Mandel JCC Cleveland Jewish FilmFest runs October 8-18 – 25 films, 10 countries, 9 venues The Mandel Jewish Community Center’s ninth annual Cleveland Jewish FilmFest kicks off this fall with a tremendous lineup of international films and special events. The festival, which runs October 8-18, will showcase 25 top-notch feature, documentary and short films from ten countries—all with Jewish or Israeli themes. Films will screen at nine local theaters and venues, including Shaker Square, Chagrin and Cedar Lee Cinemas. Opening Night The opening night film, “The Last Mentsch,” tells the story of an aging German Holocaust survivor who struggles to reconcile his past, having spent a lifetime concealing his Jewish identity. With no synagogue, Jewish friends or family, the hardened old man has so effectively created a new identity that, when faced with his own mortality, he finds the rabbis refusing his appeal to be buried in a Jewish cemetery. Determined to return to his birthplace to establish his ancestry, Marcus enlists the help of a brash, troubled Turkish woman. The unlikely duo sets out on an unforgettable road trip. The film screens October 8, at 7 pm, at Shaker Square Cinemas. Highlights “Little White Lie” is a personal documentary about denial, race, family secrets and a search for identity. Director Lacey Schwartz was named one of the top 13 Jewish newsmakers in 2015 by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The film screens October 14, 2 pm, at Cedar Lee Theatre. The 1922 film, “Breaking Home Ties,” was restored by the National Center for Jewish Film. The film will screen October 18 at Case Western Reserve University’s Milton and Tamar Maltz Performing Arts Center. Accompanying the film is a live original soundtrack performed by pianist Donald Sosin and violinist Joseph Morag. Tickets may be purchased for $10 for evening films and $8 for matinees. Tickets to the festival’s opening film and dessert reception are $15. For tickets, visit www.mandeljcc. org/filmfest. Tickets are also available at the Mandel JCC membership desk (no ticket sales on Saturdays). FilmFest passes, which include admission to all films and group tickets, are available by contacting Jan Rutsky at 216.831.0700 ext. 1348. The festival has received significant support from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, Ohio Arts Council, The Murphy Foundation, The Emma R. Fox Charitable Foundation, the Leonard Krieger Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, Sally and Larry Sears, Norma Lerner, Erica Hartman-Horvitz and Richard Horvitz, Heather Ross-Lowenstein and Irwin Lowenstein, David and Inez Myers Foundation, and Anat and Saul Nurko. The Mandel JCC’s 2015-2016 Arts and Culture season is supported in part by Jay Auto Group. Media sponsors are the Cleveland Jewish News, WCPN Ideastream, Scene Magazine and Your Teen Magazine. Marriott East provides accommodations for festival guests. Information about this year’s film festival is available at www.mandeljcc.org/filmfest or by calling 216.831.0700, ext. 1378. The Gathering Place to Rock the Night at GatherPalooza with a Battle of the Bands Fundraiser Professionals by day and musicians by night compete to raise the most money to support The Gathering Place Celebrating 15 years of service, The Gathering Place will host its first ever GatherPalooza fundraising event at Grays Armory in Cleveland, on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. The event will feature a Battle of the Bands between four local rock bands formed by Cleveland area professionals in healthcare, law and insurance. GatherPalooza is expected to draw more than 600 people and 100 percent of the proceeds will support the free services offered at The Gathering Place for those touched by cancer, including support groups, programming for children and teens, art therapy, nutrition and exercise classes, lectures, lending libraries, Regina Brett Wig Salons and more. “GatherPalooza is not only a celebration of our 15 years of service, but is important for keeping what we do at The Gathering Place completely free for our community,” said Eileen Saffran, chief executive officer of The Gathering Place. “We’re excited and grateful to partner with a group of great, local musicians while raising funds that will provide support to those who have been touched by cancer.” The four bands featured at GatherPalooza include The Nerve, Skin & Bones, Faith and Whiskey, and 80-HD, and the event will be emceed by Barry Gabel from Live Nation. The band members are physicians and other healthcare professionals from University Hospitals and The Cleveland Clinic as well as judges and attorneys from various firms and employees from Progressive Insurance. Attendees will be encouraged to designate their philanthropic support to the band of their choice. The band that generates the most charitable support for The Gathering Place will receive a private party during a Live Nation concert. In addition to the Battle of the Bands, raffle tickets will be available for the chance to win two tickets to the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in New York City, which also includes roundtrip airfare and two-night hotel accommodations for two. Raffle tickets may be purchased in advance of GatherPalooza by visiting www.touchedbycancer. org/GatherPalooza. People who purchase raffle tickets need not attend the event to win. General admission tickets are available for $75; VIP tickets are available for $150. General admission includes food stations along with two complimentary drink tickets. VIP tickets also include complimentary valet parking, a seat at a reserved table and open bar access. The event takes place at Grays Armory located at 1234 Bolivar Road. For more information on GatherPalooza or to make a contribution to The Gathering Place visit: www.touchedbycancer.org/ GatherPalooza. “GatherPalooza is not only a celebration of our 15 years of service, but is important for keeping what we do at The Gathering Place completely free for our community.” 30 Beachwood Buzz n October 2015