In pictures: Lights, Chutzpah, Action!

Young filmmakers took part in the project run in partnership with Jewish Care and the Heritage Lottery Fund

By Brigit Grant July 13, 2016, 3:12 pm Edit

For more than four decades, Brigit Grant has covered news and celebrity exclusives. As Executive Editor (Features) and Editor of Life magazine, she combines award-winning journalism with a longstanding passion for animal welfare, particularly dogs.

Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter
Lights, Chutzpah, Action at Phoenix Cinema. Picture: Asya Gefter

An enthusiastic group of would-be Jewish filmmakers from the Noam Masorti Youth movement got their shot at feeling like real movie directors last Sunday – courtesy of UK Jewish Film.

Having taken part in Lights, Chutzpah, Action, a project run in partnership with Jewish Care and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the volunteers got to see the results of their film education on the big screen at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley and even had their work discussed by actress Maureen Lipman along with journalists Jason Solomons and Jonathan Freedland.

The project which included research visits to the British Film Institute and The Jewish Museum ; training in oral history skills and working with professional filmmakers lead to the volunteers making short films about British Jewry’s involvement in film and cinema heritage in the UK.

Capturing the film memories of various interviewees marked the end of the assignment, but the beginning of potential careers for those who may want to enter the industry, such as Noah Libson who has just done his A’ Levels at JFS.

“The part of LCA I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to use highly professional equipment and have the chance to develop film ideas and interview people,” said Noah. Sunday’s event which also included a screening of Jack Rosenthal’s film The Evacuees, also marked the launch of the project’s website which will include freely downloadable learning resources available to schools and youth groups.