FESTIVAL OF JEWISH CINEMA
Twenty-one years is a long time by any festival’s standards, and the Festival of Jewish Cinema is no exception. Celebrating its 21st anniversary, this year’s Jewish Film Festival offers an impressive and ambitious view of Jewish cinema from around the world.
So what exactly is Jewish cinema, you may ask. There are different definitions, but as far as the Festival’s founder and director Les Rabinowicz is concerned, Jewish films are about the subject matter – not the directors, writers or actors. This Jewish content is showcased in an eclectic line-up of 25 new feature films and documentaries from across the globe.
For Les, the Festival’s importance on the culture calendar lies in the fact that it, “Shows vital films, from major festivals overseas, that are, for a variety of reasons, not shown in Australia. A lot of these films would otherwise simply not be seen here.”
This year’s program is “Particularly strong,” says the Director. Ticket sales are already up 45% from where they were at this time last year, and the festival is clearly going to be very popular. With nearly all of the films coming directly from the Berlin, Cannes, Toronto and Venice Film Festivals, you don’t want to miss out. Highlights include the French satire The Names of Love, the Natalie Portman drama Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, and Australian premieres Happy End, Dear Prudence, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler and more.
