Tickets Friend Of The Festival Flex Pass

Visit austinjff.org for festival and ticket information.
11th Anniversary celebration
Opens
welcome
Saturday, April 13
Num
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Go
tills
Berlin 36
tickets and passes
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You
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Sorry Rabbi
Strangers No More
Friend Of The Festival
FILM BADGE
Valid for admission to all films at all
venues, with advanced seating 15
minutes before Showtime.
Flex Pass
Good for 10 admissions to the film(s)
of your choice at any venue. Flex
Pass holders will be seated after Film
Badge holders, and before general
admission ticket holders.
$150
$60
April 2013 |
April
13-19
The 11th annual AJFF opens Saturday, April 13th at 5:30 PM with
a Shabbat learning experience and screening of the film Peace of
Bread: Faith, Food and the Future. The documentary explores the
work of steadfast caregivers in soup kitchens and food pantries and
a new generation of anti-hunger activists - all of whom are driven by
faith to forge a brighter future. Following the film will be a Q&A with
Austinite Eli Winkelman, the founder of the international charitable
organization Challah for Hunger. The festival continues at 7:30 PM
with “Live Music at the Theatre” presented by Nefesh, a group that
specializes in the music of the Sephardic, Greek, Middle Eastern,
and Balkan regions. Following the music at 8:45 PM is the 2013
AJFF opening film, The Ballad of Weeping Spring. This absorbing
drama follows the story of the son of a legendary Persian tar (lute)
player as he seeks to get his father’s score performed once more
before his death.
The AJFF breaks into new area by bringing the Film & Photography
Exhibition celebrating the Pri-Or Photo House Collection, Life in
Stills: The Legacy of Rudi Weissenstein, from Israel to the Gallery
at the Austin Jewish Community Center opening April 3 and running
through May 10. Tamar Tal’s film Life in Stills screens Tuesday, April
16 at 7 PM and Wednesday, April 17 at noon. This documentary
tells the story of a photo shop owner and her grandson, Ben Peter,
and how they join forces to save the shop and the nearly one million
negatives that document Israel’s defining moments. AJFF is bringing
Ben Peter to Austin for a Q&A following both screenings. The festival
continues throughout the week with FREE noon films each day
at the Arbor Cinema. The AJFF has become known for the many
opportunities it offers the audience to interact with directors and
actors and to participate in lively discussions and programs. Stay
tuned to the latest Festival information at www.austinjff.org.
Tickets
$8 - general admission
$6 - students/seniors
Sold only at the theater box office, beginning
15 minutes before that film starts, until tickets
are sold out. General admission ticket holders
are seated after Film Badge and Flex Pass
holders. Film Badge and Flex Pass holders
receive priority seating.
Note: JCC Spotlight on Arts & Ideas Patron passes
will be available at a table in the Regal Cinema lobby
30 minutes prior to the start of each film.
VISIT AUSTINJFF.ORG FOR FESTIVAL
AND TICKET INFORMATION.
C1
| April 2013 | 2013 AJFF Guide
Throughout the year the AJFF
supports events to help promote
films with Jewish content to the
greater Austin community. The
screening committee tries to
include films that will engage
the community--films for all ages
and preferences, films with local
connections, and films whose
directors or actors can speak
at our events. These kinds of
“live” events mark the difference
between a film series and a film
festival. Two special events
at the festival are Sisterhood
Day on Monday, April 15th, and
Senior Day on Friday, April 19th,
with special ticket pricing all day
for these groups. The 2013 film
festival includes films about the
arts: music, photography and
needlework. Once again we have
an international festival, with
films from Israel, Mexico, France,
Canada, Sweden, Germany and
Denmark.
AJFF Mission
The Austin Jewish Film Festival provides
Central Texans with a collection of the best
current Jewish films from around the world.
Since 2001, the AJFF has screened featurelength, documentary, animated and short
films, offering Austin audiences a view into the
vitality and variety of the Jewish experience.
AJFF Vision
• A cinematic examination of Jewish life
and culture.
• An open and inviting forum for student
and independent filmmakers to present
their work.
• An exploration of universal themes,
including human rights, global peace,
religious freedom, and tolerance.
2013 AJFF Film Schedule
C2
Saturday, 5:30 PMPeace of Bread: Faith, Food
and the Future
April 13 Documentary, USA
7:00 PM Havdallah & “Live Music at the
Theatre” with Nefesh
8:45 PM The Ballad of Weeping Spring
Sunday,
April 14
Drama, Israel
1:00 PM Jai (Chai)/Hava Nagila: The Movie
Short/Documentary, Mexico/USA
3:00 PM Yom HaZikaron Program
3:30 PM Rainbow
Historical Drama, Israel
4:45 PM A Bottle in the Gaza Sea
Drama, France & Israel & Canada
7:00 PM Glickman
Documentary, USA
9:30 PM The Party/Yossi
Monday,
april 15
Sisterhood Day
Short/Drama, Israel/Israel
Noon Sorry Rabbi/Jewphoria/Glickman
(FREE) Short/Short/Documentary, Canada/USA & Israel/USA
4:00 PM Strangers No More
In Honor of Yom HaAtzmaut
Documentary, USA
7:00 PM Berlin 36
Locations
Regal Arbor Cinema 8
9828 Great Hills Trail
Austin
City Lights
Drama, Germany
9:30 PM Seven Minutes in the Warsaw Ghetto
The Day I Saw Your Heart
Tuesday,
April 16
Short/Comedy & Drama, Denmark/France
Noon Jai (Chai)
(FREE) The Ballad of Weeping Spring
Short/Drama, Mexico/Israel
4:00 PM Jerusalem ER
Kaddish for a Friend
420 Wolf Ranch Parkway
Georgetown
Short/Comedy & Drama, Israel/Germany
7:00 PM Wherever You Go
Life in Stills
Volunteer Thank You
The 11th annual Austin Jewish Film Festival could not have taken place without the talents and
skills of our many volunteers. We’d like to thank each of those who contributed their valuable
time to the AJFF throughout the year. We are grateful for the passion and commitment of all
our volunteers who help bring this wonderful festival to the Austin community.
Short Drama/Documentary, Israel/Israel
9:30 PM The Party/Melting Away
Short/Drama, Israel/Canada & Israel
Wednesday, Noon Jerusalem ER/ Wherever You Go
(FREE) Life in Stills
April 17 Short/Short Drama/Documentary, Israel/Israel/Israel
4:00 PM Jai (Chai)
Through the Eye of the Needle: The
Art of Ester Nisenthal Krinitz
Numbered
Short/Documentary/Documentary, Mexico/Israel/Israel
7:00 PM Sorry Rabbi/Brothers
Short/Drama, Canada/Israel
9:30 PM Jewphoria/Invisible
18 Voices Sing Kol Nidre
Out in the Dark
Kaddish for a Friend
Thursday, Noon Seven Minutes in the Warsaw Ghetto
(FREE) A Bottle in the Gaza Sea
April 18 Short/Drama, Denmark & France/Israel/Canada
2:00 PM Dressing America: Tales from
the Garment Center
City Lights Theatre Hava Nagila: The Movie
Life in Stills
U.S. Film & Photography Exhibition Premiere
celebrating the Pri-Or Photo House
Collection, Life in Stills: The Legacy of Rudi Weissenstein
Ben Peter, the grandson of Rudi Weissenstein, and owner of Pri-Or
PhotoHouse in Israel will be in Austin Tuesday, April 16 as part of the
AJFF to speak following the documentary (screens at 7 PM) at the
Arbor Regal Cinema, Great Hills Trail.
Life in Stills Photography Exhibition opens April 3 and runs through May 10.
Georgetown
Short/Drama, Canada/Sweden
7:00 PM Jai (Chai)/The Other Son
Tuesday
4/16 7PM
Ben Peter will be
available for a Q&A
following the film.
Documentary/Documentary, USA/USA
4:00 PM Sorry Rabbi/Simon and The Oaks
Screens at the Regal
Arbor Cinema
Wednesday
4/17 Noon
Short/Drama, USA & Israel/Israel & Germany
Friday,
April 19
Senior Day
Short/Drama, Mexico/France
9:30 PM
Short/Drama, Israel/Israel
The Party/Out in the Dark
Noon Jai (Chai)/Dressing America: Tales
(FREE) from the Garment Center
Hava Nagila: The Movie
Short/Documentary/Documentary, Mexico/USA/USA
Visit austinjff.org for festival and ticket information.
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea
All NOON
movies are
FREE to the
community.
Berlin 36
A BOTTLE IN THE
GAZA SEA
Director: Thierry Binisti
France/Israel/Canada, 2012,
Drama, 100 min.
Hebrew, Arabic, French (subtitles)
Tai is 17, an Israeli from
Jerusalem. Naim is 20, a
Palestinian living in Gaza.
Skillfully portrayed by Agathe
Bonitzer and Mahud Shelalby,
these two young people start a
relationship with a note sent in a
bottle and begin corresponding
by email. Both endure an
explosive political situation at an
age when young people are taking
their places in adult life, and Naim
longs to escape to France. Only 60
miles separate them, but will their
respective cultures allow them to
continue their friendship?
4:45 PMREG Sun., April 14
Brothers
BERLIN 36
BROTHERS
Director: Kaspar Heidelbach
Germany, 2011, Drama, 100 min.
German, English (subtitles)
Director: Igall Niddam
Israel, 2008, Drama, 116 min.
Hebrew (subtitles)
Based on a true story and
set in 1936 Berlin high jumper
Gretel Bergmann was one of
Germany’s best gold medal
contenders when Berlin hosted
the 1936 summer Olympics. She
was also Jewish. When the U.S.
protested Germany’s plans to
exclude Jewish athletes, the Nazis
planned to sabotage Gretel’s
training and replace her with
another woman who harbors a
secret. The women were meant to
be rivals, but instead became loyal
friends. Together they challenged
an empire. Sponsored by the
Schusterman Center for Jewish
Studies at the University of Texas
and Texas Hillel and supported by
Congregation Beth Israel.
NoonREGThurs., April 18
7:00 PMREG Mon., April 15
“A sports drama set in the era leading
up to the Second World War. How will the
heroine try to overcome the subtle and overt
anti-Semitism? What secrets do those that
are out to get her have to hide?”
“An Israeli drama about
family drama. How do we deal
with the wrongs we perceive
others have done us? Can we get over them?”
Two brothers meet after 25
years of separation. Aaron, an
attorney who is ultra-Orthodox
and from Brooklyn, has come
to appeal a case before the
Israeli Supreme Court involving
compulsory military service
for yeshiva students; Dan, a
shepherd, lives with his family
on a peaceful, secular kibbutz.
The siblings’ relationship reflects
their totally different lifestyles
and viewpoints.
The story
explores the differences and lack
of understanding between secular
and Orthodox Jews on a variety of
issues in modern Israeli society.
7:00 PMREG Wed., April 17
April 2013 |
Dressing America:
Tales from the Garment Center
DRESSING AMERICA:
TALES FROM THE
GARMENT CENTER
Directors: Steven Fischler & Joel
Sucher
USA, 2011, Documentary, 57 min.
English
In its heyday, New York’s
Garment Center was a thriving,
vibrant “village” all its own. It
was a place where business was
conducted in the back rooms of
restaurants and bars in a postwar
era that saw a primarily Jewish
industry challenge the hegemony
of Paris, turning fashion into
something distinctly American.
Dressing America tells this
largely unknown story of how an
industry was created through the
rough and tumble efforts of an
assortment of Jewish “characters.”
They were fighters, mixing it up
with the unions, the mob, and
often one another. They conspired
to beg, borrow and steal fashion
from the couture houses of Paris,
nurturing a legion of designers
that include Anne Klein, Donna
Karan, Isaac Mizrahi and
Ralph Lauren. Supported by
the JCC Seniors Program and
Congregation Havarah Shalom.
Contains Mature Language
2:00 PM CLThurs., April 18
Contains Mature Themes
NoonREG
Contains Nudity
Locations
Contains Violence
(REG) Regal Arbor Cinema 8
9828 Great Hills Trail, Austin
Family Friendly
Special Program following the film
Quotes are from the Selection Committee.
(CL) City Lights
420 Wolf Ranch Parkway, Georgetown
April
13-19
C3
Fri., April 19
“Oy Vey! A documentary
about the classic New York
schmatte trade.”
C4
| April 2013 | 2013 AJFF Guide
Sisterhood
Day :
Mon., April 15
senior
Day:
Glickman
GLICKMAN
Director: James Freedman
USA/Ukraine/Israel, 2012,
Documentary, 83 min.
English
Barred from running in the
1936 Olympics because he was
a Jew, Marty Glickman went on
to practically invent the field
of sportscasting.
Inventing
terms like “swish” and “in the
paint,” and later becoming
THE voice of the New York
Giants, Glickman was a man
who may have never received
the fame and credit he truly
deserved, despite being beloved
and respected by fans, athletes
and colleagues.
Featuring
interviews with Bob Costas,
Jerry Stiller, Bill Bradley, and
Marv Albert, this documentary
brilliantly captures Glickman’s
life as an athlete, as a pioneering
sports broadcaster, and as a
passionate advocate of sports
as a means of transcending the
divisions created by race, class
and religion. A must-see for
anyone who grew up on the
East Coast and owned a radio!
Supported by Congregation
Tiferet Israel, Brotherhood
of Agudas Achim and the
Brotherhood of Congregation
Beth Israel.
Hava Nagila: The Movie
HAVA NAGILA:
THE MOVIE
Director: Roberta Grossman
USA, 2012, Documentary,
75 min.
English
Crafted with humor and
wit, Hava Nagila: The Movie is
a foot-tapping celebration of
100 years of Jewish culture and
spirituality. The film peels back
the rich history, mystery and
meaning of the song which is
“kitschy, but oh so profound.”
Along with a brilliant cast of
characters including Connie
Francis,
Harry
Belafonte,
Leonard Nimoy and even
Glenn Campbell, we travel
with Hava Nagila around the
world. First to Ukraine, where
the “Hava Nagila” melody was
originally sung as a Hassidic,
wordless prayer; and then to
Jerusalem, where the song
found its Hebrew lyrics. We
learn to dance the hora and
head back to the U.S., where
“Hava Nagila” became all the
rage in suburban America.
Supported by Congregation
Havarah Shalom.
1:00 PMREG Sun., April 14
2:00 PM CLThurs., April 18
NoonREG
7:00 PMREG Sun., April 14
NoonREG
Fri., April 19
Invisible
Kaddish for a Friend
Fri., April 19
INVISIBLE
KADDISH FOR A FRIEND
LIFE IN STILLS
Director: Michal Aviad
Israel/Germany, 2012, Narrative,
90 min.
Hebrew, English (subtitles)
Director: Leo Khasin
Germany, 2011, Comedy/Drama,
94 min.
German, Arabic, Russian
(subtitles)
Director: Tamar Tal
Israel, 2011, Documentary, 60 min.
Hebrew (subtitles)
“An unsettling drama
about two Israeli women who
share a history of abuse,
but struggle on a day-to-day
basis dealing with it.”
While covering a clash
between Palestinian olive
farmers and an Israel Defense
Forces
detachment,
TV
documentarian Nira (Evgenia
Dodina) recognizes leftist
activist Lily (Ronit Elkabetz).
Back in the 1970s, both women
were among the victims who
identified a rapist. So intense is
the chance meeting, that Nira
finds herself digging into her
past, stirring up memories, and
trying to bridge the gap between
the person she once was and the
person she has become. Lily,
dealing with a profound crisis
in her marriage, tries to prevent
the trauma from surfacing.
Individually and together
they must confront the past
and finally integrate the long
repressed trauma into their
lives. Q&A following the film
with Mitch Sudolsky of Jewish
Family Service. Supported by
Jewish Family Service.
Mon., April 15
9:30 PMREG Wed., April 17
Inspired by a true-life story,
this is a tragicomic story about
friendship, trust and the art of
forgiveness amidst an ancient
conflict.
Fourteen-year-old
Ali grew up in a Palestinian
refugee camp where he learned
to hate Jews at an early age.
After escaping Lebanon, he and
his family end up in Berlin’s
Kreuzberg area. Wanting to fit
in and be accepted by the local
gang, he helps them vandalize
the apartment of a Russian
Jewish neighbor. To avoid
deportation, he is forced to help
the neighbor repair the damage.
This is not your typical film
that explores the relationship
between a sour, cranky old man
and an impressionable, confused
youth. This film transcends
clichéd themes as the pivotal
relationship rises above the deep
ethnic and religious divisions
between Jews and Arabs.
4:00 PMREGTues., April 16
At the age of 96, Miriam
Weissenstein never imagined
that she would be facing a new
chapter in her life. But when The
Photo House, her late husband
Rudi’s life’s work, is destined for
demolition, this opinionated and
uncompromising woman knows
she needs to find help. Miriam
and her grandson Ben join forces
to save the shop and its nearly one
million negatives that document
Israel’s defining moments. Life
in Stills shows Ben and Miriam
embarking upon a heart-wrenching
journey filled with humorous
and
touching
moments—a
journey that requires love, courage,
and compassion. Q&A following
both screenings with Ben Peter
grandson to Miriam Weissenstein,
owner of the photo shop in Israel,
from the documentary. Sponsored
by the Jewish Community
Center
and supported by
Congregation Beth El.
7:00 PMREGTues., April 16
NoonREG
Wed., April 17
“I loved this documentary about
an historic photography studio in Tel
Aviv. Apart from the interesting photos,
the human drama and the relationship
between the current owners - an elderly
grandmother and her grandson - yield
a warm and enjoyable window into the
past and present of Israeli society.”
Visit austinjff.org for festival and ticket information.
April 2013 |
C5
All NOON
movies are
FREE to the
community.
Life in Stills
Numbered
Out in the Dark
MELTING AWAY
NUMBERED
OUT IN THE DARK
Director: Doron Eron
Canada/Israel, 2011, Drama, 86 min.
Hebrew (subtitles)
Director: Dana Doron & Uriel Sinai
Israel, 2012, Documentary, 55 min.
Hebrew (subtitles)
This heartfelt drama follows the
story of a family drawn into crisis after
the parents discover their son, Assaf,
is secretly a cross-dresser and kick
him out of the house. Years later, when
the father, Shlomo, is dying of cancer,
the mother hires a private detective to
track down Assaf. Instead of a “son,”
the detective finds a transgendered
woman who dances at gay cabarets.
After a few days, a private nurse,
Anna, arrives at Shlomo’s hospital
room, sent by an “insurance agency.” Anna (formerly Assaf) manages
to conquer Shlomo’s heart by her
charming personality and her special
attitude toward life. Will the daughter
now manage to overcome the past and
forgive her parents? Will the parents
be able to adapt to their new daughter?
The lasting scars of the Holocaust
become totems of resilience and
remembrance in Numbered, a
compilation of testimonies from
Auschwitz survivors whose tattoos
serve as perpetual reminders of their
imprisonment in the world’s most
notorious death camp. More than one
subject describes the physical pain of
being branded like cattle, even as the
act offered tentative hope of survival.
In the most fascinating development,
some descendants have opted to
get identical tattoos as a tribute and
a reminder. This explosive, highly
visual and exquisite cinematic journey
makes an unforgettable statement, as
individuals prove that they are not
mere numbers. Sponsored by The
Austin Polish Society - 2013 Austin
Polish Film Festival and supported by
Congregation Shalom Rav.
Director: Michael Mayer
Israel/Palestinian Territory, 2012,
Drama, 96 min.
Hebrew, Arabic (subtitles)
Torn between a homeland that
would renounce him for his sexual
identity and an Israel that repudiates
him for his nationality, Nimr (Nicholas
Jacob) finds a safe haven in Roy
(Michael Aloni), an idealistic Jewish
lawyer he meets at a club in Tel Aviv.
When Nimr’s visa is suddenly revoked
and violence crashes down around
them, the two must fight to find a way
to be together. The supporting role
of Gil, the Shin Beit agent out to get
the star-crossed lovers, is masterfully
played by Alon Pdut, newly minted
Austinite and member of the AJFF
programming committee. Alon Pdut
will be available for a Q&A following
the film. Sponsored by The Austin
Film Society and supported by Polari.
9:30 PMREGThurs., April 18
9:30 PMREGTues., April 16
4:00 PMREG Wed., April 17
“Can love survive borders, prejudice,
hate, and stereotypes? What lengths will
someone go to be with their partner? Find out in this tense Israeli drama.”
Contains Mature Language
Austin Jewish Film Festival 2013 Committee Members
Contains Mature Themes
Executive Committee
Contains Nudity
Contains Violence
Family Friendly
Special Program following the film
Quotes are from the Selection Committee.
David Goldblatt and Cindy Pinto,
AJFF Co-Directors
Wendy Corn, JCAA liaison to the AJFF
David Finkel
Mocha Jean Herrup
Alon Pdut
David Pinto
Sandy Sack
Jeremy Simon
Sharon Swedlow
Maureen Florence Walker
Cynthia Winer
Joe Winer
Beverly Scarborough Yahiel
Peace of Bread:
Faith, Food and the Future
PEACE OF BREAD: FAITH,
FOOD AND THE FUTURE
Director: Debra Gonsher-Vinik
USA, 2011, Documentary, 58 min.
English
From Biblical times to present day,
hunger is perhaps the most enduring
affliction in the history of the
world. Though we are still far from
solving this problem, many people
are striving to make inroads. Peace
of Bread takes a compelling look
at how faith leaders—both young
and older—are working to make a
dent in the hunger that plagues 49
million people in the U.S. (Austinite
and Congregation Agudas Achim
member Eli Winkelman, founder
of the international charitable
organization Challah for Hunger,
is among those featured in this
documentary and will be available
for a Q&A following the film.)
Following the screening at 7:00 PM
stay for “Live Music at the Theatre”
with Nefesh, a group that specializes
in the music of the Sephardic, Greek,
Middle Eastern, and Balkan regions.
5:30 PMREG Sat., April 13
Auxiliary Committee
Sara Blatt
Judy Cassorla
Laura Eisenberg
Sandra Freed
Elizabeth Danon Leva
Fai Lee Steinberg
C6
| April 2013 | 2013 AJFF Guide
Sisterhood
Day :
Mon., April 15
Rainbow
Simon and the Oaks
RAINBOW
SIMON AND THE OAKS
Director: Eliran Elya
Israel, 2011, Historical Drama, 30 min.
Hebrew (subtitles)
Director: Lisa Ohlin
Sweden/Denmark/Norway/
Germany, 2011, Drama, 122 min.
Swedish, German, Hebrew,
English (subtitles)
Yom HaZikaron Program
Join us as we honor the memory
of soldiers who have given their lives
in Israel in the line of duty, as well
as the thousands of civilian victims
of terror. Prayers, music, poetry,
lighting of candles and readings will
be shared during this meaningful
ceremony. Alon Pdut, will speak
about his experiences being the
son of a soldier killed in the line of
duty as a pilot. Commemoration
will be followed by the screening
of the film “Rainbow.” For
additional information about this
commemoration please contact
Aliza.orent@shalomaustin.org.
In May 2004, an Israel Defense
Forces armored personnel carrier
was destroyed in the Gaza Strip,
killing all on board. Shortly after,
rescue soldiers were called to
the scene to look for physical
remains.
Michael—the squad
commander, his soldiers, and a
military photographer occupy the
Palestinian household overlooking
the location of the destroyed
carrier while they sift through the
sand for body parts. As the story
unfolds, the soldiers develop an
uneasy rapport with the Palestinian
residents, ultimately leading to
tragedy. Based on a true incident,
this heartrending film raises
painful questions about the realities
of war and survival. Sponsored by
the Jewish Community Center of
Austin.
3:30 PMREG Sun., April 14
“A beautifully filmed Swedish
drama about two families
with children trying to survive
the Second World War. But, how
do their secrets protect or
hurt the characters?”
Based on a popular Swedish
novel by Marianne Fredriksson,
Simon and the Oaks begins as
a coming-of-age drama set
in the 1940s. Intellectually
gifted but hindered by his
working-class
upbringing,
Simon befriends schoolmate
Isak, the traumatized son
of a wealthy, artistic Jewish
bookseller who fled Nazi
persecution in Germany.
As Swedish anti-Semitism
surges, circumstances force
the contrasting households to
merge into a single makeshift
surrogate family that forms and
breaks alliances in unexpected
ways. Fast forward to after the
war: a disastrous romance with
a concentration camp survivor
and a startling discovery send
Simon in a search for his true
identity that will either ruin
or redeem him. Supported by
Congregation Beth El.
Strangers No More
STRANGERS NO MORE
In Honor of Yom HaAtzmaut
Director: Karen Goodman,
Kirk Simon
USA, 2010, Documentary,
39 min.
English (subtitles)
At Bialik-Rogozin School
in Tel Aviv, no child is a
stranger. Here children from
48 different countries and
diverse backgrounds come
together to learn. Many of the
students arrive fleeing poverty,
political adversity and even
genocide. The film follows
several students’ struggle to
acclimate to life in a new land
while slowly opening up to
share their stories of hardship
and tragedy. Mohammed, a
sixteen-year-old refugee from
Darfur, witnessed the killing
of his grandmother and father
before escaping alone through
Egypt to Israel. Johannes
arrived after spending most of
his life in refugee camps across
the Middle East and struggles
to adjust to attending school for
the first time. Academy Award
Winner: Best Documentary
Short Subject. Sponsored by the
Jewish Community Center of
Austin.
4:00 PMREG Mon., April 15
The Ballad of the
Weeping Spring
senior
Day:
Fri., April 19
THE BALLAD OF THE
WEEPING SPRING
THE DAY I SAW
YOUR HEART
Director: Benny Toraty
Israel, 2012, Drama, 106 min.
Hebrew (subtitles)
Director: Jennifer Devoldere
France, 2011, Comedy/Drama,
98 min.
French
Borrowing from diverse
genres, including samurai
theatre, spaghetti westerns, and
South American mysticism, the
film incorporates remarkable
sets, locations, costumes and a
haunting soundtrack to follow
the adventures of a son who
pledges to reunite his father’s
legendary band to play one
last concert before one of
the band members dies. Star
performances from some of
Israel’s best-known actors,
including Uri Gavriel, Dudu
Tassa, Nir Levy and Adar Gold,
make this extraordinary tale
of love, tragedy, passion, and
courage a definite must-see.
Sponsored by the Schusterman
Center for Jewish Studies at
the University of Texas and
Texas Hillel and supported by
Congregation Agudas Achim
and Temple Beth Shalom.
8:45 PMREG Sat., April 13
NoonREGTues., April 16
“A quirky French
comedy about a woman,
her past boyfriends,
and her slightly
cuckoo father.”
Family life is complicated,
especially when a sixty-yearold father announces he’s
expecting a child with his new
wife—disturbing news for his
two grown children. Eli has
had a particularly troubled
relationship with daughter
Justine, who continually flits
from one man to the next. He
decides to get closer to her
by secretly becoming friends
with all her ex‐boyfriends.
But when Justine falls in love
again and Eli is about to ruin
everything, the family teeters
on the brink of disaster. Will
they be able to work things out
before it’s too late? Sponsored
by the Schusterman Center
for Jewish Studies at the
University of Texas and Texas
Hillel and Austin Radiological
Association. Supported by
Alliance Française d’ Austin.
9:30 PMREG Mon., April 15
4:00 PMREGThurs., April 18
Visit austinjff.org for festival and ticket information.
April 2013 |
C7
JAI (Chai)
Director: Ariel Zylbersztejn - Mexico, 2004, Short, 9 min., Spanish, Yiddish
When young Ilana asks her bubbe about those numbers on her arm, she shows the child how
they add up, gematria-like, to eighteen—“the number of life” in Hebrew. Although Zeyde later
confirms the math, brother Dani isn’t buying that story. Ilana, with wisdom beyond her years, puts
it all in perspective.
1:00 PMREG Sun., April 14
NoonREGTue., April 16
4:00 PMREG Wed., April 17
7:00 PMREGThurs., April 18
NoonREG Fri., April 19
The Day I Saw Your Heart
Wherever You Go
Yossi
THE OTHER SON
WHEREVER YOU GO
YOSSI
Director: Lorraine Levy
France, 2012, Drama, 105 min.
French (subtitles)
Director: Rony Sasson-Angel
Israel, 2012, Short Drama, 40 min.
Hebrew (subtitles)
Director: Eytan Fox
Israel, 2012, Drama, 84 min.
Hebrew (subtitles)
This drama is the moving and
provocative tale of two young
men -- one Israeli, the other
Palestinian. Joseph, an 18-year
preparing to join the Israeli
army for his mandatory military
service, lives at home in Tel Aviv
with his parents. A blood test for
Joseph’s military service reveals
that he’s not their biological son.
During the Gulf War, Joseph was
evacuated from a clinic along
with another baby, and the pair
were accidentally switched at
birth. While Palestinian Joseph
went to Tel Aviv with the Silbers,
their actual Jewish son, Yacine,
was brought to the West Bank by
an Arab couple, Said and Leila.
The revelation turns the lives of
the two families upside-down,
forcing them to reassess their
respective identities, values, and
beliefs. Sponsored by the Austin
Film Society and supported by
Alliance Française d’ Austin and
Congregations Kol Halev and
Shir Ami.
7:00 PMREGThurs., April 18
“A tense cross cultural drama
contrasting the experience of
two young Israelis - a modern
Jewish woman and her
Palestinian counterpart.”
Two women who believe
they have nothing in common
discover a shared need to combat
cultural claustrophobia. Zohara
is estranged from her ultraOrthodox Jewish family and is
living alone in the south of Israel
as a modern single woman. On a
drive for a rare visit to her family,
she is approached by a Bedouin
woman urgently seeking a ride.
The Bedouin, Nariman, has
her own family issues—she’s
escaping from a forced marriage
to a despised cousin. As they
speed north on parched roads,
they project the image of a
Middle Eastern “Thelma and
Louise.”
7:00 PMREGTue., April 16
NoonREG
Contains Mature Language
Contains Mature Themes
Contains Nudity
Contains Violence
Family Friendly
Special Program following the film
Quotes are from the Selection Committee.
Wed., April 17
SHORTS
JERUSALEM ER
Ohad
Knoller
is
extraordinary as Yossi, a
closeted gay man living a
solitary existence in Tel Aviv.
A well-known cardiologist,
Yossi often uses his work to
escape from dealing with his
anguished life. He lives alone,
unable to break through
the walls and defenses built
around him since the death of
his lover. When he is ordered
to take a vacation, Yossi drives
to Eilat, meeting a group of
young Israel Defense Forces
officers, among them Tom, a
handsome and self-confident
openly gay man. Tom
represents a new and kinder
world than the one Yossi has
begun to break away from.
Supported by Polari.
Director: Hilla Medalia - Israel, 2012, Narrative, 18 min.,
Arabic, Hebrew, English
Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital is located in the ethnically charged buffer zone between
surrounding Israeli and Palestinian communities. Our story is seen through the eyes of Dr.
Stalnikowicz and Dr. Salameh—two doctors, one Jewish and one Palestinian, who work in the
emergency unit—as well as through the perspectives of their patients whose stories reflect the
world outside the hospital doors.
4:00 PMREGTue., April 16
NoonREG Wed., April 17
JEWPHORIA
Director: Randy Kagan - USA/Israel, 2012, Documentary, 19 min., English
In this short comedy documentary we follow comedian Randy Kagan’s unexpected trip to
Israel. Offering a personal account of his travel adventures, Randy finds not only laughs, but also
adventure. He manages to both confirm and break traditional Jewish stereotypes, expanding his
knowledge of Jewish culture and human nature along the way.
NoonREG Mon., April 15
9:30 PMREG Wed., April 17
SEVEN MINUTES IN THE WARSAW GHETTO
Director: John Oettinger - Denmark, 2012, Animated Short, 7 min., Silent
Danish artist John Oettinger employs puppets filmed in black and white to recreate a brief
incident that took place in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. Samek, an eight year old boy who is
naughty and full of life, peeks through a hole in the ghetto wall and sees a carrot lying on the other
side. He tries to pull the carrot through the hole with a piece of wire, unaware that two SS men are
following his every move. Oettinger utilizes line drawings and haunting music and sound effects
to create this fast-paced and memorable short.
9:30 PMREG Mon., April 15
NoonREGThurs., April 18
SORRY RABBI
Director: Mark Slutski - USA, 2011, Short, 6 min., English
A secular Montreal Jew runs afoul of his Hasidic neighbors. Surrounded by angry Hassids, Josh
is astonished to find himself accused of anti-Semitic violence. He’s Jewish himself, if non-practicing
— what would his mother think? With a bleeding Hassid, an exasperated Rabbi, and Josh’s newly
broken heart jostling for space in the crowded Rabbi’s office, now who’s telling the truth?
NoonREG
Mon., April 15
7:00 PMREG Wed., April 17
4:00 PMREGThurs., April 18
THE PARTY
Director: Segev Gershon Green - Israel, 2012, Short, 5 min., Hebrew
9:30 PMREG Sun., April 14
“Featuring some great
Israeli actors, this
drama explores
how a gay doctor
struggles with learning
to love himself.”
A visual allegory about how society treats people differently based on appearances, the film
makes an effective point, particularly about how HIV carriers can be either shunned or included
in society. The Party presents an unidentified universal society ruled by a goddess/hostess and
attended by a variety of colorful party-goers. Tension mounts as someone different enters the
party: will he be included in the party?
9:30 PMREG Sun., April 14
9:30 PM REGTue., April 16
9:30 PM REGThurs., April 18
THROUGH THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE:
THE ART OF ESTER NISENTHAL KRINITZ
Director: Nina Shapiro-Perl - USA, 2011, Documentary, 30 min., English
At 15, Esther Nisenthal Krinitz defied Nazi orders and hid in the woods as the Jews of her Polish
village reported for deportation. She survived the war by posing as a Polish farm girl, never to see
her family again. At 50, she turned to needle and thread to show her own children the family and life
she had lost during the war, ultimately creating a stunningly beautiful series of 36 fabric collage and
embroidery panels. Through Esther’s own words and images of her art work, as well as interviews
with others, this film explores the capacity of the human heart to heal. Q&A following the film with
Bernice Steinhardt, daughter of Esther Krinitz and founder and president of Art and Remembrance.
Sponsored by the Austin Jewish Academy and the Austin Polish Society-2013 AUstin Polish Film
Festival. Supported by the Austin Area Quilt Guild.
4:00 PMREG Wed., April 17
C8
| April 2013 | 2013 AJFF Guide
Yom HaZikaron:
Commemoration for Israel’s Fallen
Presented by JCC Austin in collaboration with the
Austin Jewish Film Festival
Sunday April 14, 2:45 PM
Regal Arbor Cinema, 9828 Great Hills Trail
Free and open to the community
Join us for a ceremony featuring prayers, music, readings and
remarks by Alon Pdut, followed by a screening of “Rainbow.”
For more information, contact Aliza Orent at (512)735-8030
or aliza.orent@shalomaustin.org.
In May 2004, an Israel Defense Forces armored personnel carrier
was destroyed in the Gaza Strip, killing all on board. Shortly after,
rescue soldiers were called to the scene to look for physical remains.
Michael, the squad commander, his soldiers, and a military
photographer occupy the Palestinian household overlooking
the location of the destroyed carrier while they sift through the
sand for body parts. As the story unfolds, the soldiers develop an
uneasy rapport with the Palestinian residents, ultimately leading
to tragedy. Based on a true incident, this heartrending film raises
painful questions about the realities of war and survival.
2013 Austin Jewish Film Festival Sponsors
Patrons of the Austin Jewish Film Festival whose financial backing assists in underwriting the cost of the festival.
Producers $5000
Movie Lovers $250
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Austin Jewish Academy
Austin Polish Society
Barbara Barron
Judy and Rick Berkowitz
Pam and David Frager
Sandra and Isaac Freed
Mark Goldberg
Neena Husid and Hillary Miller
Mae and Mark Levitan
Gail and Neil Miller
Uri and Haia Mintz
Diane and Charles Radin
Sandy and Marshall Sack
Joanne and Jeff Senyk
Beverly and Dan Yahiel
Movie Goers $125
Schusterman
Center for Jewish
Studies
Casting Directors $1800
Susan & Robert
Epstein
Diana & Ron
Screenwriters $1000
Michael B. Kentor
& Patricia Vojack
Valerie & Jeff
Newberg
Debbie & Richard
Rudy
Cindy & David
PintO
Suzanne & Marc
Winkelman
Film Fans $500
Carole & Kerry
Price
Sylvia & Philip
Spertus
Cynthia & Joe
Winer
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AustinNuts
Texas Hillel
Dawn Aubrey
Mike Baum and Sigrid Levi-Baum
Deborah & Robert Ben-Nun
Sara Blatt & David Lewis
Judy Cassorla
Pixie and Mark Cohn
Janet and Doran Elam
Laura and Michael Eisenberg
Bettie and Brian Forman
The Frachtman Family
BJ and Stan Friedman
Atida and Efim Gendler
Kim and Tony Kahn
Ellen and Sherman Kusin
Carey Leva and Elizabeth Danon-Leva
Debra and Milton Marvin
Arlene and Lawrence Maze
Terry and Steven Milman
Mary Jane and Stanley Saikin
Angelica and Mark Simon
Jeanette Solway
Elliot Trester and Barbara Wilson
Maureen and Kirby Walker
Amy and Jerry Webberman
Dana Winer and Nathaniel Winkler
Monica and Zvi Yaniv
Elinora and Uzi Yoeli