Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, Presented by Alma & Howard Laderberg and Patricia & Avraham Ashkenazi
January 21-30, 2019
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
As one of the longest-running Jewish film festivals in the country, the mission of the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by Alma & Howard Laderberg and Patricia & Avraham Ashkenazi, is to educate and engage diverse Tidewater communities, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, by presenting world-class film premieres, repertory cinema, and associated programs that are inspired by Jewish history, heritage, and values.
Our vision is to create shared experiences and connections through film and cultural programs inspired by Jewish legacy and values.
Film Festival Ticket Pricing
Full Festival Pass, includes BIG Saturday Night Film & Celebration: Full Festival Pass $70
The BIG Saturday Night Film & Celebration: $35 | Under 21: $18
Individual Film Ticket: $10
Special group pricing available, contact Callah Terkeltaub at cterkeltaub@ujft.org
Kids Night Out Babysitting at the Simon Family JCC available for the BIG Saturday Night Celebration of Jewish Film and champagne reception.
Registration required at the JCC Front Desk, limited availability, first come, first served.
An Act of Defiance | Not Rated
IN HONOR OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY
Director Jean van de Velde │ 123 min
Netherlands │ 2018
English, Afrikaans
Monday, January 21, 6:00 pm │ TCC Roper Performing Arts Center | 340 Granby Street, Norfolk
FREE and open to the community with RSVP required
Appropriate for ages 10 and up
“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if it need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” - Nelson Mandela
Apartheid is rampant in 1963 South Africa. When ten men are arrested for conspiring to commit sabotage and violent acts against the repressive South African government, lawyer Bram Fisher steps in as lead counsel. He soon finds that political leader Nelson Mandela is also on trial. Mandela urges his fellow defendants to plead not guilty and shine light on the systemic corruption against the African people. As the outcome of the trial looks bleak, Mandela gives his famous “I’m Prepared to Die” speech, discussing how the African National Council’s resistance is justified. But will Mandela’s impassioned speech save these men’s lives?
In partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Community Relations Council and Hands United Building Bridges (HUBB). Discussion to follow film.
When Heroes Fly, Episodes 1 & 2 | Not Rated
Director Omri Givon │ 45 min each
Israel │ 2017
Hebrew with English Subtitles
Thursday, January 24, 7:15 pm │ Cinema Café Kemps River | 1220 Fordham Drive, Virginia Beach
Free for military with RSVP required by January 17
Limited seating available, pre-purchase strongly suggested.
Hit Israeli television series, When Heroes Fly will be available on Netflix to 130 million subscribers around the world in early 2019. It has already received global praise and awards, including recognition as best series at the CanneSeries Festival.
Inspired in part by a book of the same name by the late Amir Gutfrend, When Heroes Fly follows four friends and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) veterans of a special commando unit who survived the Second Lebanon War with both physical and psychological scars. Eleven years later, the friends reluctantly reunite to track down Yaeli—the sister of one and the ex-girlfriend of another – who they all believed was killed in an accident in Colombia years before.
Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel | Not Rated
The BIG Saturday Night Celebration of Jewish Film and Champagne Reception
Directors Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger │ 91 min
USA, Israel, Japan, South Korea │ 2018
English
Saturday, January 26, 7:15 pm │ Sandler Center for the Performing Arts | 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach
Tickets: $35 includes BIG Saturday Night Celebration of Jewish Film and champagne reception | Under 21: $18
Click here to purchase tickets.
With special guests Ty Kelly, Team Israel and New York Mets player and Seth Kramer, director
Appropriate for ages 10 and up (contains some strong language)
A new chapter in the enduring love story of Jews and baseball, Heading Home is the stirring underdog chronicle of the unexpected triumph of Israel’s national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Absolutely no one was betting on Team Israel, but that was before they beat Cuba, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Netherlands. Team Israel’s scrappy line-up included several Jewish MLB players—including former Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway, former New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis, and former pitcher for the Houston Astros, Josh Zeid—who found themselves exploring their Jewish identity for the first time while representing Israel on the world stage. A home run for audiences of all ages.
In partnership with BBYO & ODU Hillel
The Samuel Project | PG-13
Director Marc Fusco │ 92 min
USA │ 2018
English
Sunday, January 27, 2:00 pm │ TCC Roper Performing Arts Center | 340 Granby Street, Norfolk | Tickets: $10
With special guests, Hal Linden and Ryan Ochoa
Appropriate for ages 13 and up
Experiencing Holocaust survivor stories first-hand, and raised as the son of an Italian immigrant himself, The Samuel Project director/co-writer Marc Fusco became enthralled with one curiosity: How are grandchildren and great grandchildren of those survivors affected today? What goes on in a family dynamic where such memories are avoided and not passed down or even spoken about?
A film for both parents and grandparents to share with their children, The Samuel Project stars Hal Linden of Barney Miller fame as Samuel, a grandfather reconnecting with his grandson when he is made the subject of a high school project. Eli (Ryan Ochoa, iCarly) discovers that his grandpa, a Jewish dry cleaner, was heroically saved from Nazi capture in Germany. After some hesitation, Samuel agrees to tell his story for the project—a story he hasn't told in more than 75 years.
In partnership with United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission and BBYO
Cast a Giant Shadow, Mal Vincent’s Pick | PG
Director Melville Shavelson │ 146 min
USA │ 1966
English
Monday, January 28, 7:15 pm │ Naro Expanded Cinema | 1507 Colley Avenue, Norfolk | Tickets: $10
Join famed film critic, Mal Vincent for his 10thannual Hollywood tell-all!
A cast led by Kirk Douglas and Angie Dickinson with cameos by Frank Sinatra and John Wayne, Cast a Giant Shadow is a Hollywood account of American army expert David ‘Mickey Stone’ Marcus’s role in helping the fledgling Israeli Defense Forces in 1948.
Douglas stars as American Army officer Mickey Marcus, who finds love, but tragically never learns Hebrew while organizing the young Israel Defense Forces into a military that can defend and supply a foothold in Jerusalem.
Budapest Noir | Not Rated
Dir. Éva Gárdos│ 95 min
Hungary │ 2017
Hungarian with English subtitles
Wednesday, January 30, 7:15 pm │ Beach Cinema Alehouse | 941 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach | Tickets: $10
Limited seating available, pre-purchase strongly suggested.
When a young Jewish woman is found beaten to death, no one is interested in solving the bizarre crime, except the cynical, but doggedly inquisitive Zsigmond Gordon (Krisztián Kolovratnik), who feels things are not what they seem. The murky clues eventually lead to a shadowy world of pornographers, brothels, crime syndicates, communist cells, and the highest echelons of power, just as Hungary’s fascist-leaning government prepares to align with Hitler. The more people try to scare him away; the more determined Gordon is to discover the truth.
A politically-charged tale of corruption and betrayal, this richly atmospheric murder mystery keeps rapt audiences guessing until its surprising climax.
Includes adult content