2016-2017 Film Festival Lineup
Upcoming Films
God’s Slave
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
7:00 pm
VIP Cocktail Lounge @ Congregation B’nai Israel
Running Time: 91 minutes
Hosted by Rabbi Marci Bloch
Based on the actual events of a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires, God’s Slave follows Ahmed, trained since childhood as an Islamic terrorist now assigned to execute a suicide bombing at a synagogue, and David, the cold-blooded Israeli special agent who will stop at nothing to prevent the attack. But neither man is defined solely by their extremist views. Ahmed, posing as a doctor, lives happily with his wife and young son; though David’s marriage is on the rocks, he remains devoted to his wife and daughter. With time running out before the attack, David zeros in on Ahmed as a suspect, his investigation culminating in violent, if unexpected, consequences.
Past Films
The Village of Peace
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
7:00 pm
VIP Cocktail Lounge @ Congregation B’nai Israel
Running Time: 63 minutes
Hosted by Robin Siegal
The Village of Peace reveals the untold story of the African Hebrew Israelites, an incredible group originally from Chicago, now thriving in the Israeli desert. The stories and perspectives of four Village members are woven together to illustrate a place unlike any other; a community enlightened by ancient scripture and determined to prioritize ‘life’ in its purest form. The polygamous and vegan practices of the African Hebrew Israelites are just a few unique elements embedded in their foundation, principles, and daily lifestyle. Ultimately we are shown a place remarkable in its beauty and purity, though uncertain in its future.
A Life Apart
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
7:00 pm
VIP Cocktail Loungue
Running Time: 96 minutes
Hosted by Barrie Brett
A Life Apart: Hasidism in America, is the first in-depth documentary about a distinctive, traditional Eastern European religious community. In a historic migration after World War II, Hasidism found its most vital center in America. Both challenging and embracing American values, Hasidim seek those things which many Americans find most precious: family, community, and a close relationship to God. Integrating critical and analytical scholarship with a portrait of the daily life, beliefs, and history of contemporary Hasidic Jews in New York City, the film focuses on the conflicts, burdens, and rewards of the Hasidic way of life.
The Farewell Party
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
7:00 pm
VIP Cocktail Lounge @ Congregation B’nai Israel
Running Time: 95 minutes
Hosted by Rabbi Marci Bloch
The Farewell Party is a compassionate dark comedy about friendship and knowing when to say goodbye. A group of friends at a Jerusalem retirement home build a machine for self-euthanasia in order to help their terminally ill friend. When rumors of the machine begin to spread, more and more people ask for their help, and the friends are faced with an emotional dilemma.
Eyes Wide Open
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
7:00 pm
VIP Cocktail Lounge @ Congregation B’nai Israel
Running Time: 91 minutes
In Eyes Wide Open, Aaron, a respected butcher and a family man in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem, leads a conservative life of community devotion and spiritual dedication. Aaron’s life undergoes a series of emotional changes following the arrival of a young apprentice to his shop. Consumed with lust, the handsome “Yeshiva” student irreversibly transforms the intricate beliefs in the once-devoted butcher’s life – leading Aaron to question his relationships with his wife Rivka, children, community, and God.
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah
Presented by CBI Talks & The US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
7:00 pm
Followed by a Dessert Reception
Cohen/Friedkin Sanctuary @ Congregation B’nai Israel
Film Running Time: Approx 40 minutes
Introductory Remarks by Rabbi Robert Silvers
Additional Speakers: Adam Benizine, Filmmaker & Lindsay Zarwell, Archivist, Film, Video, and Recorded Sound, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The event is free, but registration is required
Featuring the 2015 film Spectres of the Shoah, the program will highlight Claude Lanzmann’s personal struggle of creating arguably the most important primary source-based documentary on the Holocaust of all time. The original film Shoah is over 9.5 hours long. This film runs approximately 40 minutes, and provides a glimpse into what it was like for the director to create this masterpiece about the darkest days in human history. There will be a panel discussion for context including Lindsay Zarwell, Museum Archivist for Film, Video, and Recorded Sound; Adam Benzine, Filmmaker; and a Shoah historian.
Claude Lanzmann is arguably the most important filmmaker to cover the topic of the Holocaust. He is haunted by this subject matter and now well into his 90’s he continues to wrestle with his demons on this topic. In HBO’s new film, Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah, we get a glimpse into the man behind the camera and what drives him to repeatedly tackle this subject with endless honesty and intensity. The Museum has made a significant commitment to preserve the Claude Lanzmann Shoah Collection, which is featured prominently in Mr. Benzine’s documentary. The more accessible the Shoah collection becomes, the greater its impact for scholars, documentary producers, and the wider public. The scope, variety, and detail provided in the accounts of these witnesses continue to inform the work of many who study the Holocaust and seek to explore new aspects of this history.