The 2016 Annual Jewish Film Festival will feature a film on each of the nine Sundays in January and February.
The festival begins on Sunday, January 3 with a 1:30 p.m. showing of “The Precious Wife.” The story of an Israeli doctor, his Palestinian wife and child with serious genetic birth defects reveals the profound biases each faces as they explore friendships and a place they can live together as a family.
“Nicky’s Family,” set for Sunday, January 10, tells the story of Great Britain’s Oskar
Schindler, Nicholas Winton, the organizer of the Kinder Transport that took 669 children safely to England during World War II. Winton died during the production of this film at the age of 106. “Nicky’s Family” has won the most awards at every film festival in which it has been entered.
The 11 members of the festival’s selection committee viewed more than 60 films before they settled on the final program of dramas, documentaries, comedies, says festival chairperson Joe Gottesman.
“While our criteria was to select movies that featured Jewish events, Jewish people, Israel and Palestine, we also have films about France, Holland and the United States,” he says. “We are sure that all nine films will appeal to the larger audience and we’re so happy to be able to share these quality films with the community.”
Each year, a large portion of the proceeds are given to local charities, including the Cruz Roja. All movies are shown at Cinema del Lago in Plaza Bugambilias on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Tickets, at 50 pesos, are available at the box office, but because the theater seats only 200 and often sells out, those who are anxious to see these quality films are urged to purchase them early.