Jewish International Film Festival 2018

Overview

While many of Australia's film festivals showcase the cinema of a particular country, region or genre, the Jewish International Film Festival embraces an entire culture. From films about famous comedians to thrilling docos about strange-but-true tales to award-winning dramas, if it ties into JIFF's Jewish focus in any shape or form — and from almost any country or filmmaker — then it's probably on the fest's program.

In 2018, that means Love, Gilda, about original Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner; The Twinning Reaction, which uses a different angle on the real-life situation also chronicled in Three Identical Strangers; and Israeli effort Redemption, about an devout musician contemplating returning to his rocker ways in a time of personal crisis. In a star-studded lineup, other highlights include Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy as a writer who dabbles in literary forgery, Matthew Broderick in buddy comedy To Dust and Charlotte Gainsbourg in French biopic Promise at Dawn.

From Wednesday, October 24, JIFF runs across three Melbourne venues: at Classic Cinema Elsternwick until Wednesday, November 21, at Lido Cinemas Hawthorn from Thursday, October 25 until the same end date, and at Cameo Cinemas Belgrave between Wednesday, November 8 and Sunday, November 18. Marking its 29th year, the full program features more than 60 films from 23 countries — and, if you're keen to hear more about some of the flicks, plenty of post-screening Q&As. If you're hungry, a borek bake-off is also on the menu.