The 2009 Joan and Murray Gefen Memorial Savannah Jewish Film Festival will be held from February 25-March 8, 2009.

Bye Bye Braverman
February 25, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 7:30 pm
Co-sponsored with The Psychotronic Film Society

When idealistic author Leslie Braverman, 41, dies suddenly from a heart attack, his four best friends decide to attend his funeral together. The centerpiece of this almost forgotten classic comedy is a discussion about philosophical observations of death relative to the merits of a classic comic book.

Comedy, 1968, 94 minutes. Starring George Segal, Jack Warden. English.

Toots
February 26, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 1:30 pm; March 6, 10:00 am

Toots Shor was a well known saloonkeeper in New York from 1940 to 1959, and his midtown Manhattan bar was the place to be seen. His granddaughter, documentary filmmaker Kristi Jacobson, takes us on tour of her famous grandfather’s world.

Documentary, Unrated, 2007, 85 minutes. English.

The Case for Israel: Democracy’s Outpost
February 26, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 7:30 pm; March 6, 12:00 pm

A point-by-point defense of the Jewish State, led by Dr. Alan Dershowitz. Utilizing archival footage and compelling interviews with top experts, the film presents a stirring rebuttal to growing criticism from the media and academic and international communities. Nearly thirty commentators lend their points of view, including: former Israeli Prime Ministers Barak, Netanyahu and Peres.

Documentary, Unrated, 2008, 77 minutes. English.

Praying with Lior
Festival Grand Opening, February 28, 2009, Trustees Theatre, 8:30 pm.

A touching documentary about a special boy with Down syndrome during the months leading up to his much-awaited Bar Mitzvah.

Winner of the National Media Award of the National Down Syndrome Congress and Audience Awards for Best Documentary at the Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego & Washington Jewish Film Festivals.

Documentary, 2007, 87 minutes. English.

Encounter Point
March 1, 2009. Trustees Theatre, 3:00 pm.

This award-winning documentary depicts different families that have been affected on all sides by the violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Director Ronit Avni will give a Q&A afterwards.

Documentary, 2006, 89 minutes. Arabic, Hebrew, English subtitles.

Song of David
March 2, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 7:30 pm; March 6, 2:00 pm

A sixteen year old soul-searching yeshiva student is studying to become a rabbi. Alienated by social boundaries, he reaches out to the broader world. He becomes obsessed with hip-hop music, wherein he discovers artistic freedom and honest self expression. He then must choose between diverging worlds.

Documentary short, 2007, 20 min. English.

Yippee
March 2, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance 8:00 pm; March 6, 2:30 pm.

Famous American Jewish film director Paul Mazursky follows an annual Chassidic pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, for his first documentary. Mazursky, a proclaimed secular Jew, wants to understand why so many people feel connected to Uman and returns with this humorous examination of a “journey to Jewish joy.”

Documentary, 2006, 74 minutes. English.

Powder and the Glory
March 3, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 2:00 pm

Join us for tea and the story of two of the first highly successful women entrepreneurs in America, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein. One hundred years ago these women immigrated to the United States and created what is today the $150 billion global health and beauty industry.

Documentary, 2007, 96 minutes. English.

First Basket
March 3, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 7:30 pm; March 5, 1:30 pm

David Vyorst explores the impact that basketball had on modern Jewish history, as well as the profound influence that unsung Jewish pioneers had on the evolution of the sport. Bob Weinhauer, former head coach of the University of Pennsylvania and assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves will introduce the March 3rd screening.

Documentary, 2008, 86 minutes. English

Advice and Dissent
March 4, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 2:00 pm.

A frustrated businessman, Jeffery Goldman (John Pankow) tries to end his hopeless marriage to his wife, Ellen (Rebecca Pidgeon) by asking his local Rabbi (Eli Wallach) to place a curse on her.

Comedy, 2002, 21 minutes. English.

The Schwartz Dynasty
March 4, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 2:30 pm

The tale of two women, joined together by their common struggle to determine their own destiny, in a small town torn apart by religious extremism, petty power struggles, and bigotry

Comedy, 2005, 99 min. Hebrew with English subtitles.

Surfwise
March 4, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 7:30 pm

Co-sponsored with The Psychotronic Film Society

Surfer and doctor, Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz decided in the 1950s to leave success behind, heading for a life on the beach, taking with him his wife and nine children (he wanted to “repopulate the world with Jews”). The New York Times calls Surfwise a “wonderfully engaging look at love and family and the relentless pursuit of happiness, personal meaning and perfect waves.”

Documentary, 2007, 93 minutes, English. Rated R for sexual content and language.

Black over White
March 5, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 7:30 pm

Director Tomer Heymann followed the famous Israeli music group, The Idan Raichel Project, on their 2006 concert tour to Ethiopia. Enjoy the exotic scenery and groove to the different and exciting world music that will have you dancing in your seats as the most popular Israeli group travels through uncharted territory.

Documentary, 2007, 54 minutes. English subtitles; Hebrew and Amharic dialogue. Some strong language and adult content.

888-Go-Kosher
March 7, 2009 at the Westin Hotel, 7:30 pm

Who knew there was such a thing as a rapid-response kitchen koshering service? This short documentary follows a day in the life of Rabbi Sholtiel Lebovic as he helps NYC clients go kosher from scratch as he arrives at the scene with his energetic team.

Documentary, 2007, 11 minutes. English.

Circumcise Me
March 7, 2009 at the Westin Hotel, 7:30 pm

“Is it hot in here, or am I the only one dressed for Poland in the 17th century?” Yisrael Campbell (Born Chris Campbell) converted to Judaism not once, but three times – Reform, Conservative and Orthodox – each one requiring a circumcision. Ouch!

Docu-comedy, 2008, 48 minutes. English.

Making Trouble: Three Generations of Funny Jewish Women
March 7, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 8:00 pm.

Directed by Rachel Talbot and produced by Jewish Women’s Archive, this is a tribute to Molly Picon, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Joan Rivers, Wendy Wasserstein and Gilda Radner.

Documentary, 2007, 85 minutes. English.

Sixty Six
March 8, 2009, Victory Theatre, 4:00 pm.

It is the summer of 1966, and England is about to be consumed by World Cup Fever. For 12 year-old Bernie though, the biggest day of his life is looming: his Bar Mitzvah — the day he becomes a man. The Cup Final is scheduled to take place on the same day

Comedy, 2006, 93 minutes. English, PG-13 due to some suggestive language and some mild adult content. Starring Helena Bonham Carter..

One Day You’ll Understand
March 8, 2009, Jewish Educational Alliance, 7:30 pm

Veteran French actress Jeanne Moreau stars in this dignified French film helmed by rising Israeli director Amos Gitai. As the trial of Gestapo head Klaus Barbie plays out in 1987, businessman Victor Bastien (Hippolyte Girardot) finds himself distracted from his work and increasingly obsessed with piecing together his family’s history.

Drama, 2008, 90 minutes. French with English subtitles.

For more information, please go to www.savj.org, or contact Programming Associate Benjamin Kweskin (ben@savj.org or 355.8111).