Roman Polanski doc a winner at Jewish Film Fest

But Polanski is just one of many highlights of the festival. For the last 12 years, the JFF has taken pride in the fact that it has never screened a bad film; its consistency in selecting top-quality movies is rare in regional festivals, and this year is no exception. Two of those films will also have the presence of illustrious guests.

Historian, novelist, politician and Nazi hunter Dr. Michael Bar-Zohar (author of (Enigma, the book upon which the Kate Winslet movie was based) will talk on Monday at 7:30 p.m. before and after the screening of The Lying Game. And on Wednesday, February 13, at 5 p.m., director Ronit Kertsner will talk about his documentary Torn, the amazing story of Catholic priest Romuald Waszkinel, who later in life discovered he was born Jakub Weksler from Jewish parents killed in the Holocaust.

Yet, perhaps the best film is the festival's closer Yossi, director Eytan Fox's LGBT follow-up to his acclaimed Yossi & Jagger (2002), and the only film to receive a perfect score by the festival's screening committee this year (of which Current contributor Steven G. Kellman is a member).

"The film is so gut wrenchingly poignant, personal and genuine that the members of the committee could all relate to it on some level," festival director Betsy Cowan told the Current. "By closing with this film, we are assured the audience will walk away and say 'Wow, what an amazing festival!'"

JFF Schedule

February 9
The Day I Saw Your Heart (8pm)

February 10
A Battle in the Gaza Sea (2pm)
Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir (5pm)
Naomi (7:30pm)

February 11
The Flat (5pm),
The Lying Game (7:30pm)

February 12
Joanna (5pm)
Kaddish for a Friend (7:30pm)

February 13
Torn (5pm)
Yossi (7:30pm)

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