The Toronto Jewish Film Festival kicks off the non-Jewish New Year - it's still the year 5769 to us, thanks for asking - with the popular program CHAI TEA & A MOVIE. A casual and family-friendly social-outing/film going experience, Chai Tea & A Movie is one of the showcase events of the TJFF - a festival that brings together award-winning works by Jewish filmmakers worldwide, with as many messages, themes and stories as the human experience can inspire.

The 2009 edition of Chai Tea & A Movie continues the tradition of herbal beverage and cinematic importance with The Galilee Eskimos, acclaimed filmmaker Jonathan Paz's wry and inspiring tale of empowerment on a kibbutz that has abandoned its old people.

The screening takes place Jan.18 at the Sheppard Grande Theatre (corner of Yonge and Sheppard Ave.) in the traditional late afternoon "tea time." Chai Tea begins at 4 p.m. and the film screens at 5 p.m.

The Galilee Eskimos (the name refers metaphorically to the Inuit practice of abandoning the aged on ice floes) depicts a group of elderly kibbutzniks residents who wake up one morning to find they've been left behind. The 12 senior citizens piece together their predicament and realize the bank has foreclosed on the property with extreme prejudice (and plans of creating a massive casino complex).

But what is "just business" to the greedy developers, strikes at the very soul of the elderly kibbutzim, who have devoted their lives to old-fashioned dreams of a meaningful, cooperative future in their self-sufficient community. The dozen self-styled "abandoned Eskimos," are shocked from drowsy complacency into action, and unite to defend their home with a passion greater than they'd ever felt in their youth.

The Galilee Eskimos casts a razor-sharp eye on multiple issues, from the treatment of the elderly, to conflict, hope, love, politics, history and contemporary reality. Its characters are true underdogs, whose fight represents a victory of the spirit, regardless of the outcome.

Co-author and director, Jonathan Paz dedicates this story to his parents, founders of the kibbutz movement. Born in kibbutz Mizra, he was a member until 1971. A teacher and lecturer, Paz has written, produced and directed feature films, documentaries and educational films, and worked for Israeli Television. Selected filmography includes, "They were all we had" (1987) "A wing over California" (1988) "The valley Train" (1989) "Zaya" (1999) "The Galilee Eskimos" (2007).

For more information, visit www.tjff.com