“Run For Your Life” Jewishfilm.2009 April 5, 2009

"Run For Your Life"
USA | 2008 | 95 min | English
Director/Producer: Judd Ehrlich
Boston Premiere
Special Guest: Director Judd Ehrlich
An affectionate energetic salute to an unlikely American icon: Fred Lebow, the mastermind behind the New York City Marathon. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish family in Transylvania, Fischl Leibowitz survived the Holocaust and immigrated to New York, a city he later helped unite by transforming a rag-tag runners group into a world class event. Set amidst the urban funk of the 1970s and 80s, the film combines archival footage and interviews with politicians, journalists and some of running's greats, including Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, Grete Waitz, Alberto Salazar, Katherine Switzer and Ted Corbitt in a remarkable story of how one eccentric showman ran for his life--and inspired millions to do the same.
Jewishfilm.2009
The National Center for Jewish Film and Brandeis University in cooperation with The Consulate General of Israel to New England will present, Jewishfilm.2009. The festival will present twelve films--from six countries--along with eight visiting filmmakers and more than a dozen special guests. Two films are North American premieres, eight are New England premieres, and three are Boston premieres. Jewishfilm.2009 will present eight visiting filmmakers and more than a dozen special guests. Highlights include Jewishfilm.2009's opening night film, "Waiting for Armageddon," a controversial new documentary about the impact of Evangelical Christians on American foreign policy in the Middle East and the role Israel plays in their theology and public policy. Director Franco Sacchi and two of the film's producers are from the Boston area; all three will join with Brandeis University professor Jonathan Sarna for a discussion following the film. Jewishfilm.2009 The National Center for Jewish Film's 12th Annual Film Festival will be held from March 25 through April 5. Screenings will take place at the Wasserman Cinematheque at Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, Mass. with two screenings at The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. Tickets are $10 or $8 for students and seniors. For a more complete schedule of screenings, or for ticket information, visit http://www.jewishfilm.org or call, (781) 736-8600.

Official Website: http://www.jewishfilm.org