Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival

Apr. 17, 19 & 23 Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival

The Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival screens extraordinary, award-winning and exclusive films on April 17 at the Del Mar Theater, April 19 at Temple Beth El Jewish Community Center, and April 23 at the Aptos Cinema in the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center.

Admission is $10 general, $8 students and seniors.
Admission to “Watchers of the Sky” on Saturday night, April 23, 7:40 p.m. is FREE for students.

For more information, call (831) 471-8491 or e-mail pauldad22 [at] gmail.com

Wednesday, April 23 Aptos Cinema
Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos

6:00 p.m. THE HOLY GATHERING
Documentary, Hebrew and English, 55 minutes

The Holy Gathering documents the fascinating journey of three men raised without religion on an agricultural collective (a Kibbutz) and their search for a more spiritually fulfilling life. After exploring Eastern spirituality, they turn to the Jewish religion instead. Filmed over the course of six years, we see the ups and downs of their lives as they struggle to find and integrate a deeper spiritual meaning, while family and society pull them towards the material world.

Produced and directed by Naamit Mor Haim and Nahum Grinberg.
Distributed by 7th Art Releasing, http://www.7thart.com.

7:00 p.m. LIVE AERO GYMNASTICS DEMONSTRATION by Aerial Arts.
Santa Cruz’s own competitive dancers show off their strength and grace in the fastest growing women’s competitive sport. FREE!

Aerial Arts Santa Cruz is the premiere aerial gymnastics studio offering training to Santa Cruz and surrounding cities. Beginning students to those with Cirque du Soleil on their minds are welcome and encouraged to train in the facility. The Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival thanks the dancers of Aerial Arts for sharing their skill and talent. Bravo!

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7:30 p.m. RAKDANIT, AMUD V’SERET - “Controversial Gymnastics as Feminist Sport”
Documentary, Hebrew & English with subtitles, 55 mins.

U.S. PREMIERE profiles Israel’s feisty and foremost acrobatic dancer as she breaks stereotypes and challenges sexist preconceptions. Funny and provocative, the film offers great music and amazing gymnastics as we follow Neta on her quest to become an international champion.
ADULT CONTENT.

Best film award, DocAviv Film Festival, 2013

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8:30 p.m. SHTISEL, Episode #2
TV Drama, Hebrew with English subtitles, 50 minutes

Young Rabbi Akiva Shtisel, to the chagrin of his matchmaker, is attracted to the mother of his Yeshiva student. But she is a double widow, older than Akiva, and held in low social esteem. Will yearnings of the heart or cultural prejudice prevail over Akiva and his innocent, playful soul? Meanwhile Akiva’s brother-in-law Lippe has taken a job out of desperation at a Kosher slaughterhouse in Argentina without a proper goodbye from his wife Gitte. This portends trouble.

Shtisel won 9 Israeli Academy Awards for Television in 2013 with its multi-layered, nuanced portrait of an orthodox family in Jerusalem. The second episode in the series deals with issues of love, morality and conformity, and exposes the humor and humanity in the convoluted world of the Haredim.