Submitted by JCC Chicago
The 10th anniversary of the JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival prepares for its second weekend on Jan. 26-29. This weekend of film commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27, designated by the U.N. General Assembly to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. The films shown this weekend will continue with the hybrid festival format, with all three films streaming online and in theater on Sunday, Jan. 29.
“Given the current climate, with antisemitic threats looming, we believed it was critical to choose films that speak to this grave subject matter to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day,” said Festival Director Ilene Uhlmann. “The three films each focus on a particular group of people and speak to the choices they make, both good and evil. These hugely compelling films act as powerful reminders that we must do everything in our power to prevent future acts of genocide.”
To date, the festival has screened more than 250 films, debuted over 100 premieres, and engaged 60,000-plus viewers. And as always, the special films that have been selected this year seek to showcase culturally diverse, Jewishly inspired films that will captivate, educate and inspire audiences of all generations.
“One of the most moving things about viewing and selecting films for the festival is discovering incredible stories about people who find themselves in unimaginable situations. In the Illinois premiere of Lost in Transport, a Russian sniper, a Jewish-Dutch woman and a village girl wind up sharing the girl’s home, forming a bond and making the best of a heartbreaking situation,” said Hillary Wenk, co-director of the festival. “In observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is stories like these that aim to unite us and renew our faith in humanity.”
The festival is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 26-29, with three films streaming and also showing on Sunday, Jan. 29 at Landmark’s Theater in The Glen in Glenview.
Documentary Reckonings streaming and in theater at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29: They met in secret to negotiate compensation for the survivors of the largest mass genocide in history. Award-winning filmmaker Roberta Grossman recounts the tense negotiations between Jewish and German leaders who saw it as a step towards healing. Watch the trailer.
The Conference streaming and in theater at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Drama. On Jan. 20, 1942, leading representatives of the Nazi regime met to put together the systematic murder of millions of Jews. Trailer.
Lost In Transport streaming and in theater 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Illinois premiere. Drama:A train deporting hundreds of Jewish prisoners gets stranded near a small German village occupied by the Red Army. In a context of deep mistrust, desperation and revenge, an unexpected friendship emerges between a Russian sniper, village girl and Jewish-Dutch woman. Trailer.
Special Festival pass pricing is available to see these films running the weekend of Jan. 26-29. The pass will also be valid for the following films showing Feb. 23-26 and also in theater at Landmark’s Glen Theater in Glenview:
Valiant Hearts streaming and in theater at 11 a.m. on Sun., Feb. 26. Illinois premiere. Drama. The odyssey of six Jewish children hidden during World War II who went to find refuge where no one would think to look – in the Chambord castle, its park, and among the hidden works of art of the Louvre. Trailer.
Farewell Mr. Haffmann streaming and in theater at 1 p.m. on Sun., Feb. 26. Drama. In Paris 1941, François works for Mr. Haffmann, a Jewish jeweler. Under the German occupation, employer and employee are forced to strike a deal, upending the fate of all concerned. Trailer.
Where Life Begins streaming and in theater at 3:30 p.m. on Sun., Feb. 26. Midwest premiere. Drama. An ultra-orthodox Jewish family comes to a farm in Calabria for a brief stay every year to harvest citrons. When Elio, the farm owner, meets the rabbi’s daughter, who is tired of the constraints imposed by her religion, he will find the peace he had lost for a long time. Trailer.
At the conclusion of the 10th anniversary Festival, film will be shown beginning in April in conjunction with Violins of Hope, an international sensation comprised of 70 violins that “survived” the Holocaust that JCC Chicago is bringing to Chicago and across Illinois for performances, demonstrations and educational purposes. The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center will be hosting these films in their Goodman Auditorium and the opening night concert will take place on April 20 at North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe.
Find details and tickets for the 10th Anniversary JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival at jccfilmfest.org. Tickets are $15 per person and are only available online, for either virtual or in-person screenings; a $36 festival pass will be offered to screen three movies.