The Boston Jewish Film Festival brings to Boston some of the freshest and eclectic LGBT film offerings from around the world during its two week run which starts today thru November 19th. Now in its 24th year, this year's film festival will highlight LGBT films on opening night tonight and throughout the festival with panels discussions and appearances by the movies actors and directors.
Amy Gellar, the BJFF's new artistic director, said it was simple why she picked these films to feature at the festival, "Because they are simply great movies. The LGBT community is an essential part of the Jewish community and we want to make sure that the films that are shown reflect their authentic lives."
Gellar, a straight ally, thought the films she picked featuring LGBT characters and themes told stories that the community needed to see. "We want people to see films that show what it means to be Jewish and part of the LGBT community and see how families come together around these issues."
Opening night at the Coolidge Corner Theater, features the film Life in Stills which is a documentary of a 96 year-old woman whose household is home to one million negatives documenting the history of Israel but is being threatened by developers. Stubborn and opinionated, Weissenstein is also enormously funny, even when bickering with her beloved gay grandson, Ben, who is helping her save her shop.
On Thursday, November 8th at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Festival will feature Melting Away, the story of Assaf who's parents discover women’s clothing under his mattress and makes him leaves home. Assaf becomes a woman, Anna, singing at gay bars in Tel Aviv at night and pretending to be a nurse by day. Anna’s mother searches for her “son” after her husband is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This movie is the first Israeli feature film shows parents learning to deal with a transgendered child and is part of the Israeli Consulate's Out in Israel program.
On Saturday, November 10th at the Coolidge Corner Theater, the campy comedy Let My People Go, debuts at the Festival. The movie finds Ruben Steiner, blissful gay postal carrier living in Finland with his Nordic partner, Teemu. But one woeful day, Steiner is accused of murder, gets the boot from Teemu, and flees home to Paris to his screwy Jewish family. Hilarity ensues...which makes it a must see for the Festival!
On Sunday, November 11th at the Coolidge Corner Theater, the Festival will feature Devout, a documentary about lesbian and gay Jews, including several who grew up ultra-Orthodox, who try to reconcile their religious faith with a sexual identity denounced by family, friends and community. After the film, the Festival will have a panel discussion featuring members of the Brandeis Haddassah group and Keshet.
Boston Jewish Film Festival
November 7-November 19th
www.bjff.org
