Jewish Film Festival showcases diverse lineup

A total of 35 films from around the world will be screened during the 29th annual Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival which takes place from Jan. 20-Feb. 12.

The films will be screened at four different cinemas in Palm Beach County — AMC CityPlace 20 in West Palm Beach, Cinemark 14 in Boynton Beach, Cinepolis in Jupiter and Cobb Theatres in Palm Beach Gardens — throughout the film festival, which is presented by the Mandel Jewish Community Center of the Palm Beaches. Festival director Ellen Wedner noted that the international films chosen to be part of the festival represent a variety of different genres showcasing history, culture and traditions.

“They are extraordinarily diverse and very engaging. You don’t have to be Jewish to be thoroughly entertained and enthralled, you just have to appreciate and enjoy good films.”

Wedner also noted, “Our hope as always is that people have a unique experience and learn something new about the Jewish culture, tradition or history, and naturally we want them to enjoy good international films that they might not have the opportunity to see otherwise.”

The festival opens with the U.S. Southeast premiere of “Papa,” which is about an adopted son searching for his biological parents and features an all-star cast that includes David Proval, AnnMargret, Frankie Avalon, Mischa Barton, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Vincent Pastore, Eric Roberts and Paul Sorvino. Proval has been invited to attend the screening, along with film director and writer Dan Israely. Provol hopes the audience can take away a true sense of what family is about from viewing the film.

“We’re moving so fast as a society, and I think the family unit right now is struggling to stay alive and becoming fragmented as people are living all over the country and all over the world right now, so I think people can enjoy this celebration of family, which is what this movie is about.”

The film festival will close with the Southeast U.S. premiere of “Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz” and awards presentation. The film is a documentary on Ferencz, the last surviving Nuremberg Trials prosecutor, whose fight for justice for victims of atrocity crimes continues today.

Barry Avrich, the film’s director, said, “My goal for the film is to reach as many people as possible with Ben Ferencz’ messages of law over war, and tolerance in the world.”

Another film screening in this festival is the world premiere of “Golda’s Balcony, The Film,” which will include a special appearance by the movie’s star, the award-winning stage-screen-TV actress Tovah Feldshuh. The film presents a rare, multi-camera shoot of the original run of the play, “Golda’s Balcony,” which follows the trajectory of the life of Golda Meir, who served as the fourth prime minister of Israel. The play, written by William Gibson, mostly focuses on the period surrounding the 1973 Yom Kippur Was when Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria.

Another screening is the Florida premiere of “Henri Dauman: Looking Up,” a documentary about Dauman, an orphaned Holocaust survivor who created a new life for himself in New York City and became one of the preeminent photographers of the 20th century whose images included the Kennedys and Buddhist monks in Vietnam.

“It’s really a story of survival and of a phoenix coming out of the ashes of war and succeeding in rebuilding a family and a career,” Dauman said regarding his life story.

Visit palmbeachjewishfilm.org or call 877-318-0071 to purchase tickets or for more information, including the full lineup of films and schedule for the festival. According to the festival, advance purchase helps guarantee a seat. Call 561-712-5235 to join the Film Society.