Beau Jest
Spotlight Film
98 min | USA | 2008 | Narrative Feature | English
Producer: David Newton, Director: James Sherman
Northern California Premiere

Showtime 7:00PM (tickets available at door)
$12.00 general
$11.00 student / senior 65+
$10.00 member

Starring Tony and Emmy Award-nominated, Lainie Kazan, Robyn Cohen, Tony Daly, Willie Garson, Greg Cromer and Academy Award-nominated Seymour Cassel

Stone Five Studios presents a Prostorm Pictures production: "BEAU JEST is the hilarious, heartwarming story about Sarah Goldman, a beautiful young school teacher from Chicago who is involved with Chris, a great guy with just one apparent flaw, he's not Jewish. Sarah tells her parents that she is no longer seeing Chris, but continues to date him in secret.To keep her mother from trying to fix her up with "nice Jewish boys," Sarah invents the perfect boyfriend and regales her parents with stories of the man of her mother’s dreams. Eventually they insist on meeting the man, and in desperation, Sarah hires Bob, an actor, to play the part of her new beau. Unaware of the scope of the role he has taken on, Bob accompanies Sarah to dinner with her parents and her brother Joel. He quickly realizes that what he has gotten himself into is much more than he bargained for. It will take all of his charm, wit and improvisational skills to pull off the charade. But Bob rises to the occasion, and the antics that follow is only the beginning of a side-splitting tale that will have you rolling in the aisles, and wiping tears from your eyes at the same time." (Rated PG by MPAA)

View Trailer | Official Website | Media Resources | IMDB

El Brindis (To Life)
100 min | Chile, México | 2007 | Narrative Feature
Spanish with English Subtitles
Producer: Gabriel Agosin Director: Shai Agosin

Showtime 1:00PM (tickets available at door)
$9.00 general
$8.00 student / senior 65+
$7.00 member

Starring Ana Serradilla, José Soriano - A favorite from the 2009 San Joaquin International Film Festival: "Invited by her father whom she has practically never seen, Emilia, a Mexican photographer, travels to Chile full of fear. There she will meet her family, who will receive her with so much love as hypocrisy. Determined to regain her and to be accepted despite his mistakes, Isidoro will show her his simple world, where she will meet David, a man undergoing a deep crisis."

View Trailer | SJIFF2 page | IMDB

Blessed is the Match
The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh
86 min | USA | 2008 | Documentary Feature
English
Producer: Lisa Thomas Director: Roberta Grossman

Showtime 3:00PM (tickets available at door)
$9.00 general
$8.00 student / senior 65+
$7.00 member

Narrated by Oscar®-nominated Joan Allen - "Multiple-award winning 'Blessed Is the Match' is the first documentary feature about Hannah Senesh, the World War II-era poet and diarist who became a paratrooper, resistance fighter and modern-day Joan of Arc. Safe in Palestine in 1944, Hannah joined a mission to rescue Hungary’s Jews. Shockingly, it was the only outside rescue mission for Jews during the Holocaust. Hannah parachuted behind enemy lines, was captured, tortured and ultimately executed by the Nazis. Incredibly, her mother Catherine witnessed the entire ordeal – first as a prisoner with Hannah and later as her advocate, braving the bombed-out streets of Budapest in a desperate attempt to save her daughter. With unprecedented access to the Senesh family archive, this powerful story unfolds through the writings and photographs of Hannah and Catherine Senesh."

View Trailer | Official Website | IMDB

New Jewish Short Films
An eclectic collection of new Jewish short films from USA, Germany and Israel, including the 2009 Academy Award Best Short Film honoree and new works from new filmmakers making state and international premieres.

Showtime 5:00PM (tickets available at door)
$9.00 general
$8.00 student / senior 65+
$7.00 member

• TOYLAND (SPIELZEUGLAND)
14 min | Germany | 2007 | Narrative Short
German with English Subtitles
Producer and Director: Jochen Alexander Freydank

Winner of the 2009 Academy Award for Best Short Narrative Film: "Germany 1942. A mother convinces her son that the Jewish neighbours are going on a journey to 'Toyland'."

• 888-GO-KOSHER
11 min | USA | 2007 | Narrative Short | English
Producer and Director: Lauren Shweder Biel

"A day in the life of New York City's only rapid-response Kitchen Koshering service. Follow Rabbi Sholtiel Lebovic as he helps clients go kosher from scratch!" (website)

• GUY
31 min | Israel | 2008 | Documentary Short
Hebrew with English Subtitles
Producer and Director: Ilan Jarzina
USA Premiere

"This is the story of Guy Haberman, a 30-year old ex-Kibbutznik who is becoming deeper and deeper entrenched in orthodox religion. Childhood traumas, an extraordinary musical talent and obsessive family ties are only parts of the complex puzzle of Guy's life. Music for him, is not just a way of expression, it is his vital lifeline."

• MAPPING
15 min | Israel | 2007 | Narrative Short
Hebrew with English Subtitles
Producer: Ilan Jarzina Director: Asat Saban
California Premiere

"Two surveyor workers, working during Memorial Day (Israel) on the construction of the 'separation wall,' unaware of the different segments of Israel's absurd reality surrounding them. The Memorial Day siren bursts through a country where the past is always at the present."

• PRISON
12 min | Israel | 2008 | Narrative Short
Hebrew with English Subtitles
Producer: Hanan Hochman Director: Adi Hanel
International Premiere

"The story of Asi, an unhappy married man who works in a candy store inherited from his wife's family. One day Asi finds out that a young girl is stealing chocolates from his store. This little encounter will affect every aspect of his life and change him forever."

Day Pass
A Captivating Experience at Jewish Cinema Day

$30.00 general
$30.00 student / senior 65+
$25.00 member

(passes available at door)