The Matchmaker

Reception 7pm/ Film 7.30pm

Dir. Avi Nesher | Israel | 2010 | 112 mins | Hebrew with English subtitles

A hugely pleasurable film that succeeds in weaving together many facets of life in Israel in 1968 that shed light on the country as it is today.

When Haifa teenage Arik Burstein (Tuval Shafi r) meets his friend’s rebellious cousin Tamara, who has grown up in America, he is seduced by her stories of free love and rock’n roll. But the world that opens up when he gets a summer job working for a most unusual matchmaker, Yankele Bride, (Adir Miller) is bizarre beyond belief. And, since Arik’s father knew Yankele back in Romania, he trusts him and allows his son to become part of his sleazy empire around the Haifa port. The scars of Nazi Europe hang over this bizarre community and those ghosts are never far away, and yet there is some real comedy and a lot of charm in this powerful new fi lm by Avi Nesher, one of Israel’s most renowned directors.

Followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Avi Nesher, Executive Producer, Director and Writer of the screenplay of The Matchmaker. His various film credits include Turn Left at the End of the World and The Secrets.

Our Closing Night Gala this year is in celebration of Sir Sydney Samuelson CBE, the first British Film Commissioner and former Chairman of BAFTA, who received The Michael Balcon Award and a Fellowship in 1993 – the Academy’s highest honour. In 1995 he was awarded a Knighthood for services to the British Film Commission. Sir Sydney was the first President of the UKJFF from 1997 to 2005 and is currently UKJFF Honorary Lifetime Patron. In December of this year Sir Sydney will celebrate his 85th birthday.

The tribute will be given by special guest Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE DLA, Member of the Board of Governors of the National Film and Television School. Her broadcasting work has been recognised with a Special Lifetime Achievement BAFTA and OBE.

Sponsored by Joyce & David Kustow