2009 Jewish Film Festival set to open

Looks as if the 2009 Jewish Film Festival, which is sponsored by Spokane Area Jewish Family Services , is offering a typically strong lineup.

The three-day festival, which will be held at the Gonzaga Law School Courtroom beginning April 25, will offer two feature films, two documentaries and a couple of post-screening discussions.

The schedule is as follows:

7:30 p.m., April 25 – “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation” (2006, in Portuguese, Yiddish and German with English subtitles), directed by Cao Hamburger. A couple of Brazilian activists on the run leave their son with his grandfather, who promptly dies, and an elderly man fends for the boy until his parents can reclaim him – if they ever do. (1:44; rated PG for thematic material, mild language, brief suggestive content, violence, smoking.)

3 p.m., April 26 – “The Sephardic Jews of the Pike Place Market” (2001), directed by Stephen Sadis. This documentary short explores the fishmongers and produce peddlers who made the Seattle market their home. Filmmaker Sadis will lead the post-film discussion. (:25; not rated)

4:15 p.m., April 26 – “Making Trouble” (2007), directed by Rachel Talbot. What does it mean to be Jewish and funny? This documentary studies the comic work of such Jewish performers as Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Joan Rivers and Gilda Radner. (1:25; not rated)

7 p.m., April 27 – “Encounter Point” (2006, in Arabic, Hebrew and English with subtitles). An Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother sacrifice their safety, public standing and homes in their quest to establish a movement of nonviolence and peace. GU Law Prof. Larry Weiser will lead a post-screening discussion. (1:25; not rated)

All films will screen at the GU Law School, which is located at 721 N. Cincinnati St. Tickets will be available at the door. Prices are $8 general admission, $6 students and senior citizens

Call 747-7394 for more information.