The Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) in Ocean, in cooperation with Menemsha Films, presents the virtual Israel-Jewish International Film Festival. Opening July 19 with the exclusive North American premiere of “Asia,” starring Shira Haas from Netflix’s “Unorthodox,” the festival features 10 award-winning films. It concludes Aug. 13 with another North American premiere, “Winter Journey,” starring Bruno Ganz.
Other Israeli films in the festival are “Born in Jerusalem and Still Alive,” a romantic comedy directed by Yossi Atia and David Ofek that won Best First Film at the Jerusalem Film Festival, and “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel,” an uplifting story of Israel’s underdog baseball team, directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller and Jeremy Newberger.
From Hungary comes “Those Who Remained,” a triumphant power-of-love story directed by Barnabas Toth, which won four Hungarian Academy Awards.
Norway’s “The Crossing,” directed by Johanne Helgeland, is a beautiful World War II drama showing the resilience of young children during impossible times.
Two German films made this year’s festival. “Crescendo,” directed by Dror Zahvi, is an entertaining and challenging film loosely inspired by renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim’s formation of an Israeli-Palestinian Youth Orchestra. “The Tobacconist,” directed by Nikolaus Leytner, is a heartbreaking story about one man’s relationship with Sigmund Freud during Nazi-occupied Vienna.
Two films had their origins in France. “An Irrepressible Woman,” directed by Laurent Heynemann, is based on the true story of Leon Blum, a three-time French Prime Minister and the woman who falls in love with him against all odds. “An Impossible Love,” directed by Catherine Corsini, is based on Christine Angot’s acclaimed novel.
APAC’s film festival’s mission is to foster awareness and illuminate diverse topics of cultural significance using the creative art form of film. To this end, beginning Aug. 12, the festival will feature an exclusive epilogue presenting three films that explore the relationship between the Jewish and Black communities.
These films include “Joachim Prinz: I Shall Not Be Silent,” “Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance,” and “They Ain’t Ready for Me” featuring the ongoing story of Tamar Manassen, a young, inspiring, black female Rabbinical student in Chicago who is making headlines all over the country.
A portion of the proceeds from the epilogue will be donated to CHHANGE (Center for Holocaust, Human Rights & Genocide Education) and the Equal Justice Initiative.
A series ticket pass is $70, while individual films are $10, and “Asia” is $18. For information or to register for the Film Festival, visit axelrodartscenter.com/film.
The article originally appeared in the July 9 – 15, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
