Helen Mirren, the British actress admired and respected for her many memorable performances, will speak about her craft at the Jerusalem Cinematheque on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at 20:30 in Cinematheque 1. Benjamin Freidenberg will moderate the conversation with Mirren on her life and work. The program will be open to the public, and admission is free, on a space-available basis.
Mirren will host the Genesis Prize award ceremony on June 23, 2016, honoring the renowned violinist, educator and advocate for individuals with disabilities, Itzhak Perlman. The prize recognizes individuals for their outstanding professional achievements, contributions to humanity, and dedication to the Jewish community and the State of Israel.
The Jerusalem Cinematheque will feature two special film program this month, in honor of Itzhak Perlman and Helen Mirren.
A tribute to Helen Mirren will include screenings of some of her most significant films. A star of stage, screen, and television, among her many awards, Mirren has won an Oscar, Tony, four Emmy awards, an Olivier Award, and BAFTAs in recognition of her work. Films to be shown at the Jerusalem Cinematheque include: The Madness of King George (1995), The Queen (2006), Trumbo (2015), Woman in Gold (2015), The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (1989), The Tempest (2010), Hitchcock (2012), The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014), Eye in the Sky (2016), Red (2010), and The Audience (recorded live performance of the stage production in 2013).
Recognizing Perlman’s dedication to education and inspiring others through music, there will be special screenings of three documentaries that reflect these values. Free Improvisation (2011) – directed by Adin Weiner and Doron Djerassi, the documentary follows musician Jean Claude Jones over the course of a year. Jones is a passionately intense musician, hearing and watching him play live is an unforgettable experience. He ventures into that unmapped terrain of improvisation, drawing the listener deep into the sound, as he travels ever farther one feels the thrill of the unexpected: anything can happen. Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1988, Jones has had to constantly adapt to the changes in his body. As reflected in the film, Jones does this with the same honesty and openness that he brings to his music. (read the full film review here) The film will be shown on June 19th. El Sistema (2009), directed by Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier, will be shown on June 21st, and Violinists (2011), directed by Alexander Gentelev, will be shown on June 22nd.
