Thursday, May 8

Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival

Although the Jewish Film Festival doesn’t really kick into gear until May 15, you can get a head start with a special opening celebration next Thursday, May 8, in the Benderson Family Building of the Amherst Jewish Community Center. Festivities begin with a wine sampling featuring New York State and Israeli wines, Mediterranean food, and a raffle. Music will be provided by the duo West of Odessa and by actor/archivist Bob Berkman, who will share his collection of Jewish music from rare piano rolls. At 9pm, the evening’s feature film will be The Land of Milk and Honey, a new documentary about Israeli folk culture and the history of the song “Eretz Zavat Chalav u’Dvash.” For more information on Buffalo’s longest-lived film festival (this will be its 23rd year), see next week’s Artvoice.

—m. faust

7pm. JCC Amherst, 2640 N. Forest Road, Getzville (688-4033/bijff.com).

$18 before May, $22 after May 2, $10 students.