October 29 – November 1, 2009 *New Chicago Venue*
AMC LOEWS 600 North Michigan Avenue | Chicago

November 2 – November 8, 2009
Wilmette Theatre | 1122 Central Avenue | Wilmette

Welcome to the 2009 Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema (CFIC), the largest showcase of Israeli films in the Midwest. Join us from October 29 to November 8 as we applaud, celebrate, and support Israel, its culture, and its amazing cinema!

The Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema joins the world in applauding Israeli cinema. We are proud to present films that dazzled audiences at international film festivals from Cannes, Tokyo, South Africa, Hong Kong, Pusan, Sao Paulo, Tribeca to, Toronto, Berlin, Turkey, and Rio de Janeiro, Jerusalem and over fifty other world centers. In addition to 27 Israeli Academy and Jerusalem International Film Festival prizes and 18 nominations, this year's CFIC selections have won awards at festivals including Houston, Boston, Warsaw, Paris, Beijing, Mostra de Valencia, and Sicily.

The CFIC celebrates the multifaceted sides of Israel with stories far from the news headlines - of Jews "lost" and "found" in the Amazon, of young men conflicted by their admiration of and disappointment in their fathers, of the heroism of ordinary women (a midwife, a rabbi's daughter, a librarian), of a family in mourning, of a mystical joining of past and present, of leaving an old home and adjusting to a new, and of discovering the joys of baseball. Last year, our celebration of Israel's cinematic achievements was a sold out success, with over 4,000 viewers. This year, with a new city venue, and U.S. premiere screenings, and more award-winning films on subjects as varied as the human imagination, we look forward to even bigger crowds.

Presenting Israeli films not only allows the Chicago community to experience Israel, but also supports the future of Israel's film industry as is evidenced in the rise of Israeli productions coming to the Midwest. The CFIC is made possible because of the generous support of the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest and the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. We are indebted to them and to our sponsors and screening hosts, whose loyalty and generous support play an essential role in the success of the CFIC.

It has been a privilege working with the CFIC committee members, whose devotion to Israel and the CFIC knows no limits of time, energy, or resources.

See you at the movies!

Peggy Shapiro/ Festival Coordinator