FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE - bethtzedec.ca · Samuel Ullman’s Poem & Passion USA 2006 Judith...

B E T H T Z E D E C C O N G R E G A T I O N

P r o u d t o b e a S p o n s o r o f t h e

S E V E N T H A N N U A LB E T H T Z E D E C C O N G R E G A T I O N

J E W I S H F I L M F E S T I V A L

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B e n j a m i n L . G u r e v i t c h ( R e t i r e d )

L o u i s F a b e r

D a v i d M . B i c k m a n

L a w r e n c e D . L e o n

T h e a L y n n P a u l

A a r o n B i c k m a n

C . J . S h a w , Q . C . , L L . M .

B . A d a m . E . B r e n e r

Faber Bickman LeonBarristers, Solicitors & Notaries

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SHALOMWELCOME TO THE

BETH TZEDEC CONGREGATION7TH ANNUAL JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

Japan, Alabama, Gibraltar, Ecuador, London, Amsterdam, Alexandria, Berlin, Vilna, Tiberias, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv – these are among the many places that this year’s exciting selection of award-winning and internationally-acclaimed films will take us, as we explore our Jewish world, in all its richness and diversity.

We’ll be welcoming members of Calgary’s Jamaican community to share a special evening together, and are delighted to have Calgary Jewish Community Council join us as co-sponsors of this event, which will include a live performance by local Reggae band Strugglah.

There’ll be plenty of other music as well, both as the subject of some of our films, and in live performances - from our Opening Night guest, legendary Israeli folksinger Shuly Nathan, to Zeev Berger and the Shmoozers, who will be on hand for a Klezmer performance during Dinner on November 25th, as well as prior to our evening screenings on November 10th and November 24th. And between films, be sure to check out the colorful paintings of Israeli-Canadian artist Zohar Wallach, whose work will be on exhibit.

We are honored to have, among this year’s special guests, David Rubinger, renowned photojournalist, Israel Prize laureate and subject of our Closing Night film Eyewitness. Following the screening, David will be on hand to personally autograph copies of his just-published autobiographical book Israel Through My Lens. We’re very pleased to have the Calgary JCC’s Jewish Book Fair join us in presenting this book-signing event.

As always, we would like to express our deepest thanks to all of our sponsors, without whom this festival would not be possible. It is their generosity, community-mindedness and commitment to Jewish culture that enables us to offer this event to the community.

We hope you’ll enjoy and be enriched by our 2007 Jewish Film Festival.

Harvey Cyngiser

F I L M F E S T I V A L C O M M I T T E EHarvey Cyngiser

Shula BanchikRichard BronsteinMaxine FischbeinMelanie Ksienski

Yaffa Likver

Israela LupoHerb RosenbergLily Rosenberg

Karen RothAmelia Steinberg

B E T H T Z E D E C C O N G R E G A T I O NB E T H T Z E D E C C O N G R E G A T I O N

SPONSORSWE WISH TO THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS

FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORTOF THE 2007 FILM FESTIVAL

C O R P O R A T E S P O N S O R S

Avi & Rachel Amir

C O M M U N I T Y S P O N S O R S

M E D I A S P O N S O R

Faber Bickman LeonBarristers, Solicitors & Notaries


SPONSORS

F O U N D I N G S P O N S O R

Cyngiser Family Jewish Film Festival Fund(Sid & Bronia Cyngiser)

E X E C U T I V E P R O D U C E R S

Len & Faigel Shapiro

P R O D U C E R SMorris & Ann DancygerGordie & Eva Hoffman

Bill & Lea KohnLarry & Sandy Martin

Harvey & Rayna RabinLen & Hilda SmithSam & Ida Switzer

Bill & Candy WatsonJoe and Evelyn Busheikin Community Endowment Fund

(administered by Jewish Community Foundation of Calgary)

D I R E C T O R S

Hy & Jenny BelzbergZe’ev & Shoshana Berger

Harvey & Alexandra CyngiserRalph & Sheila Gurevitch

Zvi & Daphne JosephPhil & Harriet Libin

Metrowest DevelopmentsLorne & Beth PriceStan & Carey Smith

Sam & Talia SpangletHarvey & Wynne ThalLeo & Fanny Wedro

S C R E E N W R I T E R S

Jack & Malka BalabanJack & Becky Barlot

Yakov & Karen BeharAharon & Hanita DaganLori & Carol Feldman

Nate & Naida FeldmanMilt & Maxine Fischbein

Bill & Lily ListerMorley & Cheryl Shore

Joe & Sondra SpierAnonymous

‘ R E E L ’ F R I E N D S

Irvin & Sandy AdlerRichard Bronstein & Judy Shapiro

Bernie & Sandy CorenblumAllan Donsky & Michele Moss

Irwin & Wylma FreedmanCharles & Terry Groner

Jeff Kushner & Randall McGinnisPaula & Jonathan LexierJamie & Karen Phillips

Jerry SnukalRichard & Gail Steinberg

Ed & Cila Wolfman


SATURDAY,NOVEMBER 10, 2007OPENING NIGHT

SHULY NATHANLIVE IN CONCERT!

This year marks 40 years since the song “Jerusalem of Gold” was introduced for the first time. Performed by the then-unknown Shuly Nathan, the song immediately captured the hearts and imagination of a nation on the brink of war, and her heartfelt rendition of the song in that historic 1967 performance became etched in our collective memories.

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of both the song and the reunification of Jerusalem, we are proud to welcome legendary Israeli folksinger Shuly Nathan, in concert, to open our2007 festival!

Saturday, November 10th at 7:00 PM

This year marks 40 years since the song “Jerusalem of Gold” was introduced for the first time. Performed by the then-unknown Shuly Nathan, the song immediately captured the hearts and imagination of a nation on the brink of war, and her heartfelt rendition of the song in that historic 1967 performance became etched in our collective memories.

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of both the song and the reunification of Jerusalem, we are proud to welcome legendary Israeli folksinger Shuly Nathan, in concert, to open our2007 festival!




SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2007OPENING NIGHT

T H R E E M O T H E R SIsrael 2006Dina Zvi-Riklis, Writer/DirectorHebrew, French and Arabic with English subtitles106 minutes

Drama –Hailed by Ha’aretz as “. . . a work of art resounding with volume and power”, Three Mothers is a poignant and evocative family saga in which the Hakim sisters, Egyptian-born Israeli triplets, stick together through good times and bad, even forsaking their husbands and children when dangerous secrets and conflicting loyalties force them to make seemingly impossible choices. Blessed by King Farouk when they are born in 1942, Rose, Yasmin and Flora’s fortunes fluctuate over six dramatic decades. A torch singer, Rose’s songs form the multilingual soundtrack that echoes the sisters’ loves, longings and frustrations. But it is Yasmin’s deathbed confession to her barren niece, Rucha, that truly sets this compelling tale in motion. Written and directed by Dina Zvi-Riklis, whose mother was a triplet, Three Mothers – nominated for 8 and winner of 2 Israeli Academy Awards – features stunning cinematography and moving performances by a talented cast including first lady of the Israeli screen, Gila Almagor and singing sensation Miri Masika.

Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design - Israeli Academy Awards 2006Wolgin Award for Best Israeli Feature, 2006 Jerusalem International Film Festival

Saturday, November 10th following the Shuly Nathan Concert


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2007

T H E C H I L D R E N ’ S H O U S EIsrael 2005

Tamar Feingold, DirectorHebrew with English subtitles

52 minutes

Documentary –One of the great social experiments that Israel is known for is the kibbutz, a socialist society where children are raised communally – living, sleeping and growing up with their peers in the “children’s house”. In 2005 a group of Israeli artists, all former kibbutzniks, are invited by the Tel Avi Museum to participate in an art exhibition called “Communal Sleeping”. This fascinating and moving documentary follows the artists as they, each with their own unique artistic style and choice of media, create evocative and innovative works of art that portray their personal childhood experi-ences of communal sleeping. Along the way, the artists reflect on the nature of the parent-child bond, the concept of the family unit, and the lingering emotional impact that this childhood experience has had on them. Filmmaker Tamar Feingold intersperses their recollections with archival footage produced by the kibbutz movement in the 1950s, extol-ling the kibbutz way of life. These “promotional” film-clips stand in stark contrast to the feelings and often traumatic memories shared with us by the artists.

Sunday, November 11th at 1:00 PM

D E A R M R . W A L D M A NIsrael 2006Hanan Peled, Writer/DirectorHebrew with English subtitles86 minutes

Drama –Beautifully capturing the milieu of 1960s Tel Aviv, this gentle and touching film portrays a fragile family struggling to overcome a tortured past and start a new life together after the Holocaust. The story is told through the eyes of 10-year-old Hilik, who is certain that his role in life is to make his parents happy and compensate for the grief and loss they suffered in the Holocaust. His father, Moishe, is constantly coping with memories of his first wife and son, who perished in Auschwitz. Unable to accept his fate as a sole survivor, Moishe stumbles on a sign of hope that his lost son somehow survived the camps, escaped to America and became an advisor to John F. Kennedy. As his father begins to sink back into the past, young Hilik, torn between the fear that his father might abandon him and the desire to make his father happy, takes matters into his own hands. A coming-of-age story, Hanan Peled’s semi-autobiographical work knowingly captures the peculiarities of growing up amid the emotional wreckage of the Holocaust. Superbly written and acted, it explores the impact of profound loss on the intimacies of family and friendship and the restorative power of love and compassion.

Nominated for three Israeli Academy Awards


S P E C I A L G U E S THANAN PELEDWriter/Director of DEAR MR. WALDMANwill be in attendance for a post-screening discussion.



S O L O N G A R E Y O U Y O U N G :S a m u e l U l l m a n ’ sP o e m & P a s s i o nUSA 2006Judith Schaefer, DirectorEnglish

Documentary –“Youth is not a time of life, it is a state of mind”. This engaging documentary tells the curiously fascinating story of how a remarkable poem written in 1917 by 77-year-old Samuel Ullman, a Jewish immigrant and dry-goods merchant living in the American South, traveled across time and continents to become a beacon of inspiration 30 years later to a generation of Japanese, thirsty for hope in a devastated post-WW II Japan. Layered with interviews, historical footage and photographs, Judith Schaefer’s eloquent film also tells the equally fascinating story of Samuel Ullman’s life and his contributions not only to the Jewish communities where he lived, but to the African American communities of the American South, as an early Civil Rights activist in the period after the Civil War.


S O M E O N E T O R U N W I T HIsrael 2006

Oded Davidoff, DirectorHebrew with English subtitles

118 minutes

Drama –Based on the best-selling novel by acclaimed Israeli author David Grossman, this exhilarating coming-of-age story leads us on a riveting and suspenseful ride through the streets and dark alleyways of Jerusalem at the end of a dog leash. Shy 17-year-old Assaf is yanked from his mundane summer job at an animal shelter and sent on a mission to find the owner of a lost Labrador found wandering the city streets. As he follows the dog on its circuitous rounds, Assaf begins to piece together the incredible story behind the owner’s disappearance, a story that captures his imagi-nation and draws him in. One month earlier, Tamar, a gifted musician, had embarked with her dog on a mission of her own - a desperate quest into Jerusalem’s seamy underworld, and has become ensnared in its dark clutches. Assaf, smitten by this mysterious girl he has never met, and sensing she is in grave danger, has no choice but to follow her footsteps. The film unfolds on two parallel timelines, following Assaf and Tamar’s separate journeys until the suspenseful climax when their two narratives finally converge. Nominated for 12 Israeli Academy Awards, this is a heartfelt story of self-discovery, courage, true friendship, and finding someone to love … someone to run with.

Grand Jury Award for Best Actress (for Bar Belfer), Miami International Film Festival

Substance Abuse, Violence, LanguageSunday, November 11th at 7:00 PM


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2007

W O N D R O U S O B L I V I O NUnited Kingdom 2003

Paul Morrison, DirectorEnglish

101 minutes

Comedy Drama –Directed by Academy Award nominee Paul Morrison, Wondrous Oblivion is a hard-hitting yet often humourous com-ing-of-age story centered around two immigrant families, one Jewish and the other Jamaican, living in South London during the 1960s, a time of racial and cultural upheaval. David Wiseman, an enthusiastic but unathletic eleven-year-old, dreams of becoming a cricket star, a long shot . . . until the Samuels’, a lively and big-hearted Jamaican family, move in next door. When Dennis Samuels, movingly portrayed by Delroy Lindo (The Cider House Rules), builds a cricket net in his backyard, David is ecstatic. Others in this racially-prejudiced neighborhood, however, are not as enthusiastic about the new arrivals, and David’s Jewish family, who themselves are “outsiders”, find themselves caught in the middle. “A family film with a difference, Wondrous Oblivion displays real bite as it incisively tackles such adult subjects as racism, anti-semitism, adultery and the plight of immigrants in an intolerant land,” (Box Office Magazine). “. . . a knowing fairy tale that lovingly re-creates a bygone era but also examines its underlying moral ambiguities.” (Washington Post). If you liked Bend It Like Beckham, you’ll love Wondrous Oblivion!


We are delighted to welcome the Jamaican community of Calgary

JAMAICAN CANADIAN ASSOCIATION ALBERTA

This evening is proudly co-sponsored by



F R O Z E N D A Y SIsrael 2005Danny Lerner, DirectorHebrew with English subtitles90 minutes

Psycho-Thriller –Are you afraid of the dark? Visually stunning and intriguing, Frozen Days – Best Film at the 2005 Haifa International Film Festival – is a “mind-bending psychodrama” that probes the after-effects of a suicide bombing on a young woman who spends her days and nights prowling the streets of Tel Aviv. Talented newcomer Anat Klausner, whom Variety calls “a magnetic presence”, gives a mesmerizing performance as Meow, a solitary and elusive young woman who peddles drugs in the nightclubs and back alleys of Tel Aviv’s seedy underground, living fly-by-night in empty apartments and Internet chat rooms. The trauma of a suicide bombing sends Meow on an uneasy journey into a world of paranoia and intrigue, as she struggles with profound questions of reality and identity. As the lines of reality become dangerously blurred, she becomes lost in a disorienting maze of past and present. Shot entirely in black and white, this haunting and unforgettable “art-lovers” film is reminiscent of the very best that the Hitchcock and film noir genres have to offer.

Substance Abuse, Mature themesSaturday, November 17th at 9:45 PM



G O I N P E A C E , R A I NIsrael 2006Reuven Hecker, DirectorHebrew, English, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian,Romanian, Russian, Ladino with English subtitles 85 minutes

Documentary –A multilingual musical mystery tour, this fascinating documentary traces the journey of a single Jewish melody from its early accompaniment of an ancient Jewish prayer of parting from the rain, through to its dramatic incarnation, some 700 years later, as the melody of Hatikvah – modern Israel’s national anthem. From its origins in 13th century Italy, the path of the melody is traced by following in the footsteps of the Jewish migration after the Spanish and Portuguese expulsions in the 15th century. With the help of musicologists, rabbis, cantors and the Jewish man in the street, we are taken on a whirlwind tour of communities and synagogues across Europe and beyond – from Amsterdam, Paris and Livorno to Gibraltar, Tangiers, and Romania – where Jews had settled and lived, and where permutations of the melody often surfaced in popular folk tunes - a testament to the dynamic cultural interchange that has always taken place between the Jews and their fellow citizens. Music lovers and lovers of all things Jewish will be captivated by this enlightening documentary which opens a window onto a rich historical and musical legacy that has transcended huge geographical distances and the passage of time.




“THE TIKKUN OLAM SCREENING”REPAIRING THE WORLD

M Y O P P O S I T I O N :T h e D i a r i e s O fF r i e d r i c h K e l l n e rCanada 2007Fern Levitt & Arnie Zipursky, DirectorsEnglish 65 minutes

Documentary –Winner of the 2007 Creative Excellence Award from the U.S. International Film and Video Festival in Los Angeles, this inspiring documentary shares the never-before-told story of a secret diary and the two courageous and determined men – Freidrich Kellner and his grandson, Robert Scott Kellner - for whom the diary’s message became a life’s mis-sion. Friedrich Kellner was a non-Jewish political activist in Germany who tried desperately to stop the Nazis from obtaining power. Refusing to join the Nazi party, even at personal risk to his wife and himself, he began secretly docu-menting, in what would become a 10-volume diary, an eyewitness account of the evils and atrocities perpetrated by the Nazi regime. The diaries remained hidden until he entrusted them, decades later, to his American grandson, Scott Kellner. Despite having to overcome the challenges of a difficult childhood and youth, Scott, following the example of his courageous grandfather, has made it his life’s mission to translate the diaries and bring his grandfather’s message to the world - and in so doing, to fulfill his grandfather’s hope that the diaries would serve as a weapon to alert future generations to the dangers of totalitarianism and intolerant ideologies.


S P E C I A L G U E S T SDR. ROBERT SCOTT KELLNERSubject of the filmWill be in attendance for a post-film discussion.

FERN LEVITTWriter/Co-Director and

ARNIE ZIPURSKYCo-DirectorWill both be in attendance.



P O N A RIsrael 2002

Racheli Schwartz, DirectorHebrew with English subtitles

54 minutes

Documentary –During the Holocaust, Jewish “resistance” took on many forms. Amidst the fear, danger, despair and horrendous living conditions of the Ghetto, the Jews attempted to maintain a rich and creative culture life, which became a weapon of spiritual resistance. One of the most well-known songs arising from that period is the Yiddish song Shtiller, Shtiller (Quietly, Quietly), called Ponar in Hebrew, which was composed in the Vilna Ghetto by an 11 year-old boy named Alek Wolkovisky. Alek – today known as Alexander Tamir- lives in Israel where he is a professor of music and a renowned pianist. This poignant and deeply moving film follows Alexander on an emotional journey into the past, as he returns, after 60 years, to the Vilna Ghetto, and performs the song on the very stage in the Ghetto’s Jewish theater where he had performed it in a song competition in 1943, just months before the Ghetto was destroyed. Accompanying him on stage is a young Israeli singer, who is the same age as the singers who prepared for the competition in 1943, but were killed before they could actually compete.


S O U V E N I R SIsrael 2006Shahar Cohen & Halil Efrat, Directors Hebrew with English subtitles75 minutes

Documentary –Humorous and compassionate, this award-winning documentary examines the complex relationship between Israeli filmmaker Shahar Cohen and his father, a WWII veteran of the British Army’s legendary Jewish Brigade. At a reunion of Israeli brigade veterans, Shahar is intrigued to hear stories that some of them (including his dad) may have left behind flesh-and-blood “souvenirs” - the result of fleeting unions with young Dutch women - while stationed in post-war Amsterdam. Shahar and Sleiman, now 82, retrace the elder Cohen’s wartime route on a road trip that leads them through Italy, Germany and finally Holland, where Shahar is determined to discover if he has any half-siblings. Along the way, their evolving father-son relationship becomes the film’s compelling focus as father and son bicker, tease, laugh and cry, discovering unexpected connections, as well as newfound acceptance of each other. By turns comic and touching, this richly-layered film raises universal questions about the tension between myth and reality, memory and historical veracity. Souvenirs tells a story of retrieving the past, but mostly it captures the drama of the universal desire to simply connect with each other.

Winner of Best Documentary: San Francisco Int’ernational Film Festival DocAviv and Israel Academy AwardsSILVERDOCS - Feature Audience Award Thessaloniki International Documentary Film Festival, Greece - FIPRESCI AwardChicago International Documentary Festival - Grand Prix Special Jury Award




O U T O F S I G H TIsrael 2005Daniel Syrkin, DirectorHebrew with English subtitles86 minutes

Drama –Beautiful and brilliant, Ya’ara is also blind. And so, it would seem, have been the friends and family she encounters when she hastily returns to Israel from Princeton after the death, by suicide, of Talia, her cousin, kindred spirit and best friend. As Ya’ara attempts to solve the mystery of Talia’s tragic and unexplained passing, she begins to “see” the lies and startling secrets that have already destroyed one young life and threaten another. Getting others to compre-hend what has been happening right in front of them threatens to undermine Ya’ara’s other important relationships because, “there is none so blind as they that won’t see.” This intense and riveting drama - winner of Best Director and Best Cinematographer honors at the 2005 Israeli Academy Awards - is an exceptionally moving but profoundly disturbing film.

Mature themes, Disturbing Content Sunday, November 18th at 8:30 PM



A V I V A M Y L O V EIsrael 2006

Shemi Zarhin, DirectorHebrew with English subtitles

107 minutes

Drama –The winner of six Israeli Academy Awards including best picture, best actress and best director, Aviva My Love—with scenic Tiberias as its backdrop – tells the story of Aviva (Assi Levy), a talented writer who finds her richest material in the lives of the people around her. Yet it is the constant commotion of her humorous but dysfunctional family that threatens to overwhelm her talent and chain her to her day job as a hotel cook. Aviva’s salvation seems near when her sister Anita – hilariously portrayed by Rotem Abuhab – introduces her to an accomplished Israeli author who promises to help Aviva find her voice but, in the end, has less honourable intentions. Despite all these obstacles, Aviva moves inexorably toward her dream in a delightfully inspiring film that serves up plenty of laughter and tears. An internationally acclaimed movie, Aviva My Love has been recognized with awards at the Chicago, Jerusalem and Shanghai International Film Festivals.

Brief Nudity Saturday, November 24th at 7:00 PM



S W E E T M U DIsrael/Germany/France/Japan 2006Dror Shaul, DirectorHebrew with English subtitles97 minutes

Drama –One of the most internationally-acclaimed films of 2006, Dror Shaul’s semi-autobiographical Sweet Mud confronts the romanticized mythology of the kibbutz as an egalitarian and utopian society, telling a darker, more nuanced tale of a community ill-equipped to cope with individuality and deviations from a rigidly defined norm, and of an adolescent boy stretching to compensate for what the collective cannot provide. Amidst lush fields and the idyllic landscape of a kibbutz in 1974, 12-year-old Dvir is entering his Bar Mitzvah year - a time for many initiations and trials. Dvir’s father is dead, his brother is away in the army, and his mother, Miri, suffers from emotional instability. Navigating between the kibbutz motto of equality and the stinging reality that his mother has, in effect, been abandoned by their collective community, Dvir is left to care for his vulnerable and fragile mother on his own. Vividly capturing the vagaries of ‘70s kibbutz life with glowing camerawork, this sometimes painful coming-of-age story offers an insightful and harsh commentary on any society that fails to tend to its members’ vulnerabilities.

Israel’s official entry to the 2007 Academy Awards; Winner, Sundance Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema;Crystal Bear, Berlin International Film Festival; 2006 Israeli Academy Award for Best Picture (tied with Aviva My Love)

Mature themes, SexualitySaturday, November 24th at 9:15 PM



T H E L O N G I N G :T h e F o r g o t t e n J e w s

O f S o u t h A m e r i c aUSA 2006

Gabriela Bohm, DirectorEnglish and Spanish with English subtitles

75 minutes

Documentary –Set in Ecuador, The Longing tells the poignant and inspiring story of a small group of South Americans, raised as Catholics, who long to affirm their faith and reconnect with tenuous Jewish roots. They are convinced that they are the descendants of crypto-Jews, or “conversos”, the remnants of Spanish Jewry who continued to secretly practice their Judaism after they were forcibly converted to Catholicism during the Spanish Inquisition. Dismissed by local Jewish authorities, these determined men and women study via the Internet with an American Reform rabbi who ultimately travels to Ecuador to complete their conversions and help them reclaim a heritage and a faith long-buried. In docu-menting their personal journeys and the obstacles they face, this fascinating film raises universally relevant questions about inclusiveness, acceptance and attitudes within the organized Jewish community.


T H E S C H W A R T Z D Y N A S T YIsrael 2004Shmuel Hasfari & Amir Hasfari, Co-DirectorsHebrew, Russian with English subtitles104 minutes

Comedy Drama –It’s hard being a Jew in Israel — even a dead one! In this charming and poignant dramatic comedy, two women of different generations are joined together by their common struggle to determine their own destiny, as they tussle with religious bureaucrats over burial customs. As an act of devotion to her late husband, who committed suicide, Miriam Schwartz wants the right to be buried beside him in her village’s Jewish cemetery. Young and beautiful Anna, a Rus-sian immigrant, wants to fulfill her Russian father’s dying wish to be interred in Israel, but lacks proof that he was Jewish. Some offbeat characters lighten things up and bring levity to the story. The film follows their struggle against an inflexible town council, petty power struggles and bigotry, while also shedding light on societal divisions in Israel as they encounter intolerance to Russian immigrants and religious extremism. The resolution of all these conflicts is as unexpectedly delightful as it is powerfully moving.




Y I D D I S H S O U LBelgium/France 2006Turi Finocchiaro & Nathalie Rossetti,DirectorsYiddish/English/French/Dutch/Italian with English subtitles53 minutes

Documentary –This charming film documents the revival and growing popularity of Yiddish and klezmer music in today’s Europe. Now considered “world music”, it has become the passion of a new generation of artists, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and is being embraced by diverse new audiences as part of the international concert repertoire. Yiddish Soul takes us on a lively musical tour of performances by artists from all over Europe, highlighting singers Karsten Troyke from Ger-many and Shura Lipovsky of the Netherlands, as well as Chava Alberstein, Myriam Fuks and the KlezRoym Ensemble. The spirited performances and enthusiastic audience responses confirm that although Jewish life in Europe was nearly decimated by the Holocaust, the music that was an integral part of that life has not been silenced, and continues to evoke the cultural richness of that nearly-lost world.


Dinner and a MovieFo r y o u r c o n v e n i e n c e , w h y n o t s t ay f o r a b i t e

b e t w e e n t h e a f t e r n o o n a n d ev e n i n g s c r e e n i n g s ?

After the screening of YIDDISH SOUL, join us for a casual dinner accompanied by a LIVE performance of Klezmer music featuring

ZEEV BERGER AND THE SHMOOZERS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH





SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25THTickets for the meal are $15 per person and must be pre-purchased by November 22nd.

After the screening of YIDDISH SOUL, join us for a casual dinn r accompanied by a LIVE performance of Klezmer music featuring

ZEEV BERGER AND THE SHMOOZERSND


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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25THNOSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25THSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25THNONOTickets for the meal are $15 per person and must be pre-purchased by November 22nd.son a


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2006CLOSING NIGHT

E Y E W I T N E S S :D a v i d R u b i n g e r

Israel 1999Micha Shagrir, Director

Hebrew with English subtitles50 minutes

Documentary –The iconic 1967 photograph of three paratroopers at the Wailing Wall is, perhaps, the most well-known and beloved Jewish photograph of our time. Considered by Israel’s pre-eminent photojournalist, David Rubinger, to be his “signature” photograph, it is but one of the many memorable images, captured through his lens, that have become part of our collective consciousness. Since 1947, the internationally renowned Rubinger, a TIME-LIFE correspondent and Israel Prize laureate whose work is on permanent display at the Israeli Knesset, has been photographing the famous leaders, defining events, and human drama that have shaped Israel since its birth. In this engaging documentary, we journey with Rubinger as he revisits the people and scenes of some of his most evocative photographs, and recreates the moment. In the process, a portrait emerges of a dedicated and highly amiable man, and of his life’s passion - a visually compelling body of work from an eyewitness to, and recorder of, the unfolding story of a people and a nation.


S P E C I A L G U E S TDAVID RUBINGERRenowned TIME-LIFE photojournalist and Israel Prize laureatewill be in attendace for a post-screening discussion.

David will be on hand to personally autograph copiesof his just-published book

“ISRAEL THROUGH MY LENS”

We are delighted to have the

CALGARY JCC’SJEWISH BOOK FAIRjoin us in presenting this book-signing event.

Our Jewish Film Festival is a celebration of Jewish culture and identity. We hope that you’ll enjoy and be enriched by our 2007 festival – and that you’ll keep the “celebration” going by visiting the JEWISH BOOK FAIR which runs until December 2nd at the JCC.

Photos by David Rubinger (Courtesy Yediot-Ahronot). Author Photo by M. Kaiser.


SPECIAL THANKS TO...

Alexandra Cyngiser

Ze’ev BergerJeff Booke, Calgary JCC

Val BraceyRon Brouwer, Oil City Press Ltd.

Juliet Burch, BostonEve Comer, EdmontonHanita Dagan, CJCCLance Davis, CJCC

Ruth Diskin, JerusalemDov Gil-Har, Tel Aviv

Spencer Gooden, Jamaican Canadian Ass’nLinda Gottesman, New York

Kerri Grasser, TorontoNorm Greensides

Ronalda GreensidesYoav HaLevy, Israel

Melanie Hersom, Woodbine TravelIwango Jahfire

Danny Lerner, Holon, IsraelMarvin Levant

Efrat Magen-Cohen, Tel AvivGerry Molotsky

Assaf Mor, Tel AvivAlex Neufeld, ACA Audio-Visual

Nicole Nozick, VancouverAviva Rozenfeld, Ra’anana, Israel

Tal Shany, JerusalemJudith Schaefer, San Francisco

Judy Shapiro, CJCCBernie Stuijfzand, BVP Ltd.

Sonya Thompson, EdmontonIsaac Zablocki, New York

B e t h T z e d e c S t a f f

Lou Bracey, Executive DirectorYolanda Cea, Carol Silver

Constance Simpson,Ella Mayzus, Tatyana Novikov Gary Stromsmoe, Stefan Gadji

BETH TZEDEC CONGREGATIONUNITED SYNAGOGUE YOUTH

Jewish Pre-TeensMake New Friends!

KADIMA Activities Include:• Conventions • Cultural Activities• Yad B’Yad Tzedakah Program

• Holiday Celebrations• Social Action Projects • Games

• Arts and Crafts • Sports

Jewish TeensSomething For Everyone!

Spend time laughingand sharing with friends.

• Getaway Weekends• Shabbat Conferences

• Hotel Conventions• Summer Camps & More

Contact us at (403) 255-8688 to find out more!

ADMISSION TO THE FESTIVAL

A PASS FOR THE ENTIRE FESTIVAL(includes all films, guest speakers and receptions)

$45 per person prior to November 9th $55 at the door

SINGLE SESSION(one full afternoon or evening of films)

$18 per person

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS$15 for the entire festival

CHILDREN AND YOUTHFree

All films will be screened at theBETH TZEDEC CONGREGATION

1325 Glenmore Trail S.W.

P l e a s e c a l l t h e s y n a g o g u e o f f i c e a t 2 5 5 - 8 6 8 8










SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25THTickets for the meal are $15 per person and must be pre-purchased by November 22nd.

After the screening of YIDDISH SOUL, join us for a casual dinn r accompanied by a LIVE performance of Klezmer music featuring

ZEEV BERGER AND THE SHMOOZERSND


AAfter the screening of YIDDISH SOUL, join us for a casual dinnerAfter the screening of YIDDISH SOUL, join us for a casual dinnerof YIDDISH SOof YIDDISH SO accompanied by a LIVE performance of Klezmer music featuring accompanied by a LIVE performance of Klezmer music featuringaccompanied by a LIVE performance of Klezmer music featuringormanorman

ZEEV BERGER AND THE SHMOOZERSNDZEEV BERGER AND THE SHMOOZERSZEEV BERGER AND THE SHMOOZERSNDND

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25THNOSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25THSUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25THNONOTickets for the meal are $15 per person and must be pre-purchased by November 22nd.son a


FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

S A T U R D A Y , N O V E M B E R 1 0

7:00 PM SHULY NATHAN – In Concert followed by Three Mothers

S U N D A Y , N O V E M B E R 1 1

1:00 PM The Children’s House2:00 PM Dear Mr. Waldman4:00 PM So Long Are You Young7:00 PM Someone to Run With


7:00 PM Wondrous Oblivion followed by STRUGGLAH performance 9:45 PM Frozen Days


1:00 PM Go in Peace, Rain2:45 PM My Opposition: Diaries of Friedrich Kellner4:15 PM Ponar7:00 PM Souvenirs8:30 PM Out of Sight


7:00 PM Aviva My Love9:15 PM Sweet Mud


1:00 PM The Longing: Forgotten Jews of South America2:30 PM The Schwartz Dynasty4:25 PM Yiddish Soul followed by Dinner with LIVE Klezmer7:30 PM Eyewitness: David Rubinger

He will tell you how giving back to the community that supports us is a commitment that Homes by Avi made years ago. Our sponsorship of the events like the Jewish Film Festival is just one example, but don’t just take our word for it, or anyone else’s. See for yourself at homesbyavi.com. We’re confident that you will find the answers you are looking for.

Garrison Green: 536-7235 • Silverado: 536-7255 • Silverado Concept: 536-7275 • Evergreen Estates: 536-7225 • Copper’s Crossing: 536-7220 • Copperfield: 536-7260 • West Park: 536-7250

Lake Chaparral: 536-7265 • McKenzie Towne: 536-7270 • Panorama Hills: 536-7210 • Panorama Duplexes 536-7215 • StoneWater 536-7290 | homesbyavi.com

Ask Avi.

g

The Pennington 2,556 sq. ft.

Ask Chris Olsson in West Park.Answers start from the $750’s

And who knows the market better than him. But don’t rely solely on what you hear, come and see our showhomes for yourself.

Artist Renderin

The Pennington 2,556 sq. ft.

Art from th

West Park: 8132 & 8136 - 9th Ave. SW 536-7250 Silverado: 536-7255 Silverado Concept: 536-7275 Copperfield: 536-7260 Garrison Green: 536-7235 Evergreen Estates: 536-7225 Copper’s Crossing: 536-7220 Lake Chaparral: 536-7265 McKenzie Towne: 536-7270 Panorama Hills: 536-7210 Panorama Duplexes 536-7215 StoneWater 536-7290 | homesbyavi.com

Your real estate know-it-all friend said, “you’d be crazy not to.”

FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE - bethtzedec.ca · Samuel Ullman’s Poem & Passion USA 2006 Judith...

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Transcript of FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE - bethtzedec.ca · Samuel Ullman’s Poem & Passion USA 2006 Judith...