It is with great pleasure that we present this year's diverse lineup of feature films, documentaries and shorts at the Kino Arsenal in Berlin and the Filmmuseum Potsdam from May 18-31, 2011. The Festival offerings include 24 films from the U.S., Germany, Britain, Israel, France, Austria and the Czech Republic. Half of them are first-time screenings in Germany, and six are Berlin premieres.

The Festival staff is especially grateful to Brandenburg's Minister-President, Matthias Platzeck, who heads this year's festival patronage.  He is joined by actress Iris Berben and Dr. Dieter Graumann, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.

Mark your calendars for this year's JFFB opening reception at the Filmmuseum Potsdam on May 18, and the festival gala at the renowned Hans-Otto Theater, also in Potsdam, on May 22. The gala will feature Patrick McGrady’s documentary, Wagner and Me, in which the British (and Jewish) writer/actor Stephen Fry explores his uneasy affection for the music of Richard Wagner, whose links to Hitler's anti-Semitic propoganda make him one of the most controversial composers in the history of classical music. But some taboos are dissolving: for the first time, the Israeli Chamber Orchestra will perform works by Wagner in Bayreuth's Stadthalle this year.

We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to the Festival's special guests: 

--Award-winning Israeli director Dan Wolman, whose films Gei Oni (Valley of Fortitude) and Spoken with Love are among the Festival's highlights
--Masha und Yonathan Zur, directors of Amos Oz: The Nature of Dreams
--Ari Davidovich, director of My Champion
--Uzi Weil, screenwriter of HaMisrad (The Office)

See you at the movies!

Nicola Galliner
JFFB Director