The Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) is proud to partner with Roger Williams University (RWU) and present its Spring Edition of the Annual Roving
Eye International Film Festival™. The popular and acclaimed festival celebrating global cinema and artists, announces its 2016 sidebar program on the RWU Jewish Experience Series through short films, documentary, media and a guest speaker.
The event takes place April 12, 13 & 17th, 2016. Through film and scholarship, the series tells the stories of the Jewish experience globally—stories of joy and sorrow, faith, diasporas, rich culture, fear and hope—stories that must be told again and again. The series is hosted by the Rev. Nancy Hamlin Soukup, University Multifaith Chaplain, RWU.
All programming is free of charge and open to the public and screened on the campus of Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI.
TUESDAY, April 12th:
5:00 p.m.
Location: Global Heritage Hall, Room 01
Hosted by Rev. Nancy Hamlin Soukup, University Multifaith Chaplain, RWU
STORIES FROM THE HEART:
Documentary & Short Film Screenings
Introduced by Kyle P. Gravel, Creative Writing Major
Hosted by Alice Cross, Adjunct Professor, Communications and the Rev. Nancy Soukup, RWU Multifaith Chaplain
SUPERMAN ISN'T JEWISH (...AND I AM, A BIT) | Directed by: Jimmy Bemon| 30 min. France, 2014
When he finds out that it's because he's Jewish that his willy is different, young Benjamin decides to do everything he can to hide his religion and keep his secret...
MIRIAM BEERMAN: EXPRESSING THE CHAOS | Directed by: Jonathan Gruber | 53 min. USA, 2015
Miriam Beerman was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1923 with a visual gift for the world around her. She quickly knew that painting would be her life. A recipient of two Fulbright fellowships, among numerous other honors, she had the first-ever solo female show at the Brooklyn Museum in 1971. Yet even in the art world she was challenged as a woman in another male-dominated profession.
From New England to Paris to New York, Miriam's artistic demons have led to haunting images that evoke the suffering of generations of victims. Her gripping work is housed at some of the most hallowed institutions in the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Corcoran Museum of Art, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the Jewish Museum in New York, Yale University, the Mint Museum, and the U.S. State Department.
At 91 years old, Miriam now lives in a residence home near her family in Washington, D.C. Her memory is not what it once was, yet she is still generating compelling and forceful art. It's one of the only things she is sure of.
The film is a memorable profile of an artist who has elevated her empathy for the plight of the world's castoffs into powerful portrayals of dignity.
Introduced by Max D. Schlichtmann, Communications Major
Hosted by Rev. Nancy Soukup, Multifaith Chaplain
GOODBYE THERESIENSTADT | Directed by: Carl Otto Dethlefsen and Jonatan Jerichow | 58 min. Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Israel, 2015
Over 7,000 Jews escaped from Denmark to Sweden when the occupying Germans tried to round up Danish Jews in October 1943. Yet regrettably, 470 Jewish men, women and children were captured and put into cattle cars bound for the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Seventy years after they were miraculously rescued from Theresienstadt, six Danish Jews who were children at the time return to the concentration camp where they suffered for a year and a half, consumed by hunger, anxiety and fear of what tomorrow might bring. The six individual stories are intertwined, as the survivors tell of their failed escape to Sweden, the horrible journey to Theresienstadt, the appalling conditions in the concentration camp, and finally of their rescue from Theresienstadt in the final weeks of the war. The survival of these six people illustrates what Denmark did to save the Danish Jewish population, getting most of them to safety, and trying to protect those who were captured and interned.
ORO MACHT FREI / GOLD WILL SET YOU FREE | Directed by: Jeffrey Bonna |70 min. Italy, USA, 2014
After Italy's Armistice with the Allied Armies (Sept 8, 1943), the Germans occupied the Italian peninsula as far south as Naples. Rome and its ancient Jewish population fell under German control. 'Oro Macht Frei' tells the story of the 9-month Nazi occupation of Rome through the testimonies of 9 Roman Jews, archival footage, family photos and the contribution of renowned historians, Alexander Stille, Susan Zuccotti, Liliana Picciotto, Frank Coppa and Robert Katz. In addition to stories of hiding and arrest, OMF examines the period of Mussolini's Racial Laws (1938-1945) as well as the Catholic Church's response to the round-up of the Roman Jews.
SUNDAY, April 17th:
3:00 p.m.
Location: Global Heritage Hall, Room 01
THE STORIES WE TELL
Documentary Screening and Director's Discussion
Introduced by Evan M. Mozzer, Graduate Architecture Major
Hosted by Rev. Nancy Soukup, Multifaith Chaplain
EINE GUTE GESCHICHTE (A Good Story) | Directed by: Martin-Christopher Bode | 20 min. Germany, 2013
When Helga Landowsky discovers the broken jug in an antiques store near the German/Polish border, she wants to have it at any cost. But the old lady has reckoned without Jakub Lato. Because the antiquarian does not want to trade his ware for money. In exchange for the jug, he wants Helga to tell him a story. And a story she can tell. It is an experience from the second world war. A story about pain and loss. And while Helga is still narrating, she and Jakub begin to realize that both their lives are wondrously interwoven. And that they are now, almost 70 years later, telling the story is last chapter together. Because only this way, the story can finally become a good story.
GERMAN SHEPHERD | Directed by: Nils Bergendal | 10 min. Sweden, 2014
Growing up as an American Jew with a Holocaust survivor mother, David is haunted by 'the Nazi thing', an irrational fear for Germans and an obsession with Holocaust movies. Nils Bergendal interprets David's interview into a wry animated introspection, questioning whether it's wise to look to the past for answers.
IT TAKES A SCHOOL | Directed by: Tami Gross and Maya Rothschild | 57 min. Israel, 2015
Tel Hai, ranking in the top tenth percentile of all primary schools in Israel is surprisingly situated in Kfar Shalem, one of the most distressed neighborhoods in Tel Aviv. The population consists of mostly low income and broken families, new immigrants, foreign workers and African asylum seekers. A few years ago, principal Einat Berger went on a sabbatical, feeling frustrated. Violence was surging, students' achievements were poor, and teachers' morale was low. Upon returning, Einat introduced a revolutionary approach, “the Language of Mindfulness,” a method incorporating meditation techniques, Yoga practices and guided imagery adapted for children. Aiming to focus on the students’ emotional well-being, to bolster their self-confidence and to help them discover and develop their talents. This is the key according to Einat's understanding to improve their academic achievements and help them forge a place for themselves in the world.
Tel Hai is one of the first schools in the world to incorporate a program such as this as part of its public education programming. . Teachers are constantly incorporating these techniques in their regular classes. Now the school can hardly be recognized. A unique experiment is underway, benefiting not only the students and teachers, but even parents and the community. Parents from more affluent neighborhoods are clamoring to have their children accepted into the school. As we began to look closer at the student body, we uncovered some remarkable children with inspirational stories behind them. Our film shows the program at work, and the impact it has on them. Is there a lesson to be learned here? Can such a school become a model worldwide?
4:30 p.m.
Location: Global Heritage Hall, Room 01
THE STORIES WE TELL, PART 2
Short Film Screenings and Panel Discussion
Introduced by Marc S. Sullivan, Graduate Architecture Major.
Hosted by Rev. Nancy Soukup, Multifaith Chaplain, with Guest Panelists: Andrew Lund, filmmaker/entertainment lawyer, and Brian Mayer, cantor Temple Emanu-El, Providence
PARIS ON THE WATER | Directed by: Hadas Ayalon | 29 min. Israel, 2015
Paris on the Water tells the story of a passionate woman who is imprisoned in a sick body and is forced to confront her age, her husband and the reality of her life.
WANDERING RABBI | Directed by: Henry Wiener | 14 min. USA, 2014
Wandering Rabbi follows Rabbi Marshal Klaven, a 34 year old, itinerant rabbi, as he travels across the American South, visiting a circuit of small Jewish communities, leading Shabbat services, ministering at life cycle events, and providing guidance and advice to the members of these small communities.
REVERENCE | Directed by: Collin Kornfeind| 13 min. USA, 2015
'Reverence' is a documentary short that explores the meaning and context behind branded yarmulkes and the concept of reverence in America today. From a Batman symbol to a Mets logo – this small icon of reverence has been adapted to the mainstream. 'Reverence' explores the phenomenon of custom and branded yarmulkes in Jewish-American communities, the religious norms that custom kippahs challenge in a capitalistic society, and the notion of 'fitting in' and 'standing out' within the Reform and Conservative Jewish community.
SAMUEL-613 | Directed by: Billy Lumby | 15 min. United Kingdom, 2015
The story of Shmilu, a Hasidic Jew in crisis, torn between his community and the romantic possibilities of trendy East London. This is the first fictional film made with the UK's Hasidic population, including non-professional actors and Yiddish dialogue. It explores culture clash, identity struggle and the spiritual consequences. (BAFTA 2016 Nominee for Best Short)
About our Guest Speakers:
Andrew Lund, a filmmaker and entertainment lawyer, Andrew is an Associate Professor and Director of the Integrated Media Arts MFA Program in the Film & Media Department at Hunter College of the City University of New York and a Faculty Associate at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute; he is also a faculty member of the Film Studies Department at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and has taught in the Graduate Film Division of Columbia University, where he received J.D., M.F.A. and B.A. degrees. Brief Reunion, a feature film that Andrew produced and co-edited, won the top prize for narrative filmmaking at the 2011 UFVA conference and the Audience Award for Best Film at New York’s 2011 Gotham International Film Festival. My Last Day Without You, on which Andrew served as executive producer, recently won the top producing honors at the 2011 Brooklyn International Film Festival and will be released theatrically in Europe this fall. Andrew is the Executive Producer of nine feature films, including The Hungry Ghosts, written and directed by Michael Imperioli; Vanaja, named by Roger Ebert as one of the top five foreign films of 2007, and Arranged, an international hit that Variety called “a pure pleasure to watch” Andrew has also written and directed five award winning short films. In addition to worldwide festival screenings and television broadcasts, his shorts are included in film textbooks, DVD compilations, and distributed theatrically and non-theatrically. Andrew founded and curates CinemaTalks, the independent film screening and discussion series, and he created the Short Film Repository, which houses educational extras that support short filmmaking. Andrew’s writing on film includes an essay, “What’s a Short Film, Really?” in “Swimming Upstream: A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution” by Sharon Badal, numerous book reviews for the journal, Film International, and two books on independent filmmaking in the works for Peter Lang Publishers.
Cantor Mayer’s resume is diverse and rich. He conveys Jewish knowledge through his love of chanting, teaching, composing, conducting and performing Jewish music. For the past quarter century, Cantor Mayer has led Shabbat and High Holy Day services, using well-loved cantorial melodies and teaching new tunes that have become familiar favorites. Cantor Mayer has incorporated beloved Yiddish standards and his own choral compositions into this eclectic mix.
Cantor Mayer is a respected scholar of Hazzanut (Jewish cantorial music) who is known nationally for his innovative, artistic and participatory music programming. He is loved for his commitment to the Temple’s youth through his extraordinary Torah Tutor program, his Religious School teaching and the development of the Kol Kesem/HaZamir teen choir. The music program he has built at Temple Emanu-El is diverse and unique: in addition to HaZamir, he has established Shir Emanu-El and developed the Temple Emanu-El choir, two accomplished adult choirs, as well as the Shabbat Chai and Kol Klezmer bands.
In 2009, Cantor Mayer was the artistic director of the award-winning “Shining Through Broken Glass: A Kristallnacht Concert,” a regional event which featured musicians and performers from the larger community and the actor and artist Leonard Nimoy as narrator. Cantor Mayer has also brought an exuberant spirit of musical collaboration to annual community interfaith observances, including the Martin Luther King Day community event.
Nationally, Cantor Mayer has conducted adult choirs at the annual North American Jewish Choral Festival; and HaZamir, the international Jewish high school choir, at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.
Cantor Mayer is associate professor of Jewish Music and dean of the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College in Boston. He taught for 14 years at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York as an assistant professor of Hazzanut. Cantor Mayer was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, where he later earned a Doctor of Sacred Music degree.
CLOSING NIGHT RECEPTION & AWARDS CEREMONY
Follows Immediately
Join as we conclude our celebration of the 11th Anniversary of the Roving Eye International Film Festival, a unique collaboration between Roger Williams University and Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, and we announce the winners of this year’s Roving Eye Awards.
Location: Global Heritage Hall, Atrium
All programming for the Festival has been produced by students in the Curation and Film Production Class that includes: Ziyad M. Almutairi, Jordan A. Berry, Jenna M. Brink, Michael J. Cardi, Madeline C. Cirullo, Andre D. Courtois, Alexander M. DeLalla, Bradley S. Fagan, Joshua T. Grab, Kyle P. Gravel, Benjamin J. Horst, Zachary R. Kline, Evan M. Mozzer, Masahiro Odagawa, Sarah E. Reid, Stephanie L. Ressler, Christopher M. Rossi, Elle Schaffhauser, Max D. Schlichtmann, Catherine F. Smeykal, Marc S. Sullivan, and John R. Tateossian; with support from Alex Campbell and Francis Ferdinand.
For more information, contact the Spiritual Life Program at Roger Williams University, email nsoukup@rwu.edu. Directions to Roger Williams University can be found at www.rwu.edu
ABOUT ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY:
Roger Williams University located in Bristol, R.I. is a leading independent, coeducational university with programs in the liberal arts and the professions, where students become community- and globally-minded citizens. With 42 academic majors, an array of co-curricular activities and study abroad opportunities on six continents, RWU is an opencommunity dedicated to the success of students, commitment to a set of corevalues and providing a world-class education above all else. In the last decade, the University has achieved unprecedented successes including recognition as one of the best colleges in the nation by Forbes, a College of Distinction by Student Horizons, Inc. and as both a best college in the Northeast and one of the nation’s greenest universities by The Princeton Review. For more information, go to: www.rwu.edu.
ABOUT FLICKERS' RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:
The Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), has secured its place in the global community as the portal for the best in international independent cinema, earning the respect of domestic and foreign filmmakers, filmgoers and trend watchers. Ranked as one of the top 10 Festivals in the United States, RIIFF is a qualifying festival for the Narrative, Documentary and Animation Short Academy Awards through its affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). There are only 6 film festivals worldwide that share this distinction and RIIFF is the only festival in New England. The Festival takes place every August.
For more information about the Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, running Aug. 9-14, 2016 at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) and The Vets (formerly Veterans Memorial Auditorium), please visit call 401.861.4445.
RWU PARKING INFORMATION:From Providence: Take Routes 136 South or 114 S passing campus on the left. Take a left at the traffic light just before the Mount Hope Bridge, onto Old Ferry Road. Take the first right into the parking lot.
From Newport: Take 114N over the Mount Hope Bridge and take the first right off the bridge onto Old Ferry Road. Take the first right into the parking lot.
Guests should enter through the main entrance at the fountain. they will be able to obtain a guest parking pass. Lot 24a will be blocked off for guests of the festival. Proceed through the main entrance through to the lot 24a on left. This event will take place in the Mary Tefft White Cultural Center and the Global Heritage Hall.
The 2016 Roving Eye International Film Festival is sponsored by The RI Film & the Television Office; Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival; Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Edge Media Network, the Edwin S. Soforenko Foundation; the Helene and Bertram Bernhardt Foundation; Roger Williams University Office of the Provost; the RWU Department of Communication and Graphic Design, Dean Robert Eisinger, RWU Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Roberta Adams, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; the RWU Film Production Collaborative, the RWU Screenwriter’s Guild, RWU Hillel, and the Spiritual Life Office.
SUPERMAN ISN'T JEWISH (...AND I AM, A BIT) | Directed by: Jimmy Bemon| 30 min. France, 2014
When he finds out that it's because he's Jewish that his willy is different, young Benjamin decides to do everything he can to hide his religion and keep his secret... 
GOODBYE THERESIENSTADT | Directed by: Carl Otto Dethlefsen and Jonatan Jerichow | 58 min. Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Israel, 2015 
REVERENCE | Directed by: Collin Kornfeind| 13 min. USA, 2015 
Andrew Lund, a filmmaker and entertainment lawyer, Andrew is an Associate Professor and Director of the Integrated Media Arts MFA Program in the Film & Media Department at Hunter College of the City University of New York and a Faculty Associate at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute; he is also a faculty member of the Film Studies Department at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and has taught in the Graduate Film Division of Columbia University, where he received J.D., M.F.A. and B.A. degrees. Brief Reunion, a feature film that Andrew produced and co-edited, won the top prize for narrative filmmaking at the 2011 UFVA conference and the Audience Award for Best Film at New York’s 2011 Gotham International Film Festival. My Last Day Without You, on which Andrew served as executive producer, recently won the top producing honors at the 2011 Brooklyn International Film Festival and will be released theatrically in Europe this fall. Andrew is the Executive Producer of nine feature films, including The Hungry Ghosts, written and directed by Michael Imperioli; Vanaja, named by Roger Ebert as one of the top five foreign films of 2007, and Arranged, an international hit that Variety called “a pure pleasure to watch” Andrew has also written and directed five award winning short films. In addition to worldwide festival screenings and television broadcasts, his shorts are included in film textbooks, DVD compilations, and distributed theatrically and non-theatrically. Andrew founded and curates CinemaTalks, the independent film screening and discussion series, and he created the Short Film Repository, which houses educational extras that support short filmmaking. Andrew’s writing on film includes an essay, “What’s a Short Film, Really?” in “Swimming Upstream: A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution” by Sharon Badal, numerous book reviews for the journal, Film International, and two books on independent filmmaking in the works for Peter Lang Publishers.
Brian Mayer, cantor Temple Emanu-El, Providence
