Embassy of France
When:
February 24, 2016 - March 6, 2016
26th Washington Jewish Film Festival

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy announce the 26th edition of theWashington Jewish Film Festival. By presenting more than 80 international films, the festival celebrates the diversity of Jewish history, culture and experience through cinema.

Six French films or French co-productions will be presented during the 2016 edition.

Black Jews: the Roots of The Olive Tree by Laurence Gavron
Wednesday, March 2, 6:45 pm | Bethesda Row Cinema
Thursday, March 3, 6:30 pm | E Street Cinema

The film presents a dozen of African tribes — in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and other countries — exploring and defending their Jewish roots. Some claim to be descendants of the Bible’s Ten Lost Tribes; others believe that their ancestors were Jews who emigrated from Judea to Yemen. The film focuses on the modern-day practice of Judaism throughout Africa, as well as of recent African immigrants in Israel.

Look At Us Now, Mother! by Gayle Kirschenbaum
Thursday, February 25, 6:15 pm | Bethesda Row Cinema
Sunday, February 28, 1:30 pm | JCC of Greater Washington, Rockville

Focusing on fraught family relationships, the documentary follows the transformation of a critical mother and her daughter, the director Gayle Kirschenbaum. The film takes the audience on a journey spanning decades and continents, filled with conflict and emotional land mines. Exploring the misery behind the women’s resentment of each other, Look At Us Now, Mother! is an intimate story about family dysfunctions and forgiveness.

The Law by Christian Faure
Thursday, February 25, 8:15 pm | Bethesda Row Cinema
Monday, February 29, 8:45 pm | E Street Cinema
Saturday, March 5, 4:45 pm | DCJCC

In 1974, Health Minister Simone Veil - an Auschwitz survivor – was charged with decriminalizing abortion and easing access to contraceptives. As portrayed by Emmanuelle Devos, this taut political thriller follows her as she faces strong opposition from politicians, public, and the Catholic Church.

No Home Movie by Chantal Akerman
Monday, February 29, 7:15 pm | AFI Silver Theatre
Tuesday, March 1, 8:15 pm | West End Cinema

As a tribute to her mother Natalia, a Polish immigrant and Auschwitz survivor who died in 2014 and is in the center of her work, Chantal Akerman directed her portrait in the last years of her life. This snapshot of her mother’s daily life also shows the closeness between mother and daughter, while being a rare work of art that is both personal and universal.

One Day Pina Asked... by Chantal Akerman
Thursday, March 3, 1:30 pm | DCJCC
Sunday, March 6, 5:15 pm | AFI Silver Theatre

An encounter between two women artists of the 20th century, One Day Pina Asked… is Chantal Akerman’s look at the work of German choreographer Pina Bausch and her dance company. “This film is more than a documentary on Pina Bausch’s work”, the narrator announces, “it is a journey through her world, through her unwavering quest of love.”

Once In A Lifetime by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar
Saturday, February 27, 4:15 pm | E Street Cinema
Tuesday, March 1, 8:45 pm | Bethesda Row Cinema
Thursday, March 3, 8:45 pm | DCJCC

Based on a true story, the film shows the project of a high school history teacher in France, managing to get her toughest class involved in a collective project: a national competition on the theme of child victims of the Nazi concentration camps.

All the films will be screened with English subtitles.

For more information and the full schedule, please clickhere.

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