‘Simon Magus’ Opens Jewish Film Fest

The Orange County Jewish Film Festival opens Sunday at UC Irvine. The event, co-sponsored by UCI and University Synagogue of Irvine, consists of five screenings through May 9.

The schedule:

* “Simon Magus,” a British film about a “holy fool” in 19th century Silesia, Poland, will be screened Sunday at 4 p.m.

* “Nobody’s Business,” an hourlong documentary about an American son trying to explore a family past his cantankerous, immigrant father would rather forget, and “The Personals: Improvisations on Romance in the Golden Years,” which won the 1999 Oscar for best short documentary, will be presented Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

* “The Maelstrom: A Family Chronicle,” which consists of home movies shot by a Jewish family in Holland before and during World War II, will be followed by a panel discussion with the director on May 2 at 7:30 p.m.

* “When I Was 14: A Survivor Remembers,” a Holocaust memoir, and “King of the Jews,” a short film about the roots of Christian anti-Semitism and the need for forgiveness and healing, will be screened May 6 at 3:30 p.m.

* “Florentene (Part I),” a screening of six half-hour episodes of a popular Israeli television drama about bohemian Generation X-ers in Tel Aviv will be shown May 9 at 7:30 p.m.

All screenings are in the Humanities Instructional Building, Room 100. Parking is available in the structure at West Peltason and Campus Drive. Admission is $8 each show or $25 for a festival pass. (949) 824-7418.