Bloggers are Buzzing About A Matter of Size!

A Matter of Size is sizing up for its big opening in Washington D.C. on July 2^nd at The Avalon Theater. From what we are hearing, it’s sure to be a big hit. The buzz is beginning, and it seems like everyone has something great to say.

The film is a heart-warming comedy about four men who have struggled with being overweight for their entire lives. Despite their persistent dieting, their weight begins to take a toll on their happiness when they realize that it is literally weighing down on every aspect of their lives: friendships, love lives, and otherwise. But, when they come across the sport of Sumo Wrestling, their lives take a complete turn as they slowly learn to love and accept themselves for who they are.

The film is praised for its uniqueness. Madame Meow from A Daily Dose of Zen Sarcasm says,

“Hilarity, romance, self-discovery and much late-night eating ensue. And at the core, you get to see a fresh and original take on the average fat-person story. I guarantee it's much better than anything Eddie Murphy or Tyler Perry could ever muster up with a fat suit, because the difference here is that there is a sweet, unfussy dignity to the way the story is told.”

To read more from Madame Meow, please visit A Daily Dose of Zen Sarcasm.

Beyond this, the film succeeds in making a hilarious comedy out of an emotional and at times touchy subject. Laura and Caroline from Young DC Living say,

“It is consistently filled with laugh-out-loud moments, even during one of the more “sad” scenes within the film. Regardless of subtitles, the humor and clever writing within the film shine through. The characters are very funny, have great chemistry, and give genuinely heart-felt performances!”

To read Caroline and Laura’s blog, visit them at YoungDCLiving.

Most importantly, the film kindly and tastefully sheds light on one of the more pressing social issues in society today. Margo from D.C. Girl aptly remarks that

“Fat prejudice is still one of the most acceptable forms of prejudice in our society. It was nice to see the characters in this film conquer that, finding acceptance in their own way.”

To read Margo’s blog in its entirety, please visit D.C.Girl@theMovies.

From the looks of it, A Matter of Size is sure to satisfy your taste for comedy, romance, sports, and drama all in a matter of about 90 minutes. We here at Menemsha Films (and I think the bloggers would agree) urge you to find the time to get out and see the film this weekend! It opens Friday, July 2^nd at The Avalon Theatre in Washington D.C.

To see more about the film, watch the trailer here:

or visit our website at MenemshaFilms.com.

"Saviors in the Night" and "Anita" to Headline the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival!!

We are happy to announce that two Menemsha films, Anita and Saviors in the Night, will be represented this year in the San Francisco Jewish Film festival - the first and largest Jewish film festival in the world. The excitement and buzz around this event is especially potent because the festival is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year! The executive and program directors of the festival are proud to represent 57 features from more than a dozen countries, and we here at Menemsha are proud to add to the festival’s diversity.

The opening film, Saviors in the Night, is a German-French co-production directed by the Dutch filmmaker Ludi Boeken, and tells the story of a family who bravely risk their lives to hide and save a Jewish family from the Nazi’s. The film is inspired by the memories of Marga Spiegel, a 98-year-old resident of Germany who has kindly accepted an invitation to attend the festival, along with Boeken and actress Lia Hoensbroech.

The centerpiece film of the festival is Anita, an Argentine film directed by Marcos Carnevale. The film tells the story of Anita, a young woman with Down syndrome who gets lost in Buenos Aires after the 1994 bomb attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center. Alejandra Manzo, the actress who plays Anita, will also be attending the first screening, which will be the Northern California premiere of the film.

The Festival runs July 24 to Aug. 9. The main venue is San Francisco's Castro Theatre. Events and screenings also take place at the Roda Theatre in Berkeley, the CineArts @ Palo Alto Square in Palo Alto and the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael. Tickets are on sale now for JFF members and will be available for the general public beginning Friday, June 25.

For more information about these films, please visit our website at www.MenemshaFilms.com.

A Matter of Size to Open in Washington DC

"A Matter of Size" is growing! The fat-friendly film of four lovable sumos-in-training, will soon be shifting its weight to our Nation's Capital, Washington DC.

The film, which stresses self-acceptance, does a delightful job of exposing the "lighter" side of Israeli artistry. And it couldn't come at a better time. Due to recent events (Flotilla), this film, and your support for it, holds weight now more than ever.

It will be opening at the Avalon on July 2nd. You can read a review and watch the trailer here, or learn even more about the film at our website here.



But rest assured Bostononians, your four favorite plus-sized fighters will not be leaving you anytime soon. We recently got confirmation that "AMOS" will continue playing through the summer at the West Newton Cinema!

Hi Everyone!
My name is Jais and I am a rising junior at the University of Pennsylvania. I am interning at Menemsha Films this summer and am very excited to work with the films we are representing. One of the first films I watched was Nora’s Will, a refreshing and heartfelt dark comedy set in Mexico during Passover. I thought the movie was delightful. The film was beautifully shot and seamlessly edited. Beyond that, it managed to deliver a powerful message while still playfully scratching the surface of comedy. Although the film, as demonstrated by the title, is clearly about Nora’s tragic death and the subsequent misfortune which follows it, the overall message of the film went above and beyond the typical “death-in-the-family” story. Instead, the film evolved into a story about reintroducing and rekindling lost passions, whether they are of religion, family, or romance. The unique emotional discovery and reconciliation that occurs in Jose, Nora’s EX (as he never fails to remind us) husband, is an extremely touching example of how love truly stands the tests of tragedy, time, and whatever else might be thrown its way. In my opinion, the film is a must see. The elements of comedy, romance, family, and religion provide something that I think everyone can enjoy and relate to.
You should definitely see it if you get the chance!

Nora's Will: Jewish Journal Article, Hot off the Presses

As expected the Florida Jewish Journal released their article on Nora's Will this morning, however, much to our pleasant surprise, it could not have been better.

The dark comedy that takes place during Passover began its local run with a positive turnout at the Tower Theater in Miami and as a result has since expanded to five other screens in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Mariana Chenillo, the film's director and screenwriter, said that even though the story takes place within the context of the Mexican Jewish community, it is not a story about religion or one meant to reach only a specific audience.

This article appeared in The Florida Jewish Journal as well as 6 other regional issues that will be going out in print on friday.

To read the whole article on the publication's website right now go here

Nora's Will - The Buzz is Beginning

For those of you who still haven't found out about "Nora's Will" (Winner of Mexico's Best Picture along with a bevy of other Ariel's) I am here to alert you that you are quickly running out of reasons as to why.

Just this last saturday The Sun Sentinel, Florida's most popular periodical, published an article that had this to say about Mexico's favorite art-house film:

"Nora's Will" is a dark comedy set in Mexico during Passover, but director and screenwriter Mariana Chenillo says the themes of the story are universal.
"This is a love story that could happen within any family," she said. "The film portrays contemporary Mexico in many ways by showing how we understand death and how we continue to make dead family members part of daily lives."

You can catch the rest of that article here: The Sun Sentinel


But wait theres more!

If you find yourself with some sort of an aversion to The Sun Sentinel (they insulted you and/or your mother, they kicked your dog, they spilled countless gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico etc.) and you can wait until next Tuesday then you can read an article about the film in the Florida Jewish Journal.

But for those of you who just can't wait for Tuesday (and believe me, we at Menemsha know all about impatience)then you can find all the information you need about the film at our website right here: Menemsha Films

So if you're looking for a good reason to get out of the sun for a bit, do yourself a favor and go see a film that is sure to satisfy.

"A Matter of Size", "Anita" Rock the LA Jewish Film Festival!!

Sharon Maymon and Erez Tadmor, directors of A Matter of Size, pose with two American Sumo wrestlers on the red carpet at the 2010 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival!

A Matter of Size was the Opening Night film for this year's festival, and was preceded by a gala event at the Writers Guild Theater. The directors stayed after the film for a Q&A moderdated by Rob Eshman, editor of the Jewish Journal.

Also playing at the LAJFF was Anita, from Argentinian director Marcos Carnevale. This incredible film, also released by Menemsha, was honored with the Audience Award for Best Drama!

Anita is the story of a young woman with Down syndrome who gets lost in Buenos Aires after the 1994 bomb attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center. The film is by renowned filmmaker Marcos Carnevale, director of Elsa and Fred, and stars Academy Award Nominee Norma Aleandro, the "Meryl Streep" of Argentina.

A Matter of Size is now playing in Boston theaters, and is coming soon to Washington, D.C!
Anita is currently playing at film festivals all over the country!

For more information about A Matter of Size and Anita, visit Menemsha Films!