By, Rosa Doherty
1 min read
ByRosa Doherty, Rosa Doherty
This year's UK Jewish Film Festival boasts over 80 films from 20 countries - many of which are being shown in Britain for the first time.
The line-up for the two week celebration of Jewish cinema, to take place from November 5-20, was announced this week.
Films such as Indignation, based on the novel by Philip Roth, and Israeli feature Beyond The Mountain and Hills are among those to be shown throughout London and across the country.
Other highlights of the 20th annual festival include world premieres of the short films Memory Songs and Mordechai - winners of Pears Short Film Fund.
The Diary of Anne Frank is the first German cinematic adaptation of the young Holocaust victim's famous diary.
These 20 years have seen a major leap forward in Jewish film
Also receiving its UK debut is Hummus! The Movie, a documentary which promises it "showcases the personal stories of the colourful men and women who simply live their lives and love their Hummus".
Notable guests expected to attend this year's festival of Jewish films include Emmy-nominated director, David Evans, whose credits include My Nazi Legacy, Fever Pitch and television hit Downton Abbey.
Nik Powell, the producer behind Oscar and Golden Globe-winning hits such as The Crying Game, Scandal and Mona Lisa, is also among the high profile guests.
The festival opens at the BFI Southbank with a gala performance of Indignation, and closes with a viewing of Fanny's Journey, a film about a group of Jewish youngsters fleeing Nazi-occupied France.
Michael Etherton, chief executive of UK Jewish Film said: "These last 20 years have seen a major leap forward in both the quality and quantity of international films that explore Jewish themes."
Over 15,000 people watched films under the festival banner last year and the organisers are confident that it will attract even bigger audiences in 2016.
Details at www.ukjewishfilm.org