The 18th Annual Mandell JCC Hartford Jewish Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for Hollywood legends, Oscar hopefuls, sleuths and spies, glitzy singers and a gutsy beauty queen March 20 – 30, 2014, with 23 features, thrillers, romantic comedies, shorts and documentaries from 13 countries, screening in 5 venues over 10 days, announced Dr. Benson Monastersky and Ronny Siegel, Festival co-chairs.
Bank-robbing oldsters, thrill-seeking youngsters and Big Apple hipsters share the spotlight with larger-than-life historical heroes, talking animals and even a singing Jewish cowgirl at Connecticut’s largest Jewish global cinema event. Parties, live concerts and Reel Talk conversations with visiting filmmakers and musicians, an author, film subjects, historians and experts will enhance many films.
For the first time, the Festival presents free student screening events at two high schools and six university campuses in Hartford, Farmington, New Britain, New Haven, Storrs and West Hartford.
Fans of Woody Allen (Paris-Manhattan), Isabella Rossellini (The Zig Zag Kid), Sir Patrick Stewart (Hunting Elephants)Susie Essman and Melanie Lynskey (Putzel) will be rewarded with great comedy performances. Music hits the high notes in five films. A piano professor discovers an unfinished score and his true identity in When Day Breaks. Israel’s Cupcakes is a frothy musical comedy about love, life and friends. Violinist Philip Quint and singer Nellie McKay dazzle in New York City’s Downtown Express. Mama Doni Zasloff electrifies the stage in a live song-and-dance concert for young families following Mama Doni’s Jewish Holiday Party – It’s Passover! West Hartford, Connecticut’s Dr. Alby Hurwit composes a symphony in The Gambling Man.
Talking animals provide the punch-lines in shorts Gentledog, The Goldfish and What About Me?, screening with Etgar Keret – What Animal Are You? a behind-the-scenes Big Apple book tour with the quirky Israeli writer.
Fairfield County, Connecticut residents play central roles in two films. Proving that age is no barrier to adventure, eight Fairfield Jewish Home for the Elderly residents travel to Israel in Next Year Jerusalem. Director David Gaynes, a Weston, CT native, will join residents at the screening. Dr. Robert Braun of Fairfield was one of the young boys saved from the Nazis by a Philadelphia couple in 50 Children- The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus. He and first-time director Steven Pressman will attend and speak.
Tackling an issue from the headlines, Brave Miss World is a riveting true story about sexual assault, surviving rape and community response. Director Cecilia Peck, daughter of Gregory Peck, will appear live via SKYPE to discuss her film about Israel’s Linor Abargil, who was raped at knifepoint weeks before being crowned Miss World in 1998. New this year, the Hartford Jewish Film Festival expands to six college campuses, where Brave Miss World will be screened for students and faculty.
Fact-based films ignite the festival lineup. The Jewish Cardinal is the astonishing story of Jean Marie Lustiger, the Jewish-born French Cardinal who walked a religious tightrope. Poland’s explosive box office smash Aftermath was inspired by the 1941 massacre of Jedwabne’s Jews. Bethlehem, Israel's foreign film 2013 Oscar entry, is a gritty spy drama about a Shin Bet agent and his young Palestinian informant. The Prime Ministers –The Pioneers brings to life Yehuda Avner’s memoir of Israel’s history-makers. Miriam Weissenstein saves her husband’s photographic legacy in Israel’s Life In Stills.
Ticket prices range from $11 in advance ($14 at door) for most films to $75 for the March 20, 2014 Opening Night film, gala and parking. Tickets for the Sunday, March 30, 2014 Closing Night film and reception are $25 per person. Tickets are on sale in person, via phone and by mail at the Mandell JCC. Seating is limited, advance purchase is recommended to avoid sellouts.
Tickets will be sold at the door subject to availability; all seating is general admission and program is subject to change. All events are under Hartford Kashrut Commission supervision.
For more information about campus screenings, contact Harriet Dobin, Festival Director, 860-231-6350, hdobin@mandelljcc.org.
For tickets, schedules, trailers, directions, and a Festival brochure contact the Box Office, Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT. 06117, 860-231-6316, visit www.hjff.org or call the Mandell JCC, 860-236-4571.