Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Fest marks 23 years
The Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival is back for its 23rd year, with a theme of inclusivity.
The event, which runs from Feb. 1024, includes movies featuring characters or themes dealing with people often excluded or marginalized. There are films with LGBTQ characters, characters with mental illness and characters with special needs.
“We are proud to be a Jewish cultural event that not only includes, but genuinely welcomes, everyone who loves independent film and wants to experience cinematic originality and excellence regardless of religion, race, culture or affiliation,” said Jerry Mittelman, the festival’s co-executive director. “Our all-volunteer board is especially pleased once again to present the only annual major Jewish cultural event in the Valley. It is important to emphasize that these independent
films appeal to lovers of artistic cinema with our slate offering a global perspective on so many themes and subject matters affecting people of all faiths and cultures.”
Mittelman offered a list of his suggestions for the five films not to miss.
“Golda’s Balcony” — Tovah Feldshuh plays former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, as well as several other characters (including Henry Kissinger!), in a filmed version of the Broadway stage hit. “Broadway Musicals: A Jewish
Legacy” — Michael Kantor’s 2013 documentary looks at the role of Jewish composers and lyricists, who play an outsize role in the creation of 20th century musicals. The film spotlights the work of George and Ira Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and more. “The Cakemaker” — The Arizona Republic’s Samantha Incorvaia liked Ofir Raul Grazier’s film, in which a German pastry maker (Tim Kalkhof ) travels to Jerusalem to find his dead lover’s wife
and son, writing that, “Emotions like passion, grief and tenderness are laced between food porn.”
“Who Will Write Our History” — Critical raves greeted Roberta Grossman’s powerful documentary about Emanuel Ringelblum and the Oyneg Shabes Archive, which, in more than 30,000 pages, documents the Holocaust. “A Night at the Garden,” which received an Academy Award nomination for best documentary short feature, will be shown before all screenings of “Who Will Write Our History.”
“The Last Suit” – Miguel Angel Sola stars as an 88-year-old tailor who runs away from Buenos Airesto Poland, looking for the friend who saved his life at the end of World War II. One snag: They haven’t been in touch for 70 years. Pablo Soalrz wrote and directs the film.