of cinema to the Memphis area. Check out the full schedule here. Note that screenings are taking place at multiple locations around Memphis.
Remember– 2015, Drama, English, directed by Atom Egoyan Thursday, February 16, 7:30 P.M. at the Malco Paradiso.
Oscar winner Christopher Plummer stars as Zev, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor struggling with memory loss who receives a mysterious package from an old acquaintance, Max. In it, a stack of cash a note laying out a shocking plan. Max wants to help Zev make a cross-country journey to find and kill the sadistic Auschwitz guard that was responsible for the deaths of every member of both men’s families. Special thank you to Jill and Ken Steinberg.
Moos– 2016, Comedy, Dutch with English Subtitles, Directed by Job Gosschalk Saturday, February 18, 8:00 P.M. in the MJCC Belz Theater
Years after abandoning her dream of becoming a performer, middle-class Dutch Jew Moos Troostwijk is inspired to pick up where she left off, enrolling in theatre school to follow her passions back to the stage. Of course, life gets in the way, but Moos ultimately proves that love, laughter and friendship are more important than beauty and perfection.
Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown– 2016, Documentary, English, Directed by Gregory Monro Saturday, February 19, 1:00 P.M. in the MJCC Belz Theater
With a mix of archival footage, photographs and extensive interviews, director Gregory Monro delivers an insightful view into a brilliant but deeply conflicted artist, and explores the impact his art made on the world.
In Search of Israeli Cuisine– 2016, Documentary, English, Directed by Roger Sherman Sunday, February 20, 6:30 P.M. in the MJCC Belz Theater. Kosher Israeli style buffet will be served at 5:30 P.M. Tickets for the combined Dinner and a Movie Event must be purchased by Monday, February 13.
A portrait of the Israeli people told through food. The film follows Israeli-born chef Mike Solomonov into the lives and kitchens of a diverse array of Israeli people, drawn from the more than 100 cultures that make up contemporary Israel.
Freedom Runners- 2016, Documentary, Hebrew with English Subtitles, Directed by David Wachsman Tuesday, February 21, 7:30 P.M. in the MJCC Belz Theater
In partnership with Facing History and Ourselves.
Freedom Runners tells the story of Rotem Genossar, a teacher at the Bialik-Rogozin campus in south Tel Aviv, who found a running group for refugees who fled their homelands with their families but lack legal status in Israel. Running quickly becomes a way to fight for the civil rights of the students. Two of the more talented and prominent members of the team are Rachel Gebretsadik, 16, from Eritrea and Ramzi AbdulJaber, 17, from Darfur. Since Israel does not recognize Rachel and Ramzi as citizens, Rotem and his students set out on a struggle to pull them out of the margins of Israeli society.
Barriers/The Little Dictator– 2012/2015, Drama/Comedy, Hebrew with English Subtitles (both short films) Wednesday, February 22, 7:30 P.M. at the Malco Studio on the Square
Two short films by Maaleh Israeli Film School will be shown follwed by a short discussion led by Rabbi Feivel Strauss.
Barriers tells the story of a young IDF officer ordered to close a checkpoint after a bomb threat. But when an ambulance carrying a sick Palestinian child arrives at the gate, the young officer must make a decision that could either save or jeopardize lives.
The Little Dictator follows a dullard of a history professor who encounters a unique opportunity to face up to himself and his domineering family.
Life, Animated– 2016, Documentary, English, Directed by Roger Ross Williams Thursday, February 23, 7:30 P.M. in the MJCC Belz Theater
In partnership with Jewish Family Service at the MJCC.
This year’s “Celebrating Differences” film is an emotional coming-of-age story that follows Owen Suskind as he graduates to adulthood and takes his first steps toward independence. The subject of his father Ron Suskind’s New York Times bestseller, Owen was a thriving three year old who suddenly and inexplicably went silent – and for years after remained unable to connect with other people or to convey his thoughts, feelings or desires. Over time, through repeated viewings of Disney classics, Owen found ways to re-connect with the world around him. Life, Animated evocatively interweaves classic Disney sequences with scenes from Owen’s life in order to explore how his identification and empathy for Disney characters gave him a means to understand himself and his world.
Sabena Hijacking: My Version– 2015, Docudrama, Hebrew/English/Arabic/French with English subtitles, Directed by Rani Sa’ar Saturday February 25, 8:00 P.M. in the MJCC Belz Theater
In 1972, four members of Black September hijacked flight 571 from Brussels to Tel Aviv, launching scores of people inside and outside the airplane into thirty tense hours of human, military and political drama.
The Blind Hero: The Love of Otto Weidt– 2015, Drama, German with English Subtitles, Directed by Kai Christiansen Monday, February 27, 7:30 P.M. in the MJCC Belz Theater
A Blind Hero is a powerful docudrama of Berlin brushmaker Otto Weidt’s daring and cunning rescue of his blind and deaf Jewish employees from being sent to concentration camps as well as his tragic love of Alice Licht, and his desperate journey to save her and her entire family from the gas chamber, all while he himself was almost completely blind.
The MJCC’s International Film Festival is named in memory of Morris and Mollye Fogelman, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Wendy and Avron Fogelman.