Jewish Film Festival To Open With Gala Night

Now in its 12th year, the UK Jewish Film Festival (UKJFF) will launch its London programme with a special opening night gala screening of 'Lemon Tree', at the Odeon Swiss Cottage.
The event takes place on Saturday November 8, before the 12-day festival rolls out to some 11 venues across the capital including, the Everyman (Hampstead), the ICA, Richmond Filmhouse, the Tricycle, the Rio Cinema in Dalston and the British Museum.
The UKJFF will also be returning this year to SOAS and The Goethe Institute.
This year's festival highlights include a huge variety of films (45 titles), including 31 UK premieres and more than 60 screenings.
The programme includes Jewish-related feature, documentary and short films made and produced around the world.
In addition, there will be a number of exclusive panel discussions and Q&A sessions with leading directors and filmmakers.
Also, from January to March 2009 the 'UKJFF on Tour', which presents screenings of the best films from the Festival will be visiting a record 15 cities across the UK.
Judy Ironside, Festival Director, commented: "Each year we respond to the challenge to source films from around the world to bring to the UK.
"These are the finest examples of films exploring the Jewish experience worldwide, films that will provide entertainment and an opportunity to reflect on the many different facets of Jewish identity, life and culture.
"Our programme this year combines award winning feature films, with thought provoking documentaries and light hearted family films, which offer entertainment, insight and learning.
"This year's programme will appeal not just to cineastes who want to experience cutting edge movie making, but also speak to, enlighten and inform the curious and those with a desire to learn from and sympathize with the experiences of others."
The UKJFF will also be holding a prestigious fundraising West End gala screening of 'Fugitive Pieces' at The Vue, Leicester Square on November 3.
(BMcC)