L.A. Jewish Film Festival Honors Heritage in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL celebrates the history of Hollywood at the 14th annual Opening Night Gala on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Ahrya Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills. This year the festival will present The Marvin Paige Hollywood Legacy award to Director Peter Bogdanovich (“The Last Picture Show,”). Bogdanovich appears in the opening night film, a new documentary titled “Carl Laemmle” and will take part in the filmmaker Q&A.

The founder of Universal Studios, Carl Laemmle (https://carllaemmlethefilm.com/), became the unsung hero of the Jewish people when he used his clout to bring hundreds of Jews out of Germany during WWII. Laemmle was also the first studio head to create movie stars and helped to establish the horror film genre when his studio churned out classic horror films starring Lon Chaney, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. The Gala Opening Night Red Carpet/VIP reception begins at 7:00pm with a star studded arrival list including filmmakers from the festival plus Hollywood legends: Cora Sue Collins (Last living Golden Age of Hollywood Child Stars who knew Carl Laemmle personally), Laemmle family members. Details for the full festival at: http://lajfilmfest.org/

L.A. Jewish Film Festival co-founder Hilary Helstein chats with Film Festival Radio about the festival:

Some of the many highlights of the festival will include the following films:

CENTERPIECE PROGRAM - SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019

SHEPHERD: THE STORY OF A JEWISH DOG

Directed by Lynn Roth

Starring: August Maturo (Disney’s “Auggie” from Girl Meets World)

Saturday, May 4, 8:00 pm Laemmle Music Hall Beverly Hills

Tickets & film synopsis

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4197798

Trailer: https://thelittletraitor.wixsite.com/shepherdthemovie/about

Drama/Hungary/USA/2019/93 minute

English and English subtitles when needed

Set during World War II, SHEPHERD is a family feature film about a beloved and valiant German Shepherd and a boy, Joshua, played by Disney star August Maturo (“Auggie” in Girl Meets World series). The story and script portray heroism during a crucial time in world history, while celebrating the significance of our canine companions.

Monday, May 6, 7:30 pm Laemmle Music Hall, BH

EXCLUSIVE! 2019 OSCAR WINNER SCREENING EVENT

LOS ANGELES JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL HAS THE FULL FEATURE BEFORE RELEASE TO THEATERS

"SKIN”

WEST COAST PREMIERE OF THE FULL LENGTH 2019 OSCAR WINNER

Q&A with Oscar Winner, Guy Nattiv

Drama/USA/2019/119 minutes

Written & Directed By: Guy Nattiv

Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle Macdonald, Bill Camp, and Vera Farmiga.

Link to tickets sale: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4197802

After a difficult childhood drives him into the grasps of a white supremacist gang, Bryon (Jamie Bell, delivering a visceral, explosive performance) tries to escape to a new life, all the while questioning whether he's capable of undoing— and repenting for — the evil he's done.

Academy Award-winner Guy Nattiv makes his English-language feature debut with this galvanizing story of transformation, inspired by actual events.

Thursday, May 9, 2019 - Ahrya Fine Arts Theater Beverly Hills

"Golda's Balcony, The Film"

Q&A with Tovah Feldshuh and producer Dave Fishelson

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKnSV-iYdTs

Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4195122

Golda's Balcony, The Film

LA Premiere! With a special guest Tovah Feldshuh!

Dramatic Feature USA/2019/86 minutes

Directed by Scott Schwartz, Produced by Dave Fishelson. Tovah Feldshuh recreates her award-winning, mesmerizing performance as Golda Meir in GOLDA'S BALCONY (2019), the final masterpiece by the author of The Miracle Worker, William Gibson. The film, from a rare, multi-camera shoot from the play's original run was recently unearthed (literally, from a safe) and assembled into a new but absolutely riveting motion picture.