Boston Israeli Film Festival 2020 brochure

2ND ANNUAL

Welcome to the second annual Boston Israeli Film Festival!

This February 6–13 we are proud to present films that showcase the best new Israeli cinema and highlight Israeli culture past and present. These films promise to entertain, inspire, and stimulate conversation.

This year our films will feature the journeys of athletes, musicians, history makers, and more. Artistic Director Ariana Cohen-Halberstam has selected a program of the most talked about films of the year, films that will transport you from snowy Boston to the streets of Israel. Following screenings, you will be joined by visiting filmmakers and local speakers.

2ND ANNUAL

Boston Israeli Film Festival

Boston Jewish Film is dedicated to bringing premier films and outstanding programming to our audiences throughout the year. We are grateful to our audiences, our Premier Partner CJP, our supporters, sponsors and community partners who help us bring you this Festival and all other Boston Jewish Film’s programs.

Venues The Brattle Theatre 40 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138 brattlefilm.org West Newton Cinema 1296 Washington Street West Newton, MA 02465 westnewtoncinema.com JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater 333 Nahanton Street Newton, MA 02459

Boston Israeli Film Festival

February 6–13 2020

In partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies, The Consulate General of Israel to New England, and Israeli American Council-Boston.

Enjoy the films!

Sincerely,

Susan K. Adler Boston Jewish Film Executive Director

Boston Jewish Film Presents: The Boston Israeli Film Festival in partnership with CJP and: Premier Partner

Tickets & More Information Please visit BostonIsraelifilm.org to see schedule and venue information and to purchase tickets. All tickets are $16. Online ticket sales close at midnight the day of the screening.

Special thanks to: The Fine Family Foundation and Jewish Arts Collaborative

bostonisraelifilm.org

Boston Israeli Film Festival 2020

2/6 Aulcie

‫אולסי‬ Director: Dani Menkin Narrative, 2019, Israel, 72 min English and Hebrew with subtitles Massachusetts Premiere In 1976, Aulcie Perry was discovered on the basketball courts of Harlem by a scout for Macabbi Tel Aviv.

He went on to bring Israel to its first European Championship and became one of the biggest stars in Israel, dating and falling in love with supermodel Tami Ben Ami, and with Israel. His personal story both trial and triumph.

OPENING NIGHT Thursday, February 6, 7:30 PM Brattle Theatre

2/8 I Was Not Born a Mistake

‫עסקה עם אלוהים‬ Directors: Rachel Rusinek and Eyal Ben Moshe Documentary, 2019, Israel, 52 min English and Hebrew with subtitles Massachusetts Premiere Yiscah Smith was living as an ultra-Orthodox married man with six children and deep ties in the community before coming out as a gay man and leaving Israel. Only once she was back in the US, did Yiscah come out as trans and take her current name. It took twenty years for her to return to Israel, where she became a religious educator and spiritual mentor. The film reveals her incredible journey to self-acceptance, compassion and, finally, to home.

Saturday, February 8, 7:30 PM Brattle Theatre

Ticket Information | For tickets and more information visit bostonisraelifilm.org.

2/8 Golden Voices

‫קולות רקע‬ Director: Evgeny Ruman Fiction, 2019, Israel, 88 min, Hebrew and Russian with subtitles Massachusetts Premiere Before the fall of the Soviet Union, Raya and Victor Frenkel were the leading Soviet dubbers of Western movies. But when they immigrate to Israel, they discover there is no market there for Russian-language dubbing. The couple, determined to use their talents, find themselves in some bizarre and unexpected scenarios, turning the beginning of this new chapter, in a new land, into an amusing, absurd, and sometimes painful experience.

Saturday, February 8, 9:30 PM Brattle Theatre

2/9 Dayan: The First Family Episodes 1+2

‫ המשפחה הראשונה‬:‫דיין‬ Director: Anat Goren Documentary/TV Series, 2019, Israel, 90 min Hebrew with subtitles New England Premiere The first film to present the story of the Dayan family, “the Israeli Kennedys,” whose legacy is so intricately woven into the narrative of the State of Israel. From military personnel and politician to rockstars and poets, the Dayan talent has been a part of all aspects of Israeli history. With the accounts of five generations, the series presents an intimate and sometimes scandalous view into this dynasty of more than 100 years.

Sunday, February 9, 4:00 PM West Newton Cinema

2/9

2/10

2/11

The Electrifiers

Forgiveness

Breaking Bread

‫המחשמלים‬

‫מחילה‬

‫שבת אחים‬

Director: Boaz Armoni Fiction, 2019, Israel, 90 min Hebrew with subtitles Boston Premiere

Directors: Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon Fiction, 2019, Israel, 104 min Hebrew with subtitles Massachusetts Premiere

Director: Beth Elise Hawk Documentary, 2019, Israel/USA, 85 min Hebrew, Arabic, and English with subtitles Massachusetts premiere

Thirty years after they won Best New Artist, nobody remembers The Electrifiers. The band still plays cheap gigs in the middle of nowhere, propelled by their lead singer, who still sees himself as a young rockstar.

But just as his bandmates are about to give up, a surprising opportunity presents itself. Featuring cameo appearances by real-life 80’s Israeli pop icons, The Electrifiers is a sweet, uplifting music dramedy about the importance of following one’s dreams.

Sunday, February 9, 7:30 PM West Newton Cinema

Nissan and Shaul are amateur thieves. After a heist pathetically and hilariously goes awry, Nissan flees and Shaul is sent to prison.

Shaul is released just before Yom Kippur and Nissan, who has become Hasidic, is desperate to be forgiven, whatever the cost. So when the two ex-criminals find themselves in need of money, their ill fated adventures begin all over again.

Monday, February 10, 7:30 PM JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater

At the A-sham Arabic Food Festival in Haifa, Jewish and Arab chefs collaborate on mouthwatering dishes, leaving politics out of the kitchen. Founded by the first Muslim Arab to win Israel’s MasterChef, the festival brings the best-known chefs from around the country to work together to create innovative dishes that celebrate their cultural heritages and Israel’s culinary riches.

Tuesday, February 11, 7:30 PM West Newton Cinema

2/12 Born in Jerusalem and Still Alive

‫נולדתי בירושלים ואני‬ ‫עדיין חי‬ Directors: Yossi Atia and David Ofek Narrative, 2019, Israel, 83 min English and Hebrew with subtitles New England Premiere When he hears a tour guide offering a sanitized version of Jerusalem’s recent history, Ronen is inspired to create a tour that will offer tourists a droll take on the absurdity of everyday life in a time of frequent terrorist attacks. But Ronen’s outlook changes when he meets Asia, and he begins to heal from the trauma that propels his tours.

A dark, and sharply funny, romantic comedy.

Wednesday, February 12, 7:30 PM JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater

2/13 Incitement

‫ימים נוראים‬ Director: Yaron Zilberman Narrative, 2019, Israel, 123 min Hebrew with subtitles Massachusetts Premiere This psychological thriller follows Yigal Amir in the year leading up to his assassination of Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin. The film examines Amir’s world, displaying his evolution from hot-headed political activist to dangerous extremist. A studied eye on the events and atmosphere that led to one of the most devastating days in Israeli history, Incitement is a cautionary tale about what happens when leaders use politics of violence and hate. Winner of the 2019 Ophir Award for Best Feature Film.

CLOSING NIGHT Thursday, February 13, 7:30 PM JCC Riemer-Goldstein Theater