23rd Annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival Begins June 3rd at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinema

The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival, held annually at the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema (1701 S Lindbergh Blvd #210, St Louis, MO 63131), is one of the local Jewish community’s most popular and highly attended events of the year.  Each year, the festival presents international Jewish films, both documentaries and features that explore universal issues through traditional Jewish values, opposing viewpoints and new perspectives. And each year, the fest packs ‘em in so get there early – it’s first come first serve for seats and those Frontenac theaters aren’t very big. Attendance is always through the roof for this thing, a testament to the group’s marketing and choice of programming. Guest lecturers are brought to the fest to discuss and illuminate the subjects of these films.

The 23^rd Annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival opens with two exciting films on Sunday, June 3 at the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema. The first, Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel (1pm) …“Heading Home” charts the journey of Israel’s underdog national baseball team competing for the first time in the World Baseball Classic with a line-up that included several Jewish American Major League players. Finally, Team Israel ranked among the world’s best in 2017, eligible to play in the prestigious international tournament.

The opening day continues at 4:00pm with Maktub (Fate) an Israeli comedy which follows two crime ring collectors who survive terrorist attack and vow to change their ways. The pair’s comedic and touching journey proves a funny-warm-hearted tale of how Maktub (fate) can change one’s life.

The 7pm screening Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me is an homage to a uniquely gifted entertainer who led a complex and contradictory life, encompassing his stage debut at age three to some of his final performances. Davis strove to achieve the American dream in a time of racial prejudice and shifting political lines.

The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival continues through Thursday, June 7 with its celebration of Jewish life through 16 documentary and feature films. While all films depict a slice of the Jewish experience, the films are universal and meant to be appealing to all, regardless of faith.

Remarkable artistic figures (Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story), ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances (The Essential Link: The Story of Wilfrid Israel, musician Itzhak Perlman. Films are brought to life in comedy (Let Yourself Go),  dramas (The Last Suit), mysteries (Shelter and Budapest Noir). A new romantic comedy featuring actors on the autistic spectrum (Keep the Change). Features originate from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the United States.

All films will screen at the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema (Lindbergh & Clayton Road). Ticket prices vary. An Opening Day feature ticket costs $15 each or purchase the double feature for $25 and triple for $40. Tickets for weekday films are $12 in advance and $13 at the door. Or, purchase a four-pack of weekday films for $44. Student tickets (age 16 and under) are $8 for weekday films and $10 for opening day.

Look for continued coverage of The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival here at We Are Movie Geeks. 

Purchase tickets by phone 314 442-3179 or online at brownpapertickets.com
View the complete Film Festival schedule at stljewishfilmfestival.org

Download the Program PDF at https://www.dropbox.com/s/uiutdtkey1xxj69/10635_CA_2018%20JFF%20Brochure_FINAL%20-%20crp.pdf?dl=0

This year’s Jewish Film Festival co-chairs are Marilyn Brown, Jeffrey Korn and Paula Sigel. The Jewish Film Festival is a program of the Jewish Community Center.