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Next Maine Event: Jewish festival draws diverse fans of film

By SHANNON BRYAN Staff Writer

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MAINE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

WHEN: March 20-25

WHERE: Most film screenings at Nickelodeon Theater, Portland; opening night reception at Greenhut Galleries; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender forum and artist reception at Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, Portland

HOW MUCH: $8 ticket per film/$6 students and seniors; $25 opening night party (includes opening night film "Ajami"; $91 all-festival pass (does not include opening night party)

FOOD OPTIONS: Theater concessions and plenty of area restaurants

PARKING: On street downtown or parking garage next to Nickelodeon

DON'T MISS: Local premiere of "Canvasman"

KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Some films contain mature content. But for kids 12 and up, "Noodle" would be a great pick.

IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: The festival continues – one of the perks of indoor theaters.

MORE INFO AND TICKETS: www.mjff.org or 831-7495

Kari Wagner-Peck can't recommend a single film from this year's Maine Jewish Film Festival. That's because the festival's executive and artistic director loves each and every one of the 16 films in the 2010 lineup.

"It's too hard this year to pick just one," she said.

For the 13th year, the Maine Jewish Film Festival aims to capture the Jewish experience through the revealing art of film. But while that is the festival's connecting thread, the event welcomes independent film fans of all kinds, Jewish or not.

"It's for anyone who wants to see films you wouldn't be able to see anywhere else," said Wagner-Peck.

The festival's opening night on Saturday boasts a reception at Portland's Greenhut Galleries, where attendees can sip wine, enjoy food and mingle with others who appreciate films and with the folks behind the festival scenes. At 8 p.m., the festival's first film, "Ajami," begins at the nearby Nickelodeon Cinemas.

The Nickelodeon hosts nearly all of this year's screenings. Wagner-Peck hopes the increased seating capacity -- from 150 at former venues like Movies on Exchange to more than 200 at the Nickelodeon -- will keep the festival audience growing.

The lineup of films is sure to help, too.

For the full experience, an all-festival pass can be purchased for $91. The cost includes entry to all films, though it doesn't include the opening night reception.

For folks more likely to watch just one or two films, it may be hard to decide. So Wagner-Peck offered some suggestions to narrow the field.

An ideal date night film, "The Strangers" (5 p.m. March 24) tells the story of an Israeli man and a Palestinian woman who connect in Berlin during the frenzy of the World Cup finals. "It's super hot," according to Wagner-Peck.

"A Matter of Size" (6 p.m. March 21; second showing at 7 p.m. March 24 at Bates College, Lewiston) is a feel-good film with a sumo wrestling main character. Overweight and unemployed, Herlz gets booted from his weight-loss program and soon finds himself introduced to the sport of sumo. Wagner-Peck calls it a movie about self-acceptance.

Baseball fanatics will appreciate "Holy Land Hardball" (7 p.m. March 22), which tells the story of a Jewish baker who sets out to create the Israel Baseball League, the first professional baseball teams in the Middle East.

Following the screening, director Erik Kesten will be on hand, along with two baseball players from the film, for a Q&A session.

Should suspense be on the menu, "The Debt" (5 p.m. March 22) won't disappoint.

"It's really suspenseful," said Wagner-Peck. "I was on the edge of my seat."

Even more interesting, the film's heroine is pushing 70. "The Debt" and "The Life and Legacy of Sam L. Cohen" are both part of the Seniors Free Luncheon and Matinee on March 23. The luncheon is already sold out, but tickets for both films are still available and free for attendees over 65.

And for moviegoers with a penchant for the local, "Canvasman" (7 p.m. March 24), directed by Portland native Gary Robinov, is the first feature-length premiere by a local filmmaker in the festival's history.

The film chronicles the dual lives of art collector Rob Elowitch who, for 40 years, also wrestled professionally under the "mat name" Robbie Ellis.

A Q&A with Robinov and Elowitch follows the film.

In addition to several director Q&As, the Maine Jewish Film Festival also includes artist receptions, a woman filmmaker forum and a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film forum and reception at Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

It's a festival featuring something for just about every independent film devotee -- even those on a tight budget.

Discounted tickets are offered on an individual basis to those who might not otherwise be able to afford them by calling 831-7495.

Purchasing film tickets in advance is also recommended, as a few are expected to sell out (opening night's "Ajami" and local premiere "Canvasman," for example).

So buy early if there's a particular film you really want to see. But really, who can pick just one? 

Staff Writer Shannon Bryan can be contacted at 822-4056 or at:

sbryan@mainetoday.com