Gefilte Fish Chronicles

Directed by David Burnett and Produced by Iris Burnett.
Sponsored by Karen North Shuffler and David Shuffler

This year’s Asheville Jewish Film Festival opens with the delightful story of the many descendents of Abe and Minnie Dubroff (of Russia, and then of Brooklyn), gathering for their annual Passover Seder. For over 100 years, this unbroken tradition includes cooking for hundreds! Both personal and universal, you will recognize many moments and share in their enjoyment as recipes and traditions, some a century old, are celebrated on screen.

Join us for a special reception with filmmakers David & Iris Burnett on Saturday evening, March 26, 6:00 p.m. at the Blue Spiral 1 prior to the film screening at 7:30 p.m. Opening night reception and film $18. Q&A with David and Iris Burnett after each screening.

The Last Survivor

The Deutsch Family Film in memory of Alfred and Bernice Deutsch and in memory of Gerald Cohen

Directed and Produced by Michael Pertnoy and Michael Kleiman

Following the lives of survivors of four different genocides and mass atrocities - The Holocaust, Rawanda, Darfur, and Congo - The Last Survivor presents the stories of Survivors, their struggle to make sense of tragedy and how each picks up the pieces of a broken life after their experiences. Embedded in each of their stories is the will to survive and the determination to share their experiences with the rest of the world in an effort to ensure these tragedies do not befall others.

Join us for a special reception with filmmaker Michael Kleiman on Thursday evening, March 31, 6:00 p.m. at the Blue Spiral 1 prior to the film screening at 7:30 p.m. Closing night reception and film $18. Q&A with Michael Kleiman after each screening.

Budrus

Directed by Julia Bacha

This eye-opening, award-winning film documents an on-going non-violent protest movement on the West Bank created and led by Palestinians but joined in the effort by hundreds of Israelis. Showing actual protests and the responses by the Israeli military, interviews with many people including the leaders of the protests, Israeli activists and an Israeli military leader, the film centers on Palestinian community organizer Ayed Morrar and his 15-year old daughter Iltezam who began this movement. While Budrus is about one Palestinian village, it tells a much bigger story about what is possible in the Middle East.

Co-sponsored by Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Political Science at UNC Asheville, UNC Asheville’s Chapter of Amnesty International, and Center for Diversity at UNC Asheville. Join us for a panel discussion after each screening.

A Matter of Size

Directed by Erez Tadmor and Guy Nattiv.
In Hebrew and Japanese with English subtitles.

The winner of three Israeli Oscars and over seven Audience Awards at festivals around the world, this thoroughly enjoyable Israeli comedy about a group of overweight individuals who embrace the world of Sumo wrestling is both hilarious and heart-warming. Like The Full Monty, A Matter of Size follows its own tender and funny (and Jewish) path from body shame to body celebration, and from loneliness to love.

Howl

Directed by Rob Epstein and Jerry Friedman.
Sponsored by Asheville Art Museum.

Starring James Franco and Mary-Louise Parker, Howl, the film, recounts the dark moment in 1957 when poet Allen Ginsburg is put on trial for obscenity. The tumultuous life events that led Ginsberg to find his true voice as an artist, society’s reaction, and mind-expanding animation coincide in this partially animated documentary. A.O. Scott in his New York Times review wrote that it is “A rare and genuine work of literary criticism on film, (and that) this movie has the power to return you to a great poem with fresh eyes and ears.” Poet Sebastian Matthews will join us at the Thursday, March 31 screening.

Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray

Directed by Jonathan Gruber.
Sponsored by The Center for Jewish Studies at UNC Asheville. The 2011 Phyllis Freed Solod Memorial Program.

Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, this 2010 film by Jonathan Gruber explores the little known struggles of Jews on both sides as allegiances split the Jewish community as deeply as the national debate in the country at large. Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray presents a splendid collection of photographic stills, anecdotes, interviews with noted historians and dramatic readings of letters and historical speeches, including Sam Waterson as Abraham Lincoln. Q&A with co-producer Robert Marcus on Monday evening, March 28.