The reviews are in: The 20th Annual Mandell JCC Jewish Film Festival was a smash hit! The festival treated Connecticut movie goers to 10 days filled with 22 films from 8 countries. Here are a few scenes from the popular festival that wrapped up on April 10.

At the screening of “Imber’s Left Hand” on April 5 at The Emanueal Synagogue in West Hartford were: (l to r) Film sponsor Jerry Passman, festival chair Nicole Greenblatt, Ron Hoffman, exec director of Compassionate Care ALS, festival director Harriet Dobin, the film’s director Richard Kane, Wadsworth Atheneum Director of Films Deborah Gaudet, Mandell JCC Executive Director David Jacobs, artist Jill Hoy.

At the screening of “Look at Us Now, Mother!” seated in front, Mildred Kirschenbaum; (l to r) the film’s director Gayle Kirschenbaum, Nancy Lichtenberg of the Jewish Family Service of Greater Hartford, and Carolyn Gitlin, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford Women’s Philanthropy chair.

Among those who enjoyed a tasting of Israeli food at the screening of “In Search of Israeli Cuisine” were (l to r) Festival chair Nicole Greenblatt, Chef Michael Solomonov, Sas Goldberg of the festival film “Are You Joking?” and “In Search of Israeli Cuisine” Director Roger Sherman.

CAP: Connecticut’s Israeli Young Emissaries joined David Broza (far right) at the opening night screening of “East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem”: (kneeling in front, l to r) Sharon Conway (director SNEC Israeli Young Emissary Program), Ron Zamir (New Haven Young Emissary), Naama Tzur (W. Mass Young Emissary); (standing, l to r) Larry Brownstein, Amalya Brownstein (New Haven Israeli Young Emissary community coordinator), Donna Cohen (Hartford Young Emissary), Vicki Fisher (New Haven Young Emissary), Edo Shiloh (Hartford Young Emissary), Tal Salman (W. Mass Young Emissary), Michal Abramoff (Mandell JCC shlicha).