Award-Winning Films On-Tap: Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival Opens This Weekend

The 23rd annual Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival (www.svjff.org) which opens October 18, is bringing a plethora of side-splitting comedies, moving dramas, and thought-provoking documentaries to the greater Silicon Valley region.

“The Festival is very excited to be offering award-winning movies and events in both the South Bay and Palo Alto,” said Tzvia Shelef, Executive Director. “We are pleased to offer films for two weeks, Monday-Wednesday evenings, at the Camera 7 in the Pruneyard Shopping Center, Campbell, and on two Sundays at the Camera 12, San Jose. In Palo Alto, we are again at the Oshman Family JCC.”

South Bay movies will be shown Sunday through Wednesdays, November 1 to November 12 and events in Palo Alto are being offered beginning October 18 for Opening Night, running Saturday to Wednesday evenings through October 29.

Closing Night will also be in Palo Alto on November 16.

The excitement begins on Opening Night with a special appearance by Iranian born Israeli singer and actress and oftentimes cultural ambassador “Rita” Jahan Foruz. Voted Israel’s #1 female singer, Rita became an underground sensation in Iran when she released albums such as “All My Joys,” in which she sings in Farsi as well as Hebrew.

The evening will present the documentary of her life, “Rita Jahan Foruz” with commentary and perhaps a song or two by Rita herself.

The 23rd Annual Festival has something for everyone with films of Jewish interest from around the world. Film lovers have a choice of over 30 film screenings, including documentary films that inform and features that both entertain and inspire.

The Closing Night event features the hilarious documentary “When Comedy went to School”. TV personality Larry King, who appears in the film about the beginnings of stand-up comedy in the Catskills, will be present to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Festival.

Tickets are now on sale online and by calling 1800-838-3006. For a complete list of the festival films, visit www.svjff.org, but here are some of the highlights of some of the many acclaimed movies:

THE ZIGZAG KID (Comedy) 2012 The Netherlands

This dazzling and witty adventure about a 12-year-old boy named Nono uses humor to explore fundamental questions of good and evil. Based on the David Grossman novel.

HUNTING ELEPHANTS (Comedy) Israel 2013

A favorite feature at San Jose’s Cinequest, Sir Patrick Stewart and an impressive cast of Israeli top talent give bravura comic turns in this bank heist caper and coming-of-age tale.

THE RETURN OF THE VIOLIN (Documentary) 2012, Israel, English, Polish and Hebrew with subtitles

Truth is stranger than fiction. This story of survival - of a people and a violin – traces the history of a Stradivarius violin once owned by the founder of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Stolen twice, it was eventually purchased by celebrated violinist Joshua Bell.

IDA (Drama) Poland 2013

A young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland makes a shocking discovery about her past. 18-year old Annais is preparing to become a nun when the Mother Superior insists she first visit her sole living relative. Her aunt shocks her with the declaration that her real name is Ida and her Jewish parents were murdered during the Nazi occupation.

CUPCAKES (Comedy) Israel 2013

A perky group of fresh scrubbed young Israelis finds themselves the underdogs in an international singing contest in this musical comedy that celebrates life and love.

IGOR AND THE CRANES JOURNEY (Adventure/family) Israel 2013

When Igor’s mother decides for both of them to migrate from Russia to Israel, he must learn to face many new challenges, just as the baby crane he observed hatching must soon set out on his first migration.

The Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival is an IRS-approved 501c-3 non-profit organization. Founded in 1991, the Festival brings films of Jewish interest from around the world and stages special events for the broader Silicon Valley community. For information about the Festival, or to donate, call 408-498-0904.