The guest of honor of this edition, Mrs. Regina Ziegler, will come to MECEFF with a series of films made by one of her longtime collaborators, director Wolf Gremm (Fabian, Kamikaze 1989, Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Letzte Arbeiten), Korczak, Andrzej Wajda's film based on a screenplay by Agnieszka Holland, the TV movie Mutter muss weg (2012) directed by Edward Berger and the erotic thriller Solo für Klarinette (1998) made by Nico Hofmann. In addition, MECEFF audiences will see the TV series Weissensee, a 2011 "Best TV series" winner at the German Television Academy Awards. The series tells the story of two contrasting families from East Berlin, one deeply involved with the new powers that be, the other formed almost exclusively of dissidents. Another Regina Ziegler production presented at MECEFF is the Erotic Tales omnibus with segments directed by great directors such as Bob Rafelson, Melvin van Peebles, Susan Seidelman, Ken Russell, Mika Kaurismäki or Hal Hartley.
At the same time, "The President's Selection” section will offer the audience a series of classic Yiddish language films presented in restored versions and with new English translations courtesy of the Archives of the National Centre for Jewish Film (NCJF) at Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1976, NCJF is recognized as a world leader in the collection, restoration and exhibition of Jewish art and culture. The center has led the revival of Yiddish Cinema, rescuing these languishing films from oblivion. NCJF's priority is the preservation and restoration of rare and endangered film materials. To date, the Center has restored more than 100 rare and orphan films that document the diversity and vibrancy of Jewish culture, including 38 Yiddish films. The five films presented during MECEFF are Bar Mitzvah (Henry Lynn, US 1935), the story of Israel, a Polish widower who prepares his son, Yudele, for his Bar Mizvah; God, Man and Devil (Joseph Seiden, US 1949), the story of a bet between God and Satan with terrible consequences for the human race, inspired by the eponymous play by Jacob Gordin; Long Is the Road (Herbert B. Fredersdorf & Marek Goldstein, US-occupied Germany 1948), the first coproduction to present the Holocaust from a Jewish perspective, made by and with Jewish people moved to Landsberg, the biggest camp designed for those left without housing and US-occupied Germany; The Singing Blacksmith (Edgar G. Ulmer, US 1938), starring Moishe Oysher, the famed Yiddish singer and radio star – the recently discovered and added scenes turn this into the most complete version of the film; and Overture to Glory (Max Nosseck, US 1940), the story of a synagogue singer (Moishe Oysher), who gives up prayers for the Warsaw Opera.
The third edition of MECEFF – Mediaş Central European Film Festival, the only festival in Romania focused on the neighboring countries of Central Europe, will take place in Mediaș, Sibiu County, between June 24 and 28.
MECEFF – Mediaş Central European Film Festival is organized by Ecran Cinema Management, Primaria Mediaș, CNC, Regiunea Târnavelor and the Ministry of Culture.
Website: www.meceff.ro
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/MeCEFF
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