DON’T CALL IT HEIMWEH
Margot Friedlander

Documentary, Director: Thomas Halaczinsky, USA 2004, Video 60 min., English – German /original language with English subtitles

For the first time since her emigration in 1945, the now 82 year-old Margot Friedlander visits her home town Berlin, where she grew up, was hidden from the Nazis and where she was deported to Theresienstadt shortly before the war ended. The film finds haunting images to tell the history of a woman who with her life-affirming magnetism engages each viewer personally.

GERMAN PREMIERE Guests: Margot Friedlander, Director Thomas Halaczinsky, Introduction: Iris Berben, Welcome address: André Schmitz, Head of the Berlin State Chancellery (Senatskanzlei) and Nicola Galliner, Jüdisches Filmfestival Berlin & Potsdam

ANGST
Deb Filler

TURN LEFT AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Feature film, Director: Avi Nesher, Israel 2004, 108 min., original version with English subtitles, live German interpretation of the dialogue

In 1969 immigrants - from India and from Morocco - become neighbors in a small town in the Israeli desert. The result is hilarious as the ancient enemies attempt to overcome cultural minefields and two teenagers discover what the sexual revolution of the 60s taught in Europe. With the support of the Israeli Embassy “A great film. Entrancingly funny and sensual. A must see.” LE FIGAR0

BERLIN PREMIERE Guest: Director Avi Nesher Welcome address: Albert Meyer, Chairman of the Jewish Community in Berlin

EINSTEINS FRAU

EINSTEINS FRAU
Documentary, Director: Nicola Woolmington, Australia 2003, Video 55 min., German version

She was a great physicist and Albert Einstein’s first wife: Mileva Maric, born in 1875 in today’s Serbia, moved in 1894 to Switzerland to study theoretical physics. In Zurich she met Einstein, her junior by four years, and a shared period of study and research blossomed into love. What part did she play here and what happened to her first daughter, Lieserl? The movie attempts to answer these questions.
With the support of the Australian Embassy

Mit Unterstützung der Australischen Botschaft

Guest: Geraldine Hilton, script author and producer
Welcome address: John Langtry, Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy

KEEP NOT SILENT

KEEP NOT SILENT
Documentary, Director: Ilil Alexander, Israel 2004, 52 min., original version with English subtitles

Three orthodox or ultra-orthodox Jewish women struggle for self-fulfillment and acceptance against the constraints of their families and communities in Jerusalem. The three women belong to a group called ORTHODYKES and all three love women. The movie received the 2004 Israeli Academy Award for the best documentary and has been distinguished multiple times at international film festivals.

GERMAN PREMIERE, Guest: Director Ilil Alexander, Israel

THE MAN WHO LOVED HAUGESUND

THE MAN WHO LOVED HAUGESUND
Documentary, Director: Jon Haukeland, Tore Vollan, Norway 2003, Video 60 min., original language with English subtitles

In 1911 Moritz Rabinowitz moved from Poland to Haugesund and established a clothing empire from scratch. Prior to World War II, he spoke out often against National Socialism and was thus the first person the Germans wanted to arrest after occupying Norway. Even today, many people in Haugesund contend it was his greed for money that prevented him from fleeing the country.
With the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy

BERLIN PREMIERE, Guests: Jon Haukeland and Tore Vollan
Welcome address: Andreas Gaarder, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Royal Norwegian Embassy

ONLY HUMAN

ONLY HUMAN
Feature film, Director: Dominic Harari, Teresa Pelegri, Spain / Argentina / Portugal / Great Britain 2004, 105 min., original language with English subtitles

Spanish black humor in a warped comedy with unbelievable entanglements. A meal with relatives becomes a nightmare when the Jewish daughter introduces her Palestinian fiancé. The Arsenal Filmverleih distributing agency will bring this movie to German theaters in the fall.

GERMAN PREMIERE

DIET LEIBOVITCH

DIET LEIBOVITCH
short film, Director: Avishag Leibovitch, Israel 2005, 17 min., original language with English subtitles

The singular thing about the rather heavy-set and congenial Israel family, the Leibovitch’s, and their well-nourished cat is that they manage to maintain a diet and be happy at the same time. A must see for anyone who every considered losing weight.

GERMAN PREMIERE, Guest: Avishag Leibovitch, Introduction: Henryk M. Broder

UN ÉTÉ À LA GOULETTE

UN ÉTÉ À LA GOULETTE (EIN SOMMER IN LA GOULETTE)
Feature film Director: Férid Boughedir, Tunisia / France / Belgium 1996, 100 min., original language with German subtitles

La Goulette, a Tunisian resort shortly before the outbreak of the Six-Day War. The film revolves around three friends: a Muslim, a Christian and a Jew, as well as their teenage daughters. A nostalgic look back at the sixties. Claudia Cardinale, arguably the most famous Tunisian turns up playing herself.

Introduction: Sophie Mahlo

THE DUNERA BOYS

Nach 20 Jahren erstmals in Deutschland zu sehen

THE DUNERA BOYS
Feature Film, Director: Ben Lewin, Australia 1985, 92 min., original version

The film is based on a true story from World War II, when 2,500 Jewish refugees were deported from England to Australia, among them Erica Fischer’s father. In one of his first major roles, Bob Hoskins plays a Jewish fishmonger from London East End. His performance gained him an Oscar nomination.

Welcome address: Pamela Fayle, Australian ambassador, Introduction: Erica Fischer

A CANTOR'S TALE

A CANTOR'S TALE
Documentary, Director: Eric Greenberg Anjou, USA 2004, 90 min, original version

Cantors used to be revered celebrities, more important than soccer heroes or actors. Cantor Jacob Ben-Zion Mendelson, the New York protagonist of the movie is a man of such caliber. On a nostalgic tour through his old stomping grounds of Brooklyn he describes why the thought of conveying and conserving the true songs and tradition of Judaism are an inspiration to him. And he gets Alan Dershowitz and Jackie Mason to sing.

GERMAN PREMIERE, Introduction: Jalda Rebling

WÄRE LEAH ALT GEWORDEN?
Short film, Director: Myriam Halberstam, Germany 2005, 7min.

“Wäre Leah alt geworden?“ (Would Leah have grown to become old?) is an extremely haunting and personal film. The camera lovingly observes the 10 month old Leah while playing. The comments off-camera are my remembrance of a true story; A man was forced to suffocate his 10 month old daughter in hiding so that the German storm troopers would not discover the 4 adults.” Myriam Halberstam

Guest: Myriam Halberstam

ARJE

ARJE
Feature film, Director: Roman Katshanov, Russia / Israel 2004, 80 min., Russian /original version with English subtitles

Lithuania in the Second World War: The story revolves around the relationship between the Jewish boy and the Jewish girl Sonya. The war separates the two: Sonyja goes to Israel and Isya remains. Sixty years later they meet again and realize that they still love one another.

GERMAN PREMIERE, Introduction: Yuriy Vexler

TO BE AN ISRAELI WOMAN

TO BE AN ISRAELI WOMAN, Teil 2 & 3
Documentary, Director: Ziva Postec, Israel 2004, original version with English subtitles

What does identity mean in an immigration country such as Israel? Rebecca (Riki) is Ethiopian and married to Likou. “I would never have married a man that wasn’t Ethiopian,” she says, “I would have had to explain too much about customs, traditions and culture before we would even be able to begin to understand one another at all.” Aziza is a non-practicing Muslim girl from Shefaram and a teacher at the Arabic Christian High School. Her grandfather was considered the “king of Palestine.” When she recalls her family’s past and takes stock of her life today, searing doubts about her identity emerge.

GERMAN PREMIERE, Guest: Director Ziva Postec talks with Igal Avidan

ERUV - THE WIRE

ERUV - THE WIRE
Documentary, Director: Kai Wiesinger, Germany 2004, 70 min. English / original version with German subtitles

“I discovered the story of Eruv because my wife’s family lives in Teaneck, New Jersey. There I kept hearing about a mysterious wire that several Jews had supposedly spanned from their rooftops to telephone poles in order to make religious laws lose their power. But nobody knew anything specific. I was intrigued.” (Kai Wiesinger in JÜDISCHE ALLGEMEINE, February 10th, 2005)

Guests: Director Kai Wiesinger und Kati Wiesinger, Introduction: Rabbi Gesa Ederberg

NADIA'S FRIENDS

WORK IN PROGRESS

NADIA'S FRIENDS (Ausschnitte)
Dokumentarfilm, Israel 2005, Min. , Regie Chanoch Zeevi

Bestowal of the grant from the Jewish community in Berlin for a film project dedicated to tolerance in Israel. It is awarded to Israeli director and script writer, Chanoch Zeevi, for the purpose of completing his documentary. Zeevi will present excerpts from his film, still in the works, and speak with publicist Günther B. Ginzel.

MELODY OF THE STREET (KAZINCZY UTCA)
short film, Director: Diana Groó, Hungary 1999, 12 min., original version with English subtitles

A walk through the old Jewish quarter of Budapest, where everything has remained unchanged for centuries.
Winner of the 7th International Slovakian Art Film Festival in 1999.
A MIRACLE IN CRACOW

A MIRACLE IN CRACOW (CSODA KRAKKÓBAN)
Feature Film, Director: Diana Groó, Hungary 2004, 94 min., original version with English subtitles

In the streets of Budapest Piotr and his grandmother are searching for the Silver Crown, the book with which the Rabbi Levi could raise people from the dead. Fifteen years later Piotr meets Esther, a Hungarian student and Esther has the Silver Crown. Piotr steals the book. During an incantation, he calls upon Rabbi Levi so he can bring his now dead grandmother back to life. Then a miracle happens.

GERMAN PREMIERE, Guests: Diana Groó and leading actress Esther Biro, Introduction: György Dalos

ODESSA, ODESSA

ODESSA, ODESSA
Documentary, Director: Michale Boganim, France / Israel 2005, 96 min., original version with subtitles

What is hidden behind the feelings of nostalgia which afflicts older Jews who were born in Ukrainian Odessa? In New York the life which once flowed through the veins of Odessa now pulses through the sidewalks of the city. In sunburned Ashdod in Israel, the Odessians are ultimately disappointed: in Russia they were considered Jews, but in the Promised Land they will always be “Russians.”

Introduction: Ulrich Gregor

WATERMARKS
Daniel Hendler als Ariel in El Abrazo Partido

WATERMARKS
Documentary, Director: Yaron Zilberman, France / Israel /USA 2004, 80min. original version with English subtitles

During the 1930s the Jewish sports club “Hakoah Wien“ became famous in particular for its female swimmers. Sixty-five years later the director brought seven of them to Vienna from all corners of the world for a meeting in their old swimming hall: a trip which rekindled the memories of youth and reanimated lifelong connections.

Guest: Yaron Zilberman, Anne Marie Pisker, protagonist, Welcome address: Franziska van Almsick, former Olympic medalist

MADE IN ISRAEL

MADE IN ISRAEL
Feature film, Director: Ari Folman, Israel 2001, 113 min., original version with German subtitles

A story “of the not too far future:” Israel and Syria have declared peace, Syria turns over Egon Schultz (played by Jürgen Holtz), the last of the still living war criminals, to Israel. Not just the Israeli authorities are waiting for him. There are others with very different scores to settle.

Introduction: Hillel Tryster, film scholar

IMAGINARY WITNESS – Hollywood and the Holocaust
Spencer Tracey und Marlene Dietrich in Stanley Kramers "Urteil von Nürnberg" (1961)

IMAGINARY WITNESS – Hollywood and the Holocaust
Documentary Director: Daniel Anker, USA 2004, 92 min., original version

Ranging from the long-forgotten anti-Nazi films of the early years to Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist” there is a long trail of films addressing the Holocaust which are an essential part of Hollywood today. The award-winning documentary deals with this topic for the first time.

Guest: Prof. Frank Stern, film scholar

SALLAH SHABATI

SALLAH SHABATI
Feature film, Director: Ephraim Kishon, Israel 1964, 110 min., original version with English subtitles

The Yemeni Jew, Sallah Shabati, arrives with his large family as an immigrant to Israel. Completely unadjusted to the newly founded state characterized by European culture, he attempts to eke out a living. The main role, which shot him to world famous status, was played by Chaim Topol, then just 29 years old. SALLAH SHABATI was nominated for the Oscar and received the Golden Globe.

Introduction: Sylke Tempel, publicist