Dates: December 1-11, 2011
Washington Jewish Film Festival Themes
- “Jews at Work,” which includes films such as Incessant Visions about the life and work of visionary architect Erich Mendelsohn, Breath Made Visible about dance pioneer Anna Halprin and An Encounter with Simone Weil about the French philosopher, writer and activist.
- “Jewish Film | Women Filmmakers,” which includes 19 films by women directors and a presentation on December 10th of the 2011 WJFF Visionary Award to award-winning DC filmmaker Aviva Kempner. The Festival will screen Kempner’s films Yoo Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, Partisans of Vilna and the work-in-progress of her latest film about the Rosenwald Schools. Kempner will attend all of these screenings.
Washington Jewish Film Festival Events
- Opening Night at the Avalon Theatre: Thursday, December 1, 2011, 7:00 pm reception, 7:45 pm screening. DC premiere screening of Israeli box office hit Mabul (The Flood). Special guests: director Guy Nattiv and screenwriter Noa Berman-Herzberg. Tickets $25.
- Premiere Party: Sunday, December 4, 2011; 8:30 pm; Washington DCJCC. Celebrating the North American premiere of The Kissinger Saga: Walter and Henry, Two Brothers from Feurth (screening Sunday, 11:00 am with director Evi Kurz); the US premiere of Wunderkinder (screening Sunday, 6:00 pm with composer Martin Stock); and the Mid-Atlantic premiere of In Heaven Underground (screening Monday, December 5, 7:00 pm, and the next day at 8:30 pm with director Britta Wauer). Entry to party with ticket from any of these three films, $11 each.
- 2011 WJFF Visionary Award: Saturday, December 10, 2011; 6:15 pm; Washington, DCJCC. Award presentation to DC filmmaker Aviva Kempner and 25th anniversary screening of Partisans of Vilna, followed by a reception in Kempner’s honor. Tickets $11.
- Closing Night at the Washington, DCJCC: Sunday, December 11, 2011; 7:30 pm; Mid-Atlantic premiere screening of Remembrance, followed by party; Special guests: director Anna Justice and screenwriter Pam Katz. Tickets $25.
Festival Venues
- The Avalon, 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
- Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater, 1529 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC
- AFI Silver Theater, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD
- Goethe-Institut Washington, 812 Seventh Street, Washington, DC
- Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre, E
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC
- Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD
- Embassy of Italy, 3000 Whitehaven Street, NW Washington DC
- Wechler Theatre, American University, Mary Graydon Center, Room 315, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
