Jewish International Film Festival Coming To Salem Cinema In May

SALEM, MA — Ten films inspired by Jewish history, culture, and values will be part of the three-week International Jewish Film Festival coming to Cinema Salem beginning on May 2.

The Jewish Community Center of the North Shore is teaming up with Cinema Salem to sponsor the 10th annual festival which will be held both in person at the Salem theater and will be virtual screenings.

The 10 carefully selected films include "Only in Theaters" on May 2 at 7 p.m. — a look at the Laemmle family ]and its four generations of bringing foreign films to Los Angeles through the innovation of streaming and the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Haute Couture" screens May 4 at 1 p.m. and tells the story of a head seamstress at Dior Avenue Montaigne workshop who takes under her wing a 20-year-old girl who steals her handbag. This film streams from May 4 through May 11.

"June Zero" screens May 7 at noon. This film was shot in Isreal and Ukraine and tells the story of the infamous trial of Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the mass extermination of Jews during the Second World War.

"Matchmaking" screens May 10 at 7 p.m. and is a romantic comedy that was Isreal's biggest box office hit of the year. It streams from May 10 through May 17.

"Farewell Mister Haffmann" screens May 12 at 1 p.m. and tells the story of a talented jeweler who arranges for his family to flee Paris in 1942 after the Nazi occupation. It streams from May 12 through May 19.

"Our Story" screens May 13 at 6:30 p.m. and tells the story of a singer and an agent as two young adults who, together and alone, find the courage to shake off what other people think they should be in order to connect with their dreams and passions. It streams online from May 13 through May 20.

"Lost Transport" screens on May 16 at 1 p.m. Set in the spring of 1945, it tells the story of three Jewish prisoners who work together to survive after German soldiers abandoned their train near a small German village occupied by the Red Army. This film streams from May 16 through May 23.

"America" screens on May 18 at 7 p.m. It follows a former champion swimmer from Isreal living in Chicago who returns to Isreal after his father dies to sort out his affairs and reconnects with an old childhood friend. It streams from May 18 through May 25.

"Barren" screens on May 22 at 1 p.m. It follows a young, childless ultraorthodox couple who face a crisis after a traumatic treatment for infertility. It streams from May 22 through May 29.

"Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song" screens on May 24 at 6:30 p.m. The film looks at the musical career of the legendary singer/songwriter through the lens of his much-covered hymn "Hallelujah." This film was nominated for Critics Choice Best Documentary.

Go here for tickets and more information on the festival.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)