2023 FILM SELECTIONS
Films categorized by date of screening.
Click on the photos to see each film’s trailer.
THURSDAY, MAY 18
OPENING NIGHT GALA!
Come with me and you’ll be in a world of TRUE imagination!
REMEMBERING GENE WILDER
World Premiere!
Directed by Ron Frank
Written by Glenn Kirschbaum
Produced by Julie Nimoy and David Knight
Documentary/USA/2023/92 minutes
WORLD PREMIERE Screening in honor of GENE WILDER
With special rare in-person appearance by MEL BROOKS!
Featuring a tribute to the comedic icon with celebrities and Q&A with director Ron Frank (When Comedy Went to School), Rain Pryor, Peter Ostrum (Original Charlie from Willy Wonka) Karen Wilder, Gene’s wife, and others following the film.
SYNOPSIS: Gene Wilder, the prolific actor and screenwriter, is known all over the world for his endearing roles in classic films such as “The Producers”, “Young Frankenstein”, “Blazing Saddles”, “Silver Streak”, “The Frisco Kid”, and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” With rare never-before-seen home videos and memorable scenes from our favorite Gene Wilder films, the documentary reveals intimate insights detailing his life and career with many astonishing surprises.
Wilder’s closest friends and family share their love for his comedic genius including remarks led by the inimitable Mel Brooks, Karen Wilder his wife, Alan Alda, Carol Kane, Henry Connick Jr., Gene Hackman, Mike Medavoy, Rain Pryor, Dick Cavett, Eric McCormack, Ben Mankiewicz, and the actor Peter Ostrum who played the young “Charlie” in one of Wilder’s most memorable roles, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. Sadly, in 2016 the world lost this icon to Alzheimer’s Disease at age 83. June would mark Wilder’s 90th birthday. Part of the evening is dedicated to Alzheimer’s awareness and advocacy.
- Q&A director Ron Frank, writer Glenn Kirschbaum, Peter Ostrum, Rain Pryor and other special guests, moderated by Stan Taffel, Classic film expert
- Thursday, May 18th
- 7:00 pm – Doors Open for Red Carpet, Dessert Reception and Candy Emporium upon arrival
- 7:45 pm – Show begins
- Saban Theatre
8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills - In partnership with the Temple of the Arts
SATURDAY, MAY 20
TRUST
LA Premiere!
Directed by Almog Avidan Antonir
Written by Jennifer Levinson
Drama/USA/2022/93 minutes
Starring Jennifer Levinson, Linden Ashby (Mortal Kombat), Max Perlich (Drugstore Cowboy), Amy Tolsky (High School Musical: The Series)
“Trust” centers around three siblings attempting to reconcile over their mother’s death but are torn between mourning and greed. Family isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, as they soon find out.
Between meeting with the Rabbi, funeral preparations, and sitting shiva, Kate has no time to process Mom’s absence. In fact, Kate is not sure if she’s crying because Mom’s dead, or because she’s related to these freaks: her adulterous father and her histrionic sister. Kate is grateful to find an ally in her brother, Josh, who spearheads funeral arrangements that Mom did her best to meticulously outline. But Dad never signed off on the paperwork prior to their divorce…
THE AWARDS: WINNER, Best Feature (New Visions) and Best Drama (Audience Award) | Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival 2022
- Exclusive Q&A with writer/actress Jennifer Levinson and director Almog Avidan Antonir
- Saturday, May 20, 8:00 pm
- Lumiere’s Music Hall
9036 Wilshire Bl., Beverly Hills
MAY 20 continued
REMEMBERING GENE WILDER
Second screening (in the valley.) Details about the film is above, purchase tickets below.
- Q&A with Ron Frank
- Saturday, May 20, 7:30 pm
- Laemmle’s Town Center, Encino
SUNDAY, MAY 21
ISRAEL SWINGS FOR GOLD
IN CELEBRATION OF ISRAEL@75!
FROM THE CREATORS OF ‘HEADING HOME: THE TALE OF TEAM ISRAEL”
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Q&A with Israeli team member Zach Penprase who appears in the film!
In 2021, Israel’s baseball team competed in the Olympics for the first time. With no media allowed in Tokyo’s Olympic Village, the players record their own experiences. Mostly newly minted Israelis, they log unexpected battles against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. Victory for Israel comes on the playing field, even if not on the podium. Israel Swings for Gold follows the 2018 hit Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel, about Israel’s Cinderella run at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
A Documentary by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger
- Introduction by Richard Hirschhaut, Director of AJC
- Q&A with team player Zach Penprase, moderated by Louis Rosenberg, JNF-USA Greater Los Angeles Executive Director & Lead Professional of JNF-USA Project Baseball
- Sunday, May 21, 1:00 pm
- Laemmle’s Town Center
17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino
In partnership with the Consulate General of Israel, the Jewish National Fund and the American Jewish Committee
To learn about Project Baseball, click here
OUR (ALMOST COMPLETELY
TRUE) STORY
LA Premiere!
Directed by Don Scardino
Written by Mariette Hartley & Jerry Sroka
Comedy-Drama/USA/2022/92 minutes
Starring Mariette Hartley, Jerry Sroka, Morgan Fairchild, Tess Harper, Peter MacNicol, Bernie Kopell, Peter Onorati, and more!
Q&A with MARIETTE HARTLEY (Peyton Place), JERRY SROKA (Rugrats) and PETER MACNICOL (Ally McBeal)
SYNOPSIS: An aging screen legend (Mariette Hartley) and jobless voice actor (Jerry Sroka) navigate the LA senior dating scene, in this (mostly) true-life romantic dramedy. Who would expect anything to come from two people who first meet in a bird store? She’s tall, famous and classy. He’s short and hides behind Groucho Marx and Woody Allen impressions. Out-of-work actors of a certain age face the indignities of Gen Z Hollywood assistants, oblivious to names, and agents who ignore calls. Despite their baggage, early life traumas and a serious health crisis, as these opposites attract, they find it’s never too late for love. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Los Angeles, this adorable crowd-pleaser is also a love letter to Hollywood. Co-written by Hartley and Sroka and directed by Emmy winner Don Scardino (30 Rock). Co-stars Morgan Fairchild, Tess Harper, Peter MacNicol, Bernie Kopell, and others.
- Q&A with Mariette Hartley and Jerry Sroka and Peter MacNicol!
- Sunday, May 21, 4:00 pm
- Laemmle’s Royal
11523 Santa Monica Bl., West Los Angeles
MAY 21 continued
WHO ARE THE MARCUSES?
IN CELEBRATION OF ISRAEL@75!
Join LAJFF and the Consulate General of Israel as we celebrate Israel’s 75th Anniversary with this special film presentation.
Directed by Matthew Mishory
Documentary/Israel/2022/English, Hebrew/90 minutes
The story of two mysterious savvy investors who reimagined conflict resolution in the Middle East and peace through the precious resource of water.
Who Are the Marcuses? is Matthew Mishory’s feature documentary about a mysterious and unlikely pair of philanthropists: the unassuming Long Island couple and Holocaust refugees Lottie and Howard Marcus, whose half a billion-dollar gift to Ben-Gurion University in Israel—the single largest charitable donation to the State of Israel in its history—inspired peace and climate action through water technology. “A wonderful film recounting the remarkable tale of Israel, water, and philanthropy. I am proud to have played a small part,” according to featured subject Warren Buffett. The film features Warren Buffett; Israeli President Isaac Herzog; historian Daniel Gordis; best-selling philosopher Micah Goodman; lawyer and genealogist E. Randol Schoenberg; Ellen Marcus, author and activist Seth M. Siegel; and many more. Music featured by legendary Israeli guitarist David Broza.
- Q&A with Director Matthew Mishory, film subjects Randy Schoenberg, Phillip Gomperts, and producers Rob Levine, Bradford Schlei, and Alvaro Fernandez moderated by David Suissa of the Jewish Journal
- Sunday, May 21, 7:00 pm
- Laemmle’s Royal
11523 Santa Monica Bl., West Los Angeles - Sponsored by Pamela & Randol Schoenberg
In partnership with the Consulate General of Israel and Jewish Journal
MONDAY, MAY 22
KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH
HIS SONGS
CENTERPIECE PROGRAM!
JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY COMPOSER CHARLES FOX
Featuring Q&A with Charles Fox and director Danny Gold following the film and an exclusive performance by Charles Fox
“Killing Me Softly With His Songs” is a musical documentary about the life and work of composer Charles Fox, known for his classic songs such as “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” Jim Croce’s “I Got A Name,” and Barry Manilow’s “Ready To Take A Chance Again,” as well as iconic television show themes for Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat and Wonder Woman.
The film follows Fox’s life and career from his Jewish roots in the Bronx to Paris where he studied with the legendary teacher Nadia Boulanger (who taught Aaron Copland, Quincy Jones, and Michel Legrand among others), and landed in Hollywood in the 1970’s where he wrote scores for over 100 films and TV shows. His Grammy-winning “Killing Me Softly With His Song” was a global chart topper for Roberta Flack as well as the Fugees. Featuring performances and an array of entertainers—Rita Wilson, Jason Alexander, Paul Williams, Diane Warren, Alexandre Desplat and Henry Winkler to rapper-actor Common and more—this utterly engaging profile of a wildly talented yet humble artist showcases music’s unique ability to transcend languages, borders and genres.
TUESDAY, MAY 23
VISHNIAC
LA Festival Premiere!
Directed by Laura Bialis
Written by Sophie Sartain
Produced by Nancy Spielberg & Roberta Grossman
Documentary/USA/2023/English/ 93 mins
Q&A with Director Laura Bialis (Refusenik, Rock in the Red Zone)
Roman Vishniac is best known for having traversed Eastern Europe from 1935 through 1938, on assignment for the American Joint Distribution Committee, to photograph Jewish life in Eastern Europe. The purpose of the photographs was to raise funds for impoverished Jewish communities. Few predicted that less than a decade later, these communities would be wiped out, and that Vishniac’s photographs would provide the last visual records of an entire world.
After the war, Vishniac’s documentation continues with photographs of Berlin in ruins and children in displaced persons camps before he shifts his focus to groundbreaking scientific work.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Laura Bialis (Refusenik, Rock in the Red Zone), Vishniac goes behind the images and beyond the myths to portray a man who took those closest to him to the brink of rejection, yet gave the world a collection as diverse and beautiful as the eye can see.
Produced by Nancy Spielberg & Roberta Grossman (Reckonings, Who Will Write Our History, Above and Beyond)
Executive Produced by Ori & Mirit Eisen (Who Will Write Our History, Picture Of His Life)
- Q&A with Director Laura Bialis
- Tuesday, May 23, 7:30 pm
- Laemmle’s Royal
11523 Santa Monica Bl., West Los Angeles Sponsored by the Goldrich Family Foundation and the Cayton-Goldrich Foundation
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24
World Premiere!
THE ASSEMBLY
A New Musical Film & Live Musical Performance by HERSHEY FELDER
CLOSING NIGHT
Featuring Q&A with Hershey Felder and Moses Libitzky following the film
Live Performance Concert by HERSHEY FELDER and student artists to follow Q&A
World Premiere!
Written & Directed by Hershey Felder
Documentary/USA, Poland/2023/English/ 98 mins
Eight diverse students, from the famed San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts travel back in time with their mentors to war-torn Europe. As the young artists find history, we find them, and in so doing, discover their stories of resilience, identity and music.
The Assembly, a film written and directed by Hershey Felder and filmed in Poland, was inspired by the work of Holocaust survivor Eva Libitzky, who lost all of her family in the Holocaust during World War II. For the last 40 years of her life, Libitzky made it her mission to tell her harrowing life story at hundreds of school assemblies to ensure the young people of America never forget what happened in Europe 80 years ago. Libitzky passed away at 97 in 2021, but this new film featuring these eight students will carry on her legacy.
- Q&A with Hershey Felder and Moses Libitzky
- Wedneday, May 24, 7:30 pm
- The Wallis-Annenberg Performing Arts Center
9390 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills - Sponsored by the Libitzky Family Foundation
This ticket link below will take you directly to the Wallis’s website where all the ticketing will be handled.
