Jewish International Film Festival

Get ready for some high quality drama, comedy and factual films with the return of the Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) running at the New Farm Cinemas on 10, 12-13, and 19-20 November.

With 68 international premiere features and documentaries, the nationwide festival features works from 19 countries including Argentina, Denmark, France, South Africa and many more.

The selection for Brisbane’s JIFF includes the 2016 German production of The Diary of Anne Frank, with some material from Anne Frank’s uncensored diary being used for the first time. It screens on Sunday, 13 November, at 3pm.

Then there’s another German feature, The People Vs Fritz Bauer, which won six categories including Best Feature Film, Best Direction and Best Screenplay at the 2016 German Film Awards. It’s an historical thriller about Attorney General Fritz Bauer receiving crucial evidence on the whereabouts of Adolf Eichmann and covertly seeking the help of the Israeli secret service to bring Hitler’s henchman to justice. It screens on Saturday, 12 November, at 9pm.

Next there’s Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown (USA & France) – a documentary celebrating the legendary funny man in his 90th year, with Lewis himself reflecting on his long life and amazing career. It’s on Saturday, 12 November, at 7.30pm.

Sure to be a conversation starter is the USA documentary, The Last Laugh, full of big stars and which dares to ask uncomfortable questions about how free ‘free speech’ can really be. It’s provocative and not for the fainthearted, but has been described as hilarious. It screens on Sunday, 20 November, at 7pm.

Of the films from Israel, One Week and a Day is a critically acclaimed drama about Eyal, who completes the traditional Jewish week of mourning for his late son. When his wife insists that he return to his daily routine, he gets high with a young neighbour and discovers things that still make life worth living. Saturday, 19 November, 9.20pm.

Other highlights include Denial from the USA and UK, starring Rachel Weisz and Timothy Spall in a true-life drama about the courtroom showdown between historian, Deborah Lipstadt, and Holocaust denier, David Irving. It screens on Thursday, 10 November, at 7pm.

There are 16 films in total so check out the JIFF website HERE

Tickets on sale from Sept 30

By Vicki Englund

Jewish International Film Festival is a valued sponsor of Must Do Brisbane.com