opening reception

The opening reception for the 2009 Triangle Jewish Film Festival is Thursday, November 5 at the RTP Hilton at 7:00 p.m. The film, Waves of Freedom, will have its Carolina debut and we will also premiere two animated shorts, Israel at Sixty and Steps. Refreshments will be served before the films are shown.

Waves of Freedom tells one of the least known but most dramatic stories of Americans’ support of Israel. After World War II 27 returning U.S. veterans are recruited to rescue 2,000 displaced Jews from post-war Europe and break the British blockade of Jewish Palestine. Undaunted by warnings that they could be hanged if the British Navy catches them, they sail a rust-bucket ship across the Atlantic to pick up their precious human cargo. En route to Palestine, they are captured by British destroyers, but manage to bring their passengers to Israel.

Israeli filmmaker Alan Rosenthal will be in attendance to talk about his film and engage with attendees after its premiere. Professor Rosenthal was born in England and studied law at Oxford. He is one of Israel's top film directors and Professor of Communications at the Hebrew University. In addition, Professor Rosenthal is Producer-Director of Stalin and the Jews, his acclaimed new film. He was also one of the Producers of the noted series Civilization and the Jews with Abba Eban, his films winning an Emmy and Peabody journalism award.

Rosenthal has lectured extensively in the USA, England and Australia, and his memoirs Jerusalem: Take One was published to wide acclaim two years ago.

Directions to the RTP Hilton.