Hello My Lovely's, 

I know that the blog is going under a lot of work and changes at the moment, but I wanted to post about this incredible event that I was lucky enough to attend. I understand that this is coming very late considering I went really early, but after a load of train delays and getting caught in the rain which has now made me ill, I am finally blogging about it aha!

So if you follow me on Twitter you will probably know about this already, but for those who don't, I was very lucky to attend the 17th UK Jewish Film Festival 2013 Press Launch! I was a little late to the event, but I managed to not miss anything important and I am happy to now show you all my images from the day and give you a little inside look into some of the films discussed, that will be on show this year.

Upon entering the event, I met Bola who works for Think Jam, the lovely company that sends me all the goodies for the blog. She was very nice and understanding about the trains and handed me the festivals programme, which was very handy as I could make notes for all you lovely people that you can see in the image below, during the talks and clips.

Led by Judy Ironside MBE, who founded the festival in 1997, the Press launch was a huge success. She was an incredibly nice lady and was very informative throughout the launch who stated that this year’s message is "Comedy and new voices". I was unable to speak to her about the festival, but I did manage to speak to Keren Misgav Ristvedt, who joined the festival in 2013 as the business development director. She was also lovely and managed to fill me on some things that I missed, which apparently wasn't that much just some drinks aha!

Held at the MPC in Soho, the event was also attended by filmmaker/comedian Jes Benstock and comedian Arnold Brown, warming up the audience before the festival's big comedy event. This special presentation is being hosted alongside the 80 films, the festival is housing, in London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Glasgow, from the 30th of October to the 17th of November.With 53 out of the 80 being UK Premieres, it is being hinted as the film festival of the year!

The festival has also managed to get the best possible sponsors, including the magazine Little White Lies, Think Jam, JW3, BFI, Sky, Pears Foundation and many others.

Not only does it have brilliant sponsors but the festival is going to be housing some amazing guests, to make sure that audiences get the best experience for their money, which after seeing how much hard work the festival is doing for this year, I can definitely guarantee that they will!
So lets discuss some of the films that the festival is presenting this year...

• 'Lets Dance' - UK PREMIERE - 3RD NOVEMBER - A film which is having its UK Premiere at the festival, it focuses on the world of Israeli Dance. This documentary from director Gavriel Bibliowicz will definitely have you up and moving, as it looks into the background to many popular Israeli dances, from sources, such as choreographer, Martha Graham. Graham also shares her techniques within the film, but a key highlight is the performance from Israeli choreographers, Ohad Naharin, Rami Be'er and Yasmeen Godder. If you are lucky enough to attend the premiere for this film at the JW3 in London, then you will be part of the audience for the giant Hora, a dance in which the performers form a ring, which sounds like so much fun!  

• Hava Nagila (The Movie) - UK PREMIERE - 6TH NOVEMBER, LONDON - 20TH NOVEMBER, LEEDS -  Again this film will premiere at this year’s festival, but in two places. You lucky people in London and Leeds will be able to see the film at the Odeon Swiss Cottage (London) and the Mazcc (Leeds). This film is also a dance documentary, but with a twist. Everybody knows about the song Hava Nagila, but this new outlook of the famous dance from director Roberta Grossman, seems like a whole load of fun! With interviews from Regina Spektor, Leonard Nemoy and Connie Francis, it may just be revealed what the song actually means. It presents a film that is using its music to help represent its culture, which only certain places could succeed in doing so.

• Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy - UK PREMIERE - 10TH NOVEMBER, MANCHESTER - 13TH NOVEMBER, LONDON -  During the event we were shown a clip of this and this one really stood out! It was mentioning aspects of the theatre industry that you just never think about, but mixed it with comedy and musical aspects as well. Director Michael Kantor presents a film overlooking the last 50 years of Broadway musicals which were created by Jewish Americans. It is one of those films that seems like it will have your toe tapping throughout, but also making you laugh from the funny interviews with Irving Berlin, Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Leonard Bernstein and many others. The event is also followed by a conversation between Lord Michael Grade and Mark Lawson on the 13th only, so you better get your tickets fast if you want to attend this event!