The Jacksonville Jewish Film Festival returns Nov. 13-17. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Alliance (JCA), the five-day festival will be held at 8505 San Jose Blvd. and will feature award-winning domestic and international productions. The event will also feature a number of speakers and special programs. This is the third biennial JCA Jewish film festival to be held.
Opening night tickets are $30; other events are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Sponsorships are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.jcajax.org/filmfest.
JCA Jewish Film Festival schedule of events:
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. - “Very Semi Serious”
“The New Yorker”m is an instantly recognizable publication due to its iconic cartoons which have become a cultural touchstone. In Jacksonville native and JCA charter member Leah Wolchok’s Emmy Award-winning documentary, the viewer is given an intimate glimpse of the process behind the carefully curated selection of insightful and humorous work that keeps the magazine current and cutting edge. A Skype interview with Wolchok will follow the screening.
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. – “Wedding Doll” (subtitles)
Nominated for 10 Israeli Academy Awards, “Wedding Doll” tells the story of Hagit, a young woman who finds an escape in creating bridal gowns and dolls out of leftover materials from the toilet paper factory where she works. “Wedding Doll” will be accompanied by a Skype discussion with the film’s star Moran Rosenblatt.
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. - Opening Night and reception: “In Search of Israeli Cuisine”
“In Search of Israeli Cuisine” is a portrait of the Israeli people told through food. Israelis come from all over the world, and their unique food traditions provide a rich, complex and human element to a story that has cultivated itself over the past 30 years. Filmmaker Roger Sherman takes the viewer on an epicurean journey that shows why Israel’s food scene is one of the hottest in the world. The film screening will be followed by a reception featuring Israeli food by Hobnob chef Roger Regulacion, wine and music.
Monday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. - “Partner with the Enemy” (subtitles)
A presentation by Tel Aviv-born documentary filmmaker Duki Dror, this film tells the story of two women, one Israeli and one Palestinian, fighting against societal and family pressures within a chauvinistic, male-dominated industry to create a logistics company that helps Palestinian business owners navigate the difficulties of working within the West Bank. Companion programming in conjunction with Jewish Federation of Jacksonville’s rGEN division will follow the film.
Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. - “Once in a Lifetime” (subtitles)
“Once in a Lifetime” is a docudrama that tells the uplifting story of a dedicated history teacher at a French high school who incorporates lessons of the Holocaust to motivate her troubled students. A 30-minute panel discussion will precede this film. Duval County students are free to attend this event.
Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. - “Rabin in His Own Words” (subtitles)
This autobiographical film is told entirely in Yitzhak Rabin’s own voice through rare archival footage, home films and private letters. It reveals the complexity and contradictions of this legendary leader, while rekindling the debate of opportunities lost and taken for peace. This fascinating film is followed by a Skype discussion with Yoram Dori, spokesman for the Labor Party under chairmanship of Rabin.
Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. - “For the Love of Spock”
A tribute to Leonard Nimoy, directed by his son, Adam, this documentary highlights the life of Star Trek’s Mr. Spock, and Nimoy’s 50 years playing the character. The film includes Adam Nimoy’s personal memories of his dad and interviews with cast, crew and people connected with the iconic series.
