Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Schedule Announced Monday

From Jan. 29 to Feb. 20, he Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will present 152 screenings of 65 films from 20 countries will be shown at 7 metro theatres:

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

Regal Cinemas North Point Market 8

Georgia Theatre Company Merchants Walk

Lefont Sandy Springs

United Artists Tara Cinemas

Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station Stadium 18

Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Auditorium

The full lineup can be found at www.ajff.org and tickets go on sale January 5. Last year, many films sold out early. Response isn’t just because of the Jewish subject matter of the films or the Jewish filmmakers behind them — that metro film lovers mainly are responding to the rich selection of international and independent cinema that might not otherwise play here. 

The AJFF will present a half-dozen features submitted as official Oscar best foreign language film entries by their home countries for 2014: “Bethlehem” by Israel; “The German Doctor,” Argentina; “In the Shadow,” Czech Republic; “Omar,” Palestinian territories; “The Third Half,” Macedonia    ; and “Transit,” Philippines. 

 Selections include: 

 ”Run Boy Run,” commanding the prestige opening night slot, Jan. 29 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. German director Pepe Danquart’s film dramatizes the true story of a 9-year-old boy who escapes the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, Poland, into the woods, where he survives until World War II’s end. 

 “Jews and Muslims: Intimate Strangers,” the North American premiere of a four-part, 208-minute French documentary, exploring 14 centuries of shared history between the faiths. 

 A 25th anniversary screening of “Driving Miss Daisy,” followed by a panel with many who worked on the Atlanta-filmed favorite. Other revivals: Sidney Lumet’s “The Pawnbroker” (50th anniversary) and “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” (40th). 

 A trio of documentaries     exploring Jewish comedy: “Mel Brooks: Make a Noise,” “Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story” and “When Jews Were Funny.” 

 ”Next Year Jerusalem,” a documentary about eight Connecticut nursing home residents who embark on a final adventure to Israel. It’s the closing night feature, Feb. 20 at Woodruff Arts Center. Director David Gaynes calls it an exploration of “the decision to choose life in spite of death.”