Rehoboth Beach Jewish Film Festival opens March 17

In an effort to maximize the soon-to-open Rehoboth Beach Cinema Art House, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society is introducing a number of new events and festivals this year, including the inaugural Jewish Film Festival.

The festival begins March 17, and, said Sue Early, society executive director, it's great the new art house is opening with a new event.

Early said the plan was to have the art house open in January and then in February, but construction took longer than expected.

“Our plan was not to schedule an opening around a particular event,” she wrote in a March 1 email. “However, now that we are opening in March, I think it is great that the opening of the new venue will feature a new event.”

The four-day festival features seven films on Jewish themes from Israel, Germany, Canada and the United States.

“Collectively, the films offer glimpses of historical happenings, perspectives on current cultural conflicts as well as entertaining romantic drama,” Early said.

She said film is a effective communication tool that brings people of diverse backgrounds together.

“Film can educate, inspire, raise awareness, stimulate thought, as well as entertain,” she said.

The society partnered with the Rehoboth-based Seaside Jewish Community to present the festival.

Mike Salzman, community co-president, said the movie selection process began in the fall. He said representatives from the two groups collected a list of recommended films, watched them and then voted to decide which films will be shown.

Salzman said he’s looking forward to sharing all the films, but especially "Above and Beyond" and "A Blind Hero." Both movies are about history few people are aware of, he said.

Ticket prices are $11 for individual screenings, $30 for a three-film package and $45 for a five-film package. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at rehobothfilm.com or, if space permits, at the door of the art house, 17701 Dartmouth Drive, #2, Dartmouth Plaza, Lewes.

Brief movie descriptions

"Rabin in His Own Words" is about former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in 1995. Winner of the Best Documentary at the 2015 Haifa Film Festival, the film is a retelling of Rabin’s life by Rabin, through a collection of archival footage, home movies and private letters.

Following "Rabin in His Own Words," there will be a discussion led by Dr. Yoram Pen, a former political advisor to Rabin. He is the Abraham S. and Jack Kay Chair in Israel Studies and the director of the Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies at the University of Maryland.

"A Blind Hero: The Love of Otto Weidt" is a docudrama based on the true story of Weidt, who used his factory to save the lives of dozens of Berlin Jews. This film won a Gold World Medal for Germany’s Best Docudrama at the New York Festival 2015.

"A Borrowed Identity" is about Eyad, a young man who must decide whether to sacrifice his identity if he is to be accepted at a Jewish boarding school.

"Apples from the Desert" is based on an award-winning Israeli play. It is a coming-of-age drama that explores conflicts that arise in a Jewish Orthodox family when traditional values are challenged by modern-day life.

"Above and Beyond" tells the story of a group of Jewish-American pilots who smuggled planes out of the United States and flew for Israel in its War of Independence.

There will be a post-film discussion led by Alan Gropman, Distinguished Professor Emeritus for National Security Policy at the National Defense University and adjunct professor at the George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.

"Félix & Meira" explores conflicts that arise when the traditional values of Meira, a young Hasidic housewife and mother, are tested by Félix, an older man mourning the death of his father.

"Paper Clips" is a documentary about students in a rural Tennessee town who collect 6 million paper clips to represent the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis. The students then place the paper clips inside a German rail car. This movie won five Audience Choice Awards in 2004 and was also nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Historical Programming.

There will be an introduction and post-film discussion lead by Joel Simon, a counselor at Cape Henlopen High School, adjunct professor of Behavioral Sciences and Counseling at Wilmington University, and the director of the Religious School at Seaside Jewish Community.