John Lui Film Correspondent & Boon Chan Media Correspondent recommend

Film Picks: 24th Israel Film Festival and more

PHOTOS: ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL, CINEDA:NS, THIS BUDDHIST FILM FESTIVAL, WICHANON SOMUMJARN

24TH ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL

The Farewell Party (M18, 95 minutes) is that rare thing: a comedy about death - and an uplifting one at that.

A group of friends at a retirement home in Jerusalem take things into their own hands when doctors refuse to end the life of a suffering patient.

This warm and compassionate look at the topic of euthanasia, featuring some of Israel's most respected actors, was a box-office hit in its home country and is among the five films screening at the festival.

WHERE: The Projector, 6001 Beach Road, Golden Mile Tower, Level 5 MRT: Nicoll Highway WHEN: Sept 22 to 25, various times ADMISSION: $13 INFO: For full schedule and bookings, go to theprojector.sg

John Lui


CINEDA:NS

This year's da:ns festival at the Esplanade has a cinema component, featuring some of the best dance works from around the world captured on film.

Pina (photo, PG13, 103 minutes) celebrates the work of the late German choreographer Pina Bausch. The founder of the Tanztheater Wuppertal was to have been part of this work by Wim Wenders, but died only days before the start of filming.

The other two works in the series are the Spanish-language Our Last Tango (PG13, 85 minutes), about the 50-year relationship bonded by the dance form; and Mr Gaga (M18, 100 minutes), about Ohad Naharin, the famed artistic director with Israel's Batsheva Dance Company.

WHERE: The Projector, 6001 Beach Road, Golden Mile Tower, Level 5 MRT: Nicoll Highway WHEN: Today to Sunday , various times ADMISSION: $13 INFO: For full schedule and bookings, go to theprojector.sg

John Lui


THIS BUDDHIST FILM FESTIVAL

The fourth edition of the Thus Have I Seen (THIS) series features 17 films from around the globe that run the gamut from experimental fiction to documentaries, each one examining aspects of Buddhist philosophy.

The documentary, Journey From Zanskar (photo, PG13, 90 minutes), follows the hazardous trek taken by a band of children shepherded by two monks as they make their way from their home village to a faraway town with a school.

In that north Indian mountain range, the children face altitude sickness, cold and avalanches in their quest for an education.

WHERE: Shaw Theatres Lido, 350 Orchard Road, Shaw House, 5th/6th Floors MRT: Orchard WHEN: Sept 17 to 24, various times ADMISSION: $12 INFO: For schedule, see www.thisfilmfest.com

John Lui


Asian Film Focus

The line-up features 21 short films which revolve around the theme of Youth Today. They include animation The Tiger Of 142B by Henry and Harry Zhuang from Singapore, Wake Up by Yoo Jee Hyeon from South Korea, I Am Not A Superhero by Jonathan Tam from Hong Kong and Somewhere Only We Know (photo) by Wichanon Somumjarn from Thailand.

Fourteen of the works are being screened here for the first time. There will also be three documentaries presented on the history of film in South Korea, Thailand and Kazakhstan.

WHERE: Objectifs, 155 Middle Road MRT: Bras Basah/Bugis WHEN: Wed to Sept 10, various times ADMISSION: $5 each screening from aff2016. peatix.com INFO: www.objectifs.com.sg/aff-2016

Boon Chan

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 02, 2016, with the headline 24th Israel Film Festival and more. Subscribe