2010 NASHVILLE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY NOV. 3 – 11th

 Nashville, Tn. - You’ll see special spotlights searching the sky in front of the Belcourt Theater in Hillsboro Village this fall because November 3^rd - 11^th marks the Nashville Jewish Film Festival’s 10^th anniversary celebration!  Each November, for the past 10 years, the Nashville Jewish Film Festival (NJFF) has brought to the community thought-provoking and entertaining films to educate and inform the public about modern and historical Jewish experience.  This year’s festival is expected to be better than ever with award-winning films and festival favorites, more prime time screenings and several special guests.

            Opening Night, Wednesday, November 3^rd, begins at Cabana Restaurant in Hillsboro Village at 5:30 p.m., with a Cocktail Supper.  Immediately following the event is the 7:30 p.m. screening at the Belcourt Theatre of the Opening Night film Saviors in the Night, a riveting story based on the memoir of a family saved from death camp deportation by courageous farmers during WWII.    

            Thursday, November 4^th, at 7:30 p.m. the NJFF presents the compelling documentary, Where I Stand: The Life and Times of Hank Greenspun about a crusading newspaper publisher who was a hero of Israel’s war of Independence, a target of the Watergate burglars, and a genuine American hero.  The filmmaker, Scott Goldstein, will be present and available to answer questions after the film.

            Saturday evening, November 6^th is filled with satirical humor and Hollywood stars!  The first film, The Infidel (7pm), is a comedy about a 42-year-old Muslim man, who, upon his mother’s death, finds out that he was adopted and is actually Jewish!  How he deals with this identity crisis (hint: he takes lessons from the only Jewish person he knows – the drunken cab driver Lenny, who lives across the street) offers a very funny approach to religious differences.

            Following The Infidel is Holy Rollers (9:30 p.m.) based on actual events and starring Jesse Eisenberg (fresh off his highly acclaimed role as Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg in David Fincher’s new film “The Social Network”) as a Hasidic Jew who is naively lured into the world of Ecstasy smuggling and quickly becomes seduced by the allure of the secular world.  Holy Rollers premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

            On Sunday, November 7^th, the ever-popular Free Screening for Religious School Students will be held at 9 a.m. at the Gordon Jewish Community Center.  The film, Inside Hana’s Suitcase, is an inspirational documentary about a dedicated teacher at the Tokyo Holocaust Museum who led her students on a search to discover the details of Hana Brady, the owner of a suitcase they received from Auschwitz.  It is an astonishing story of power and hope.  Special guests George and Lara Brady, Hana’s brother and niece will be present.  A brunch reception with the special guests follows the screening.  Parents, teachers and the entire community are welcome to both the free film and reception.

            Sunday, November 7^th at 4:30 p.m. at the Belcourt, NJFF presents Anita, the portrait of a young Argentinean Jewish woman with Down syndrome who lives a simple life with her loving mother until one day when a car bomb explodes outside a nearby Jewish community center. Disoriented in the wake of the attack, Anita wanders the city in search of her missing mother. The tender story of how this young girl touches the lives of those that she encounters on her journey.  Frank Boehm and Thomas Boehm will introduce the film.

Screening on Sunday evening, November 7^th, at 7 p.m. is the documentary Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story.  Yes, there were and still are Jewish major leaguers!  Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, this film shatters stereotypes and salutes Jewish sports heroes such as Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax and Yogi Berra .

            Monday, November 8^th, brings the popular Monday Matinee at noon, Ahead of Time, preceded by an optional box lunch from Noshville.  The documentary about Ruth Gruber, the amazing photojournalist, who, at 97 is as sharp and witty as ever as she tells about her remarkable life as the world’s youngest female PhD at age 20, the first journalist to enter the Soviet arctic, and more than a reporter, was a participant in the making of history.  Special guest:  Caroline Moses, Investigative Reporter for WSMV, Channel 4, will introduce the film.

            Monday night, November 8th at 7 p.m., the NJFF brings a rather unusual love story in the film, For My Father.  This is the tale of a Palestinian suicide bomber who goes on his mission only to discover his vest does not detonate.  While he waits for the part to be repaired, he meets a young Israeli girl who has turned against her Orthodox roots and the two enemies form an impossible relationship. 

            The film, The Protektor, will be shown Tuesday November 9^th, at 7 p.m.  This stylish drama was the Czech Republic’s submission for the 2010 Foreign Language Oscar.  The film is an edgy and modern portrayal of radio journalist Emil, and his Jewish wife Hana, a famous film star. Emil seizes a chance at career advancement, becoming the official mouthpiece of the Reich, in order to offer a measure of protection to Hana.

            Wednesday, November 10^th at 7 p.m.  NJFF presents the documentary, A Small Act.  This beautiful story proves that even the smallest act of kindness – in this case a donation made by a Holocaust survivor to help sponsor the education of a young Kenyan – pays off hugely.  The recipient goes to Harvard, becomes a Human Rights lawyer, and searches for the person who gave him a chance in life. Inspired by her generosity, founds his own scholarship program to replicate the kindness he once received.

November 11^th , at 5:30p.m.,  NJFF presents a Closing Night Pre-Game Nosh and Happy Hour at Sam’s Sports Grill in Hillsboro Village.  Then, at 7 p.m. the closing night film, The Yankles will be screened at the Belcourt. This comedy about an Orthodox Yeshiva baseball team that is coached by an ex-major league center fielder on parole will make you leave the theatre and the festival smiling!  Producer Zev Brooks will be present at the screening.

In its 10^th year, the NJFF continues to expand its programming and outreach to the Nashville community.  In July, the NJFF joined forces with the Gordon Jewish Community Center (GJCC) to strengthen their objectives to promote the appreciation of Jewish cultural values among the local community. 

This year at the GJCC, the NJFF proudly offers not only the FREE Sunday screening and reception of Inside Hana’s Suitcase, but also the free showing of NJFF’s Student Film Competition finalists prior to the 2010 Festival on October 27^th at 7p.m.  .  The audience at the screening will help judge the winner of our $250 Audience Award.  Student films will also compete for the Kathryn H. Gutow “Best of Show” Award, in which the winner will receive $1000 Award, sponsored by CAA, and will be screened at the Nashville Film Festival in the spring of 2011.  The winner of the “Best of Show” Award will be shown again during the Festival, on Wednesday night, November 10^th, prior to A Small Act.

Tickets are available for $10 each, or $8 for students and seniors.  All-Festival Passes are available for $125 each and Reel Deal Passes are available for those 30 years and under.  Tickets may be purchased at www.nashvillejff.org or at the Belcourt Theatre Box Office. 

            For more information about the 2010 NJFF, please contact (615) 354-1683 or nashvillejewishfilmfest@gmail.com.  See all Film, Schedule and Ticket information at www.nashvillejff.org.