#FIRSTLOOK: 2023 TORONTO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL LINEUP UNVEILED

The Toronto Jewish Film Foundation is proud to announce its 31st Festival, which will be taking place from June 1 – 11, 2023. The Festival program will consist of 77 films/series (including 28 Canadian premieres) from across the globe covering a variety of topics, including The Man in the Basement, which will open the Festival on June 1st, 2023 at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema with director Philippe Le Guay in attendance.

The Festival will be taking a hybrid approach, making it more accessible to a wider audience – with certain screenings in person at theatres including Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Innis Town Hall, and more, in addition to a selection of virtual screenings which can be found at tjff.com.

“In 2020, when the Festival had to go online, I said ‘I hope when this is all over, we won’t forget how important the arts were during our long lonely lockdown days,’” says Helen Zukerman, Artistic Director. “We nurtured our souls by what we saw on our screens. Now TJFF invites you back to the theatre (or your home theatre) as we nurture you once again.”

The Festival will also offer several free events, including:

An Afternoon with Saul Rubinek, where the actor-writer-director will reflect on his career now spanning five decades, with clips highlighting his legacy in film and television.

TJFF Archival Series (available online Canada-wide), honouring the works of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Paul Morrison with the curated series Capturing the British Jewish Experience, and Canadian icon Saul Rubinek with rarities from the CBC archive.

Nina and Friends (available online Canada-wide), Puppeteer Nina Keogh (Today’s Special, Mr. Dressup) offers unique access to the history of children’s television and insight into the contributions of many other Jewish artists to the industry.

Outdoor Screening of Karaoke, Winner of the Jerusalem Film Festival Audience Award, and nominated for 14 Ophir Awards (Israeli Oscars) including Best Film.

OY Canada: A Short Film Programme, a collection of short films showcasing a mix of filmmaking styles, offers a window into the physical and mental spaces that help define today’s Canadian Jewish experience.

“This year has been a stellar one for film selection; there was a lot to choose from.” says Stuart Hands, Director of Programming. “I am excited about the number of new engaging Canadian films in this year’s lineup, in addition to the dozens of moving international films. We are proud to be showcasing stories from all over the world – from Uganda (Shalom Putti) to Ukraine (SHTTL). There’s even a modern-day musical set in Toronto! (Less Than Kosher)”

See below for 10 of the 77 films that will be screening at this year’s Festival (listed in order of screening date):

THE MAN IN THE BASEMENT

(Opening Night Film)

Philippe Le Guay | France

Canadian Premiere

CONCERNED CITIZEN

Idan Haguel | Israel

Canadian Premiere

BURNING OFF THE PAGE

Eli Gorn | Canada

Ontario Premiere

THE DELEGATION

Asaf Saban | Israel / Poland / Germany

Canadian Premiere

LESS THAN KOSHER

Daniel Rosenberg | Canada

World Premiere

QUEEN OF THE DEUCE

Valerie Kontakos | Greece / Canada

SHTTL

Ady Walter | France / Ukraine

Ontario Premiere

A SKINNAMARINK AFTERNOON WITH SHARON LOIS AND BRAM

IMORDECAI

Marvin Samel | United States

Ontario Premiere

VISHNIAC

(Closing Night Film)

Laura Bialis | United States

Canadian Premiere

The full 2023 Festival lineup can be found at tjff.com/tjff2023.