Toronto Jewish Film Festival returns for eight day stay

The 19^th annual Toronto Jewish Film Festival is returning to Toronto May 7, for an eight day run in which 118 films from 20 different countries will be featured.

The festival will be screening the films at four locations throughout Toronto, beginning with the premiere of Elan Gale’s documentary entitled Looking For Lenny, which follows the life of the late comedian and social commentator Lenny Bruce.

Another feature this year is a tribute to “Three Lennys.” The Three Lennys is a 19 part series exploring and celebrating the lives and careers of Leonard Bernstein, Leonard Cohen and Lenny Bruce.

TJFF will additionally be hosting the world premiere of Between Two Worlds, a documentary by Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow. The documentary explores the redefining of Jewish identity and politics. Directors Kaufman and Snitow will be in attendance, and will be speaking to the audience following the film.

You can also see the international premiere of I Shall Remember by Vitaly Vorobjev and the Canadian premiere of Yoav Potash’s Crime After Crime following its premiere at Sundance. Other Canadian premieres include The Karski Report by Claude Lanzman and A Jewish Girl in Shanghai, which is the first animated film from China that deals with the Holocaust.

In a new partnership will Hillel, TJFF will be paying tribute to the achievements of Israeli film schools, in which students have produced world acknowledged short films, that are recognized at film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, New York, and Tribeca.

The festival will close May 15 with Leonard Cohen: Live in London, a July 2008 recorded concert that features 26 songs by the talented Canadian artist.

Make sure to get your ticket at http://www.tjff.com/ as this year’s festival is sure to be full of amazing films that showcase the talent of its filmmakers and actors, and display the diversity of Jewish life.