The 5th Brighton Jewish Film Festival ran from 10-25th November.

The festival screened Egyptian director Khaled El Hagar’s controversial film The Gulf Between Us, about a relationship between an Egyptian man and a Jewish girl in Britain.

The Celebrity Interview was Miriam Margolyes (Harry Potter, Cold Comfort Farm). There was also a filmmakers event with Gary Synyor and Paul Morrison called ‘Writing Jewishly for the Screen‘. Gary and Paul were interviewed by Judy Ironside.

The first shorts programme was introduced, and included a collection of short films focusing on Israeli/Arabic relations. There was another collection of shorts introduced by Marc Isaacs, and a favourite was voted for by the audience. One of these films was a 10-minute short called The Worst Jewish Football Team in the World. Psychological thriller Time of Favour had its South Coast premier at the Festival, and the screening was attended by Joseph Cedar, the film’s director. Trembling Before God, an unprecedented feature documentary about faith, sexuality and religious fundamentalism, was also shown, and was followed by a panel discussion.

During the year, the UKJFF announced their first touring programme, which meant screenings were shown at the Curzon Soho and Cityscreen cinemas in Aberdeen, Cambridge, Oxford and York.