Arts Entertainment Jewish Film Festival Cinematic Stew Jewish-themed films from around the globe provide just the right ingredients for a flavorful Detroit festival. SUZANNE CHESSLER Special to the Jewish News 711 he Jewish Community Center Lenore . Marwil Jewish Film Festival has gone international as Windsor joins the list of cities participating in the fifth annual presentation of movies with Jewish themes. Community interest has extended the number of movies being shown from 10 films the first year to 26 last year and 33 this year. In addition, five days have been added to this year's festival, which will run April 27-May 8 at theaters in Commerce Township, Birmingham and Ann Arbor as well as Windsor. In what has become a grow- ing market for Jewish cinema, the growth of the festival has been very dramatic. Attendance in the first year was Festival co-chairs Susan Marwil 2,000 and has increased steadily and Martin Hollander — 3,600 in the second year, 8,200 in the third year and 11,000 last year. The budget, based on ticket sales and contribu- tions, is four times what it was at the start and is now approaching six figures. Because of viewer enthusiasm, the festival just about breaks even financially, says festival director David Magidson. This year, only one of the features, A Tickle in the Heart, is a festival repeat. The movie, about klezmer musicians making a comeback as younger perform- ers reclaim their musical style, was shown two years ago to sellout crowds and is being shown again because of its popularity. All the films together, both works of fiction and documentaries, run the gamut of life experiences with some unexpected dramatic twists. Romance, lifestyles, survival and immigration enter the mix. Also new this year is the awarding of a cash prize, the Harold and Sarah Gottlieb Award for Best New Jewish Film. Acclaimed filmmaker Frederick Wiseman will be one of the guest speakers as his prize-winning feature, The Last Letter, becomes the festival centerpiece. "I think one of the major achievements of this fes- tival has been the creation of an incentive to make Jewish films," says Magidson, working with Susan Marwil and Martin W. Hollander as film festival chairs. "The prize winner receives $7,500, and this year, the film is about a mother who writes to her son as she anticipates her death at the hands of Nazis." Magidson, Marwil and Hollander make the final 4/11 2003 92 decisions on the films to be shown after using many resources, includ- ing contacts with direc- tors of other Jewish film festivals and arti- cles about new releases. A committee of 10 chose the prize winner. While many of the films are very serious, there also are a number of comedies. My Dear Clara, a seri- ous example, combines a love story with actions that changed Canadian immigration laws. The comic Schmelvis: Searching for the King's Jewish Roots is a must- see for Elvis fans, who also can hear about making the film from producer Ari Cohen, a guest speaker in Ann Arbor. • Local Connections A number of local, per- Above: Festival director sonal ties add to the David Magidson: cinema showcase. "The Jewish community The festival's hon- is a pan-national community orary chairman is and that idea is captured Lawrence Kasdan, a in these films." University of Michigan graduate who has Top: Filmmaker Lawrence directed and/or written Kasdan, a U-M grad, is many major films, the festival's honorary including The Big Chill, chairperson. The Bodyguard and Mumford. With his latest feature, Dreamcatcher, newly released in theaters, Kasdan's appearance at the festi- val depends on work commitments. Oscar-winning Ted Petok, an animation expert living in Michigan, will be represented by Missing You and The Execution. The films, comic shorts, touch a lot of bases from singing frogs to Mata Hari. Gina Horwitz, who takes on human resources and editing responsibilities at the Detroit Jewish News, has previewed Ruthie and Connie, a film about a long-term lesbian relationship. The women who are the subjects of the film were Florida neighbors of her parents, seen in a small segment of the footage. "This is a wonderful film that can be a real educa- tion," says Horwitz, who will be meeting the women for the first time when they prepare to speak at a screening. "It gives an honest glimpse into this story of love and presents the impact of the women's Jewish her- itage. It's also very emotional as it shows the high and low points of their relationship." Mike Burstyn, who has entertained in the Detroit area many times and been entertained by Detroiters as he made friends during extended stays, is one subject of The Komediant, which tells how his fami- ly came to star on both Yiddish and American stages. Burstyn, who changed his last name from Burstein before going on Broadway, has appeared at Congregation Shaarey Zedek as part of his bookings in Michigan. Sense Of Solidarity "A number of people from Windsor have enjoyed the festival in previous years, and that's why we wanted to bring part of it to Windsor," says Vivian Herzenberg, arts and culture coordinator at the Windsor Jewish Community Center. "We recently received a government grant that helped support this program." Two films will be shown across the border. The Burial Society was selected because it was made in Canada, and A Trumpet in the Wadi was chosen because planners wanted a film set in Israel. Michael Karpin, director of A Bomb in the Basement, will be making a special trip from Israel to Michigan to discuss his documentary about nuclear weapons in the Mideast. "The Jewish community is a pan-national com- munity, and that idea is captured in these films," Magidson says. "We hope viewers will enjoy the pure entertainment of our selections as well as the cultural dimension. "Jewish film festivals let people get together and express what it means to be Jewish without being directly involved with actual religious experiences. "In that way, the program can provide a sense of solidarity and peoplehood." 111 The Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival runs April 27-May 8. Films will be shown April 27- May 6 at United Artists Theatres in Commerce Township, April 29-May 1 at the Birmingham 8 Theatres in Birmingham, May 4-8 at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor and May 1 at the Palace Theatre in Windsor. General festival passes are $95/$85 seniors. Ann Arbor passes are $48/$42 seniors. Single films are $8/$7 sen- iors. For tickets, call (248).788-2900; for group rates and information, call (248) 432-5577. Tickets also are available at www.jccdetorg.