This Must Be The Place
The 15th UK Jewish Film Festival launched with tremendous panache last night (November 1st) when 600 people packed into the Odeon West End to watch the opening film, ‘This Must Be The Place’, directed by Paolo Sorrentino and starring Sean Penn, Frances McDormand and Judd Hirsch.
Judy Ironside, the Festival’s Executive Director gave a warm welcoming speech to thank the Festival team, sponsors, friends and volunteers involved in putting on this important London-based film festival.
She received a hearty round of applause from the capacity audience - and a large bunch of beautiful flowers - before the film opened.
The star studded audience included Steven Berkoff, Maureen Lipman, Lesley Joseph, David Schneider, Amina Harris as well as a healthy smattering of high profile business men and women from the world of entertainment.
International filmmakers were also represented by Jonathan Sagall (Director: Lipstikka), Trinity Films’ General Director Cedric Behrel, Simon Rumley (writer/director Red White & Blue), Bob Portal (producer) and more.
The UK Jewish Film Festival runs between November 1st and 20th with a dynamic programme of 70 international features, documentaries, shorts and TV specials, talks, workshops and Q&As - all made by and presented by filmmakers worldwide.
The UKJFF provides an unrivalled showcase for works on Jewish themes by filmmakers of all backgrounds and nationalities and has grown massively since Judy Ironside founded the festival in 1997 as the Brighton Jewish Festival.
The UKJFF runs year-round programmes of interfaith screenings, emerging filmmakers workshops, talks, discussions and film tours.
Next up! - Saturday November 5th 7.30pm at the Tricycle in Kilburn - ‘Footnote’ directed by Joseph Cedar and winner of the Best Screenplay Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
On Sunday November 6th the Tricycle will screen three terrific films: at 2.30pm ‘Carrying The Light’ directed by Guy Natanel; at 6pm ‘I Shall Remember’ directed by Vitaly Vorobiev and at 8pm ‘Lipstikka’ written and directed by Jonathan Sagall.
Take a look at the images from the opening night here.