EJFF synopsis: A hybrid Edmonton Jewish Film Festival is screening in Edmonton and beyond

(AJNews) – We’ve reached the halfway mark for the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival running from May 10 to 18, lighting up computer screens and televisions in Edmonton and beyond, showcasing Jewish culture, history and ideas through film. Complementing some of the films are Zoom Q&A sessions with filmmakers. Tonight – May 15 – is the second of two film events being shown in-person at the Stanley Milner Library in downtown Edmonton, so for those who want to get the full in-person film festival experience, register now to attend “Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen” – it is a definite crowd pleaser!! If you can’t attend in-person, “Fiddler’s Journey” is still available to watch virtually – from the comfort of your own home.

All of the festival films are available online from noon until 10 pm on the scheduled date. All films and events are free. Register at jewishedmonton.org.

Sunday, May 15

Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen (2022)

Stanley A. Milner Library Theatre at 7 pm (and online)

Director Daniel Raim, 88 minutes

Documentary, English, USA

Narrated by Jeff Goldblum, Fiddler’s Journey captures the humour and drama of director Norman Jewison’s quest to recreate the lost world of Jewish life in Tsarist Russia and re-envision the beloved stage hit as a wide-screen epic. The film draws on rare behind-the-scenes footage, as well as original interviews with the cast, composers and creators.

Space Torah (2020)

Documentary Short, English, USA

Directed by Rob Cooper, 25 min.

In 1996 NASA’s first Jewish American male astronaut Dr. Jeff Hoffman brought the first Torah into space. This short documentary combines space travel, Jewish world values and Yiddishkeit in a visual stunner.

 

Monday, May 16

Q&A with Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen director Daniel Raim

12 noon on Zoom

Moderated by Neil Grahn, director, writer and EJFF committee member.

Persian Lesson’s (2020)

War drama; Online until 10 pm.

Director: Vadim Perelman, 127 min.

German, French; Germany.

A young Jewish man pretends to be Iranian to avoid being executed in a concentration camp in wartime France. The lie saves him, but then he is given the task of teaching Persian, a language that he does not know, to an SS Officer. Can he use his wits to stay alive?

 Tuesday, May 17

 Q&A with Persian Lessons director Vadim Perelman

12 noon on Zoom

Moderated by EJFF Chair Sam Koplowicz.

 What If? Ehud Barak on War and Peace (2020)

Online until 10 pm; 85 minutes

Documentary; Israel; Hebrew. Director: Ran Tal

In this documentary, 78-year-old former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak observes with disillusioned clarity his own history and the history of Israel. Twenty years after the failure of the 2000 Camp David summit, Barak critically analyzes the Israeli reality.

 

Holy Holocaust (2021)

Online until 10 pm; 17 minutes

Directors: Osi Wald, Noa Berman-Herzberg

Israel, English; Animated Short Documentary

A dark family secret from the past is revealed unexpectedly and opens an abyss between two close friends when one discovers that she is the black granddaughter of a Notorious Nazi commander.

Wednesday, May 18

 Tiger Within (2020)

Online until 10 pm; 98 minutes

Director: Rafal Zielinski. USA; English

A story featuring an unlikely friendship between a homeless teen and a Holocaust survivor, sparking larger questions of fear, forgiveness, healing and world peace, starring multiple Emmy Award-winning actor, Ed Asner.

 The Schnoz (2020)

Online until 10 pm; Comedy

Short film; English, United Kingdom

Director: Justine Priestly

When Lydia’s grandma bestows a birthday gift upon her, she knows it’s going to be something she’ll treasure her whole life  – it’s a cheque for a nose job.

 Q&A with Tiger Within screenwriter Gina Wendkos and actress Margot Josefsohn

8:30 pm on Zoom

Moderated by Becca Cogan-Grahn and Neil Grahn, members of EJFF committee.

 

Click here for more information about the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival or to register for in-person tickets to the May 15 event  or for virtual tickets to the rest of the 2022 EJFF. 

 

 

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