2016 San Diego Jewish Film Festival Launches Today

The San Diego Jewish Film Festival presented by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, will run today, February 4, through February 14, 2016.

This year the festival will showcase a total of 60 films of the best contemporary Jewish themed films from around the world celebrating life, human rights, and freedom of expression. The mission of the Film Festival is to offer outstanding world cinema that promotes awareness, appreciation and pride in the diversity of the Jewish people to attendees of the community at large. Festival programs aim to educate and illuminate through evocative, independent fiction and documentary films that portray the Jewish experience from current to historic global perspectives.

On February 8th, 22 short films beginning at 10:00am to 7:30pm at the ArcLight Theatres (UTC) La Jolla, CA will be devoted to short films (THE JOYCE FORUM), which is a juried competitive program of short films with awards being presented Tuesday, February 9th at the ArcLight Theatres in La Jolla, CA by a film industry group of international jury members chaired by Susie Botello. Tuesday's program will begin at 9am with breakfast followed by the announcement of this year's winning films in five different categories: Best Short Drama; Best Short Documentary; Special Jury Award; Best Director; and Best Short Film.

This collection of short films is exclusively designed to present four different programs made up of 22 of the best in short films with Jewish storylines. Over a period of several months, a group of fifteen individuals watched and selected films from over fifteen different countries. The curators then skillfully divided the films into four categories: 1) ALL THESE VOICES defined as A creative collection of different voices with different points of view. As Maya Angelou said "...We are more alike than unalike." 2) OUT OF THE BOX defined as innovative, creative, new ways to think and consider. These shorts will show you how some people think "Out of the Box." 3) DISCLOSURES defined as sometimes when you have full "Disclosures", one might realize that it is worth evaluating another way of thinking. Finally, 4) CURATOR RAVES - This last program consists of this year's favorites of the curating team. There will be special appearances of international filmmakers at the screening for a talkback after the films.

In addition to the carefully selected short-subject, documentary, and feature length films, the Film Festival features an international roster of visiting guest artists, including actors, filmmakers, and scholars, who introduce their work, participate in panel discussions, and meet and greet with the festival patrons.

Highlights for this year's event will include a private advance screening on February 3, 2016 at 7:00pm for the film festival underwriters to DEALING WITH THE DEVIL, directed by Stephane Bentura. The private event will include the red carpet arrivals, reception and guest speakers in addition to the film. The film examines the bizarre case of Hildebrand Gurlitt, a Dresden art dealer of Jewish descent who was tasked by Joseph Goebbels with the job of seizing and selling off modern "degenerate" art and acquiring in its place the classical paintings favored by Hitler and his inner circle. DEALING WITH THE DEVIL questions the complicity, even today, of major French auction houses in the marketing of paintings that were either sold under duress or stolen outright from Jewish families and art dealers. In 2012, they discovered 1,400 of these paintings in Gurlitt's son's possession.

This year's official public opening night on February 4th at the Clairemont Reading 14 / Joy F. Knapp Presentation will feature a San Diego Premiere of THE PRICE OF SUGAR, directed by Jean van de Veide. A story about two half-sisters and their life in eighteenth century Suriname. There is Lynda, a white colonial and slave owner, and her slave Mini-Mini. While Lynda is slowly embittered by the hard life in the colony, Mini-Mini gets a chance at her own happiness. The question is, if she dares to seize that chance, as this happiness is at the expense of her mistress and half sister?

The official closing night film will be SABENA HIJACKING - MY VERSION based on a true story and a nominated film of the Israeli Academy Awards, directed by Rani Saar. SABENA HIJACKING: MY VERSION is a powerful, suspenseful docu-drama based on previously undiscovered audio recordings of the former pilot Captain Reginald Levy. Captain Levy (now deceased) was in command of Sabena Flight 571 from Brussels, Belgium, to Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 8, 1972, when it was hijacked by four members of "Black September" - the armed wing of Fatah, or the Palestine Liberation Organization. The film finally shares the untold story of what exactly took place on the flight throughout 30 hours of nerve-wracking captivity.

In addition to the official opening, the festival on February 9th at 8pm will feature a FlixMix Young Adult screening of the comedy DOUGH directed by John Goldschmidt, starring British actor Jonathan Pryce. Curmudgeonly widower Nat Dayan (Jonathan Pryce) obstinately clings to his way of life and his livelihood as a kosher bakery shop owner in London's East End. With a dwindling clientele and the pressures of encroaching big-box stores, Nat reluctantly enlists the help of teenager Ayyash, facing his own problems, gets involved with illegal activities to support his family. When Ayyash accidentally drops his stash of marijuana into the mixing dough, the challah starts flying off the shelves and an unlikely friendship forms between the old Jewish baker and his young Muslim apprentice. DOUGH is a warmhearted and gently humorous story about overcoming prejudice and finding redemption in unexpected places.

Another highlight on February 6th is the film MOUNTAIN, directed by Yaelle Kayam, about a religious Jewish woman living with her family in the Jewish cemetery on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives. Daily she sends her husband to work and the children to school. One night she is surprised at what is happening in the cemetery and becomes ensconced in a nocturnal community of prostitutes and drug dealers that congregates in the ancient cemetery. Stirred by this image, she starts exploring this new realm of the mountain, while trying to keep a normal life during her daytime routine...until she can't anymore.

On February 13, 2016 at the David and Dorothea Garfield Theater (LFJCC), JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, the San Diego premiere of WEDDING DOLL directed by Nitzan Gilady. Fixated on romantic fantasies, a kindly and strong-willed young woman with a mild mental disability embarks on a relationship - much to the concern of her protective mother.

On February 7th, the festival will feature the West Coast premiere of A LIFE FOR FOOTBALL directed by Hans Steinbichler. The film dramatizes the story of Munich-based soccer team FC Bayern and its club president, Kurt Landauer, a Jew who returned to Munich after the war to reinstate the club and the game in the city. Upon his return, the city is in shambles, and the ragtag team he assembles can only play with an especially sought-after license, which he tenaciously navigates to obtain through the local mayor. The film, based on a true story, is a wonderful recounting of Landauer's passion for the game, his contribution to a slice of European soccer history, and the efforts of one man to rebuild the spirit of a team, city, and country in post-WWII Europe.

Another sports entry in this year's Festival is VICTOR YOUNG PEREZ, which tells the astonishing, harrowing, and incredible true story of a Tunisian Jewish boxer who became the World Flyweight Champion in 1931 and 1932. His romance with the French-Italian actress Mireille Balin increased his fame. But because of his Jewish heritage, Perez was arrested in Paris on September 21, 1943, and transported to Auschwitz. While there he was forced to participate in boxing matches for the amusement of the Nazis. By 1945.Victor had survived 140 bouts in 15 months and won 139. Perez was one of the prisoners on the Death March that left the camp on January 18, 1945. This film is directed by Jacques Quaniche.

On February 9, 2016 at the Clairemont Reading 14 / Joy F. Knapp Presentations presents the San Diego premiere of THE SINGING ABORTIONIST directed by Dara Bratt. Holocaust survivor. Womanizer. Pro-choice crusader. Dr. Henry Morgentaler, who passed away in 2013, is often referred to as the most loved and hated man in Canada. But little is known about the contradictions behind the activist. The film is the deconstruction of the man behind the cause. Steadfast to the BELIEF that "to help people is not a crime," he is also a rebel at heart. But why would a man who had barely escaped Nazi Germany put himself back in a position to be imprisoned? This documentary explores how surviving Nazi Germany played a profound impact in sculpting Dr. Morgentaler's activism in the pro-choice movement. Dr. Morgentaler witnessed the murder of his family, which led him to a strong belief: "Just because something is law, does not mean it's just." The objective of the film is not to make you like him, or even dislike him; but by the end of the film you will know and understand him.

Another highlight on February 14th is the film DYING TO KNOW: RAM DASS & TIMOTHY LEARY. Narrated by Robert Redford, DYING TO KNOW incorporates THE LIFE stories of Ram Dass (born Richard Alpert) and Timothy Leary, two iconic figures whose research into psychedelics changed a generation. Virtually every baby boomer knows their names. Now, nearly 50 years later, we are able to see rare footage of their interviews, hear their voices, and learn the fascinating elements of the controversial experiments that these two former Harvard professors conducted. We learn intriguing details of their collaboration and of the divergent paths they eventually took.

A total collection of 60 films in this year's film line-up will be screened at the following theaters:

- Clairemont Reading 14 / Joy F. Knapp Presentations, 4665 Clairemont Drive, San Diego

- The ArcLight Cinemas, 4425 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego (west side of Westfield UTC mall)

- The Carlsbad Village Theatre, 2822 State Street, Carlsbad

- Edwards San Marcos Stadium 18, 1180 West San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos (next to Restaurant Row)

- David and Dorothea Garfield Theater (LFJCC), JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla

Single ticket prices for most films are $13.75- $15.75, ($13.75 for JCC members and $15.75 for non-members). Festival passes, senior and student discounts, and group rate discounts are available. For tickets or information call 858-362-1348 or visit www.sdjff.org.

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