Filmmaker

Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein and Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre in Maestro. Photo: Jason McDonald/Netflix

November 29, 2023, 6:46 am

Peeling back the curtain on Leonard Bernstein, Maestro unveils a symphony of creativity, controversy and composition. And Bradley Cooper's second foray into directing hasn't been without controversy itself. Jessica Abelsohn explores the film and the surrounding commentary.

By Jessica Abelsohn

Mahjong is played throughout the Middle East and Asia.

November 28, 2023, 7:23 am

Sephardi Jews from Baghdad to Sydney

The film's title represents the mishmash of culture, Asian and Iraqi, in which Saul grew up.

By Carol Saffer

Yagil (left) and Or Yaakov. Photo: supplied via Times of Israel

November 20, 2023, 7:21 am

Animator creates short about abducted brothers

Goodman said he gets deeply involved in any project he works on, but usually can take breaks to eat, be with his kids, live his life. Not this time.

By JESSICA STEINBERG

November 19, 2023, 6:22 am

The story you hear, but don’t see

In the shadow of the terror attack on Israel last month, a new film by Jonathan Glazer has been screened at the New York Film Festival. But it's not just any film. It's a film about the zone of interest – the area surrounding Auschwitz. Jessica Abelsohn reports.

By Jessica Abelsohn

Richard James Allen in Cut.
Photo: The Physical TV Company

November 8, 2023, 7:09 am

Contradictory ideas coexisting in complex ways

“It’s a piece for me that is born out of my own complexity and contradictory feelings, and I hope to share some of that feeling and some of the hope that I have found.”

By AJN STAFF

Deutsche Welle journalist Ayman Al Aloul discusses how he was intimidated in Eyeless in Gaza. Photo: Screenshot

November 2, 2023, 2:15 pm

How Hamas manipulates the media in Gaza

"Our movie presents the history of the area, the nature of Hamas, the inaccuracies of the media. We interview Hamas leaders, western military spokesmen, Middle eastern politicians, leading journalists."

By AJN STAFF

Fauda co-creators Avi Issacharoff (left) and Lior Raz.
Photo: AP Photo/Oded Balilty via Times of Israel

October 30, 2023, 6:41 am

Fauda nearly predicted the Hamas invasion

The idea of a terrorist invasion for the show's fifth season seemed completely outlandish, said Issacharoff. It didn't seem plausible that Hamas could have the weaponry, intent or ability, he said.

By AJN STAFF

October 24, 2023, 7:06 am

Once upon a time in the south

Tarantino visited the Negev region to meet with survivors from the Gaza border communities, and to support local businesses.

October 15, 2023, 7:23 am

Sharing Sasha’s story

When The AJN ran a story about a young Sydney filmmaker, we never anticipated that it would spawn a beautiful filmmaking relationship with an author in Melbourne. Lexee Gordoun and Anita Selzer have teamed up to produce Sasha’s Game, which follows the story of how Anita’s father survived the Holocaust. The AJN spoke to both the filmmaker and the author about how the film came to be and what they hope the future of the film holds.

By AJN STAFF

Action! Film and War exhibition lead curator Daniel Eisenberg.

October 6, 2023, 6:06 am

Film-focused exhibition coming to Sydney

“Film footage about war makes it real and emotive, and it connects and places people into another world – a place that hopefully most of us never have to be.”

By Shane Desiatnik

Streets of Colour was screened at NSW Parliament last week.

September 28, 2023, 12:24 pm

Film tackles issues of inequality

Streets of Colour tells the story of Tez (Rahel Romahn), a 25-year-old drug dealer with cultural identity issues, who is blamed for the death of his best friend in a street fight.

By AJN STAFF

Sammi Cohen (left) and Sunny Sandler on the set of You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix

September 11, 2023, 6:42 am

The makings of an authentic Jewish film

"We really wanted to be careful and represent things authentically and check ourselves. So we had a lead rabbi that was consulting, and then a couple of other rabbis that we would send everything to."

By Lior Zaltzman

Saulius Beržinis has been recognised for his contributions on Lithuania's Jewish population during the Holocaust.

September 7, 2023, 1:39 pm

Calls for unblocking of latest film

Dr Benny Monheit, president of BBANZ, said. "His work stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of those who endured unimaginable suffering during the Holocaust."

By Carol Saffer

Angus Thompson and Hannah Diviney in Latecomers. Photo: Renata

August 14, 2023, 6:50 am

A uniquely Jewish Australian story

"Ideally, we want authenticity, right? But the fact is our industry isn’t big enough to have had our parents see it as a realistic career path and encourage it. I can count on one hand the number of my Jewish friends who have gone into a purely creative industry."

By Shoshana Gottlieb

Jane Campion at the 2022 Oscars in Los Angeles.
Photo: Starstock | Dreamstime.com

August 8, 2023, 6:33 am

BDS movie claim false

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel had claimed that Oscar-winner Jane Campion asked that her 1989 film Sweetie be withdrawn from the Jerusalem Film Festival, which was held from July 18 to 28.

By Bruce Hill