A quarter-century of international films
This is the 25th anniversary of the movie fest that has grown into the International Film Festival of Eastern Connecticut, and we do mean grown. Over the years, it has expanded the number of films it screens and the locations it shows them at, and it has increased the scope and quality of its lineup, too.
The festival’s 2019 gala opening happens Sunday at the Garde Arts Center, and it begins with a 2 p.m. concert of “A Besere Velt (Sing Out, Fight Back!),” inspired by the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and performed by Boston’s Workmen’s Circle Yiddish Community Chorus with guest conductor Osnat Netzer.
After that, two films be will on tap. The first is an Oscar-nominated documentary short, “A Night at the Garden,” about a shameful and little known incident in 1939 in the U.S.; about 20,000 Americans rallied in Madison Square Garden to celebrate the rise of Nazism.
Following that will be the feature film “Who Will Write Our History,” about Emanuel Ringelblum and the archive he created in the Warsaw Ghetto that showed how the Jews lived and died there.
The night wraps up with a public reception.
The festival, which runs through June 3, is presented by the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut in association with the Garde Arts Center, Mystic Luxury Cinemas, Connecticut College Hillel, The B.P. Learned Center and Granite Theatre.
Events include two free screenings of “Schindler’s List,” which is marking its 25th anniversary as well, Tuesday at the Garde Arts Center in New London; “Disobedience” starring Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz May 29 at Connecticut College in New London; and “Gentleman’s Agreement,” the 1947 film starring Gregory Peck, June 3 at Granite Theatre in Westerly. Schedule
Sunday: Concert, “Who Will Write Our History,” 2 p.m., Garde Arts Center, New London; $20
May 21: “Schindler’s List,” 9:30 a.m. (for high school students and is also open the public) and 6:30 p.m., Garde Arts Center, New London; free
May 22: “The Last Supper,” 7 p.m., Olin Science Center, Connecticut College; $10
May 23: “Shoelaces,” 7 p.m., Mystic Luxury Cinemas; $10
May 29: “Disobedience,” 7 p.m., Olin Science Center, Connecticut College: $10
June 2: “The Law,” 2 p.m., Garde Arts Center; $10
June 3: “Gentleman’s Agreement,” 7 p.m., Granite Theatre, Westerly; $10
For more information, visit jfec.com.