The New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival this year is delighted to offer its audiences a choice between virtual and in- screenings as it brings its international lineup to theaters in Concord, Keene, Manchester and Portsmouth, The festival which will screen independent and foreign films from 12 countries from March 31 through April 10, includes selections from the Belarus, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Nine of the 11 feature films will be making their New Hampshire premieres.
Virtual attendees will have a 48-hour window to watch each movie anytime during the festival. As a bonus, there will be virtual screenings of four of the in-theater films available from April 11 to April 24.
The New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival strives to enhance an appreciation of extraordinary individuals, culture, identity, history and contemporary issues in Jewish and Israeli life. Using the power of film and programming to educate and entertain, the NHJFF encourages dialogue on diverse perspectives, broadening understanding and strengthening community.
The 2022 NHJFF is partnering with the following Granite State venues: Red River Theatres (Concord), Showroom (Keene), The Rex Theatre (Manchester), and 3S Artspace (Portsmouth).
“After two years of going 100% virtual because of the pandemic, we are thrilled to offer some movie lovers the in-person communal experience they expect from festivals,” says Pat Kalik, of Manchester, co-chair of the NHJFF. “While at the same time, we respect the preference to watch from your living room. We hope this hybrid model will allow us to reach more people than ever before.”
“Our devoted volunteers spend the entire year screening documentaries, comedies, dramas and shorts so we can bring some of the best independent cinema to New Hampshire,” adds NHJFF co-chair Ross Fishbein, of Bedford. “We’re bringing these movies to you first, way before they reach cable or Netflix.”
Special filmmaker Q&A Events (via Zoom) include:
■The Automat ( March 31 at 7 p.m.) – Following the screening at The Rex theater in Manchester, director Lisa Hurwitz will discuss her film about the Automat a wildly popular 1950s restaurant chain that served its meals in vending machines. Automat collector/restorer Steve Stollman will join the conversation.
■Apples and Oranges ( April 4 at 7 p.m.) – Director Yoav Brill will discuss his film about the wave of foreign volunteers who came to Israel in the 1960s through 1980s to work on a kibbutz, a communal village centered around agriculture. Brill reflects on the changing nature of the volunteers as Israel’s geopolitical situation evolved.
■Upheaval: The Journey of Menachem Begin (April 5 at 7 p.m.) – Director Jonathan Gruber will discuss his documentary on the life of Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, a military hawk who made peace with Egypt in 1979.
■Cabaret (April 10 at 3:30 p.m.) – Following the 50th anniversary screening of “Cabaret” at Red River Theatres, educator and film enthusiast Zachary Camenker will lead a discussion about the history and impact of the film a half century later. Starring Liza Minelli, the musical about Berlin nightlife during the Nazi rise to power won 8 Academy Awards. Note: This screening is in-person only and does not have a virtual option.
The 14th annual New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival is supported by the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire State Council of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, corporate sponsors and Friends of the Festival.
Individual film tickets are $12 per in-theater ticket or per virtual household ticket. For festival pass information, movie trailers and the full film lineup, visit nhjewishfilmfestival.com.
The Automat on March 31 at 7 p.m. at The Rex, Manchester
Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen on April 3 at 1 p.m. at 3S Art Space (Portsmouth), The Rex (Manchester), Showroom (Keene)
The Un-Word on April 7 at 7 p.m. at Red River Theatres, Concord
Tiger Within on April 10 at 1 p.m. at Red River Theatres, Concord
Cabaret: Celebrating Cabaret’s 50th Anniversary! on April 10 at 3:30 p.m. at Red River Theatres, Concord
200 Meters
Apples and Oranges
Greener Pastures
Neighbors
Persian Lessons
Upheaval: The Journey of Menachem Begin
Beefies
Ganef
Masel Tov Cocktail
The Shabbos Goy
The Tattooed Torah