It’s that time of year again. Every November, the Boston Jewish Film Festival presents a unique blend of films to highlight Jewish heritage and the Jewish community, and this year is no exception. Below you’ll find the press release for the festival.
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NEWTON, Massachusetts – September 30, 2009 – Opening November 4 and continuing through November 15, the 21st annual Boston Jewish Film Festival presents a wide range of films exploring themes of “home.” These films survey families, faith, doctrinal sects, nationalities, immigration, and exile as facets of our powerful stories of “home.”
“Home is a word that acts like a Rorschach test,” said Sara L. Rubin, artistic director. “Some of our images are intensely unique and personal, some are joyous or poignant, some are archetypal remembrances – dreams of the ‘home’ for which we long. For the Jewish community especially, the term brings to mind Israel, immigration and diaspora. Our filmmakers probe these aspects and more, and our special events will engage viewers to share and scrutinize their own constructs of home.”
The Boston Jewish Film Festival presents the year’s most innovative films on Jewish themes. Films are accentuated by panel discussions; visits by directors, actors, and subjects; and musical events. The Festival program explores what it means to be Jewish – in the U.S., Israel, and around the world. Highlights for 2009, in addition to the theme of home, include films from Latin America and comedies.
The Festival is New England’s largest Jewish cultural event, with last year’s attendance at over 12,000 people. “The Fall Festival is a homecoming event for Jewish people throughout New England each Fall,” added Rubin. “We challenge, celebrate, and engage each other in a reunion that has become an annual highlight. It’s true that home is where the heart is – and the Festival is at the heart of Boston’s Jewish and film communities.”
This critically acclaimed Festival screens 40 independently produced films in 9 locations, and reflects the work of film artists from 15 countries, spoken in 14 languages. Highlights include one world premiere, five North American premieres, eight East Coast premieres, and 19 New England premieres. The Festival presents more than 2 dozen film artists, noted speakers, panelists, and musicians from around the world.
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Check out the trailer for the festival here:
