UK Jewish Film Festival
Encyclopedia
The UK Jewish Film Festival (UKJFF) is a film festival
held annually in the United Kingdom
, specialising in films that concern Jewish
culture
, religion
, history
and contemporary life, both that of British Jews
and other Jewish communities worldwide. Founded in 1997, the festival as of 2010 is currently in its fourteenth year. Within the current format, the main showcasing of films, including a large number of UK premiere
s, takes place each November in London
, before going on tour throughout the UK from the end of January until April.
in 1997, and became a national film festival in 2003. The first President of the UKJFF was Sir Sydney Samuelson
, who remained in that role until 2005, and as of 2010 is currently the UKJFF Honorary Lifetime Patron.
In 2001, the festival screened Egypt
ian director Khaled El Hagar
's controversial film The Gulf Between Us, about a relationship between an Egyptian man and a Jewish girl in Britain.
In October 2004, the festival showcased thirty films at the Screen On The Hill
in London before going on tour across the UK, including venues in Edinburgh
, Manchester
, and Belfast
. The festival opened with Sam Gabarski's Rashevski's Tango.
In November 2008, the festival opened with Eran Riklis
' film Lemon Tree
, which has proved highly controversial in Israel
.
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
held annually in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, specialising in films that concern Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
culture
Secular Jewish culture
Secular Jewish culture embraces several related phenomena; above all, it is the international culture of secular communities of Jewish people, but it can also include the cultural contributions of individuals who identify as secular Jews...
, religion
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, history
Jewish history
Jewish history is the history of the Jews, their religion and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions and cultures. Since Jewish history is over 4000 years long and includes hundreds of different populations, any treatment can only be provided in broad strokes...
and contemporary life, both that of British Jews
British Jews
British Jews are Jews who live in, or are citizens of, the United Kingdom. In the 2001 Census, 266,740 people listed their religion as Jewish. The UK is home to the second largest Jewish population in Europe, and has the fifth largest Jewish community worldwide...
and other Jewish communities worldwide. Founded in 1997, the festival as of 2010 is currently in its fourteenth year. Within the current format, the main showcasing of films, including a large number of UK premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
s, takes place each November in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, before going on tour throughout the UK from the end of January until April.
History
The UK Jewish Film Festival was first held in BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
in 1997, and became a national film festival in 2003. The first President of the UKJFF was Sir Sydney Samuelson
Sydney Samuelson
Sir Sydney Wylie Samuelson, CBE was appointed in 1991 by the government of the UK as the first British Film Commissioner....
, who remained in that role until 2005, and as of 2010 is currently the UKJFF Honorary Lifetime Patron.
In 2001, the festival screened Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian director Khaled El Hagar
Khaled El Hagar
Multi award winning Egyptian film director, Khaled El Hagar is one of Egypt's most controversial movie makers.He studied law at Cairo University and has worked in film since 1985. His first short film, You Are My Life , won best film award at the Oberhausen festival...
's controversial film The Gulf Between Us, about a relationship between an Egyptian man and a Jewish girl in Britain.
In October 2004, the festival showcased thirty films at the Screen On The Hill
Screen cinemas
Screen Cinemas co. is a small chain of cinemas across England. These cinemas however are not as large as the leading cinemas from Odeon and Vue so screen will often be only showing the main films of the current time. Screen Cinemas co...
in London before going on tour across the UK, including venues in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. The festival opened with Sam Gabarski's Rashevski's Tango.
In November 2008, the festival opened with Eran Riklis
Eran Riklis
Eran Riklis is an Israeli filmmaker. His films include Cup Final , The Syrian Bride , and Lemon Tree . He was born in 1954 and he studied at the National Film and Television School in England. He is married to Dina Riklis and they have two children, a daughter, Tammy, and a son, Jonathan...
' film Lemon Tree
Lemon Tree (film)
Lemon Tree is a 2008 Israeli drama movie directed by Eran Riklis and codirected by his cousin Ira Riklis. It stars Hiam Abbass, Ali Suliman, Danny Leshman, Rona Lipaz-Michael, Tarik Kopty, Amos Lavi, Lana Zreik and Amnon Wolf...
, which has proved highly controversial in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.