EVENT PREVIEW
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
Through Feb. 20 at Regal Cinemas North Point Market 8, Georgia Theatre Company Merchants Walk, Lefont Sandy Springs, United Artists Tara Cinemas 4, Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station Stadium 18, Westside Cultural Arts Center (Creative Loafing Art Party on Feb. 8 only, $18) and Woodruff Arts Center's Rich Auditorium (closing day/night only). Tickets: $11; ages 65 and older, students with ID and ages 12 and under, $9; weekday matinees (until 4 p.m.), $8. 1-866-214-2072, www.ajff.org.
As the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival enters its second weekend, and nears the halfway mark, here is a guide to 10 current offerings. With sellouts frequent at Atlanta's largest film fest, it's best to check its website (www.ajff.org) before heading to the cinema. (Screenings noted as sold out below are as of press time.)
"In the Shadow" is a noirish political thriller that was the Czech Republic's official entry to the Academy Awards for consideration of a best foreign film nomination. (12:10 p.m. Feb. 7, Merchants Walk; 8:40 p.m. Feb. 9, Lefont Sandy Springs; 8:40 p.m. Feb. 16, Atlantic Station)
"The Third Half" was Macedonia's official Oscar nominee entry, telling the story of forbidden love between the daughter of a wealthy Jewish banker and a poor Eastern Orthodox Christian soccer player. (2:20 p.m. Feb. 7, North Point; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, Lefont Sandy Springs)
"The Jewish Cardinal" is the true story of a Polish Jew who converted to Catholicism and became the archbishop of Paris. (2:50 p.m. Feb. 7, Merchants Walk; Feb. 9 and 10 sold out; 11:40 a.m. Feb. 13, Atlantic Station)
"Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story" is a documentary about the son of a Winnipeg rabbi who becomes one of Canada's best-known comics. (7:30 p.m. Feb. 8, North Point; 10:10 p.m. Feb. 15, Lefont Sandy Springs; 3:30 p.m. Feb. 16, Atlantic Station)
"Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love" is an affectionate documentary about the music man. (7:30 p.m. Feb. 8, Lefont Sandy Springs; 2:45 p.m. Feb. 14, Atlantic Station; 3 p.m. Feb. 20, Woodruff Arts Center)
The Creative Loafing Art Party, pitched for 20- and 30-somethings, will celebrate iconic Jewish filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and the Coen brothers. It's planned as an "immersive" film-themed happening, with projections from the honorees' films, contemporary takes on classic movie poster art, photo booths, DJ, food and drink. (8 p.m. Feb. 8, Westside Cultural Arts Center; $18)
"Like Brothers" is a bittersweet French road movie in which a mismatched trio of French guys fulfill the dying wishes of a young woman. (9:45 p.m. Feb. 8, Lefont Sandy Springs; 1:25 p.m. Feb. 14, Lefont Sandy Springs; 2:15 p.m. Feb. 18, Atlantic Station)
"The Zigzag Kid" is a Dutch adventure in which the 13-year-old son of a great detective seeks to solve the mystery of his own identity. Isabella Rossellini plays a seductive nightclub chanteuse whom the boy encounters. (3:50 p.m. Feb. 9, Lefont Sandy Springs; 6:05 p.m. Feb. 9, North Point; 2:45 p.m. Feb. 17, Atlantic Station)
"Before the Revolution" is a documentary about Israelis living in Tehran, Iran, before the 1979 overthrow of the shah. (6:25 p.m. Feb. 9, Lefont Sandy Springs; Feb. 10 sold out; 2:45 p.m. Feb. 19, Lefont Sandy Springs)
"Driving Miss Daisy" is being shown in celebration of its 25th anniversary, followed by a panel discussion with many who worked on the Atlanta-filmed favorite starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman. (8 p.m. Feb. 11, Lefont Sandy Springs)
