UK Jewish Film Festival

18-09-2008 10:27

Heroes and heroines, artists, love stories, Koran-reading Jews, Kosher-cooking Muslims, resistance fighters, award winning documentaries, soap operas, dramas and world class feature films exploring memories and experiences of the Holocaust, the atrocities of war, relationships across the Jewish/Muslim divide and the solidarity of female friendship.These are just some of the themes, characters and protagonists that make up the UK Jewish Film Festival’s (UKJFF) fantastically diverse line-up of films and events this year.Now in its 12th year, The UKJFF will launch its London Programme with a special Opening Night gala screening of Lemon Tree, at the Odeon Swiss Cottage on Saturday November 8, before the 12 days festival rolls out to some 11 venues across the capital including, the Everyman (Hampstead), the ICA, Richmond Filmhouse, the Tricycle, the Rio Cinema in Dalston and the British Museum. The UKJFF will also be returning this year to SOAS and The Goethe Institute. This year’s festival includes a huge variety of films (45 titles), including 31 UK premieres and more than 60 screenings across London cinemas. The programme includes Jewish-related feature, documentary and short films made and produced around the world.In addition, there will be a number of exclusive panel discussions and Q&A sessions with leading directors and filmmakers. From January to March 2009 the ‘UKJFF on Tour’, which presents screenings of the best films from the Festival will be visiting a record 15 cities across the UK.Judy Ironside, Festival Director, commented: 'Each year we respond to the challenge to source films from around the world to bring to the UK. These are the finest examples of films exploring the Jewish experience worldwide, films that will provide entertainment and an opportunity to reflect on the many different facets of Jewish identity, life and culture.'Our programme this year combines award winning feature films, with thought provoking documentaries and light hearted family films, which offer entertainment, insight and learning.