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Warning: The following Q&A contains major spoilers for The Blacklist‘s Season 5 fall finale. Proceed with caution.

During its four previous seasons, The Blacklist put Tom Keen through the physical and emotional wringer time and again — and he somehow survived all of it.

Getting tortured and stabbed in the pilot episode? No problem. Tied up and left to waste away on a boat in Season 2? Piece of cake. Chased by assassins at his own Season 3 wedding? Bring. It. On. (He even survived the cancellation of his spinoff series, which is perhaps the most impressive of all.)

But Tom’s...

The following Q&A contains major spoilers for The Blacklist‘s Season 5 premiere. Proceed with caution.

The Blacklist giveth, and The Blacklist taketh away.

In the span of just a few months, Tom Keen has gone from leading his own spinoff series to possibly taking a dirt nap courtesy of Raymond Reddington. (And that’s to say nothing of his significant mommy issues.)

Though Tom didn’t have much screen time in Wednesday’s Season 5 premiere, he did make a crucial appearance at the end of the episode, and it dealt a potentially devastating blow to fans of Liz Keen’s baby daddy.

The Blacklist is leaning into the chaos.

NBC’s crime caper returns for its fifth season on Wednesday, and Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader) is starting anew -- sort of. With his resources depleted, Red begins the new season going with the flow, taking smaller jobs than usual and surprisingly enjoying what life throws his way. But he'll soon encounter a major problem: The suitcase containing skeletal remains, currently in Tom Keen's (Ryan Eggold) possession, is a secret Red doesn't want his daughter, Liz (Megan Boone), to be aware of.

“While season four was dramatically fun, it became awfully dark and that’s where the story needed to go. It felt like we had an opportunity coming out of that -- Red’s empire is decimated, he’s lost the closest people who were in his organization -- to re-imagine the landscape of the show, in terms of how much fun we have,” creator [link=nm...

Will an Arrow hero’s swagger cause problems? Who is helping Gotham‘s Bruce “suit up”? Who’s being stalked on NCIS: La? Which Chicago Fireman might get burned by a bad girl? Get answers to those questions plus teases from other shows.

In real life, any mayor revealed to have a secret child would cause a PR scandal. On Arrow, what will be Star City’s reaction to William? —Yessenia

While acknowledging that the idea of a scandal “is a great idea,” co-showrunner Wendy Mericle said, “We are definitely exploring this notion of what is it like...

Author: Josh Wilding

Television has a clear advantage over film when it comes to portraying mysterious characters. While big twists, turns, and reveals can still unfurl on the big screen, it’s the small one where viewers can sometimes spend years following these heroes and villains.

What you’ll find here is a look at five more mysterious TV characters who have kept us all guessing for countless episodes. While an argument could be made that none are quite as intriguing as The Blacklist’s Mr. Kaplan, they definitely give her a run for her money…

The Blacklist season four is available on DVD and Blu-ray from today.

6. Mr. Kaplan – The Blacklist

That’s evident from the fan-favourite Mr. Kaplan in his TV series The Blacklist. The mystery surrounding that enigmatic character spanned four years of television and while she was most often seen helping the equally mysterious Red dispose...

The Pennsylvania parents who “gifted” their eldest of nine daughters to a man who then impregnated her — and raped five of the other girls, all of whom came to live with him with their parents’ consent — were sentenced Wednesday to prison, People confirms.

Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus received the maximum possible penalty for, in the words of the judge, making their children live like “sex slaves” of Lee Kaplan, a 52-year-old former business associate who authorities have said preyed upon the family and convinced them he was a prophet of God.

“For whatever sick purpose — whether or not you fell...

The Pennsylvania mother found living with her nine daughters in the home of a self-proclaimed prophet who allegedly had sex with some of the girls testified that she had her daughters’ best interests in mind, her attorney confirms to People.

Savilla Stoltzfus, 43, who pleaded guilty along with her husband to “gifting” some of their daughters to 52-year-old Lee Kaplan, testified at Kaplan’s trial on Wednesday that she and her daughters wanted to be with him, her attorney, Craig Penglase, tells People.

On Thursday, six of her daughters testified, including a 15-year-old girl who said she was 7 when she first had sex with Kaplan,...

The Blacklist Mr. Kaplan: Conclusion Review The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 22: Mr. Kaplan: Conclusion is a solid ending to a largely uneven season and finally wraps up a long-running story arc. That story arc (which devoted watchers of the show probably already know) is, of course, the question of whether Red (James Spader) is Liz’s (

Continue reading: TV Review: The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 22: Mr. Kaplan: Conclusion [NBC]...

The Blacklist Mr. Kaplan Review The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 21: Mr. Kaplan builds things to a head and leaves viewers eager to catch their breath before the second half of the season’s finale. I said it in my review of last week’s episode, and I’ll say it again: Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff) has the unlikely honor of being the [...]

Continue reading: TV Review: The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 21: Mr. Kaplan [NBC]...

We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, we’re lobbing queries left and right about shows including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Prison Break, Chicago Fire and Supernatural!

1 | Is any broadcast TV series doing daylight action/stunt sequences better than Hawaii Five-0? Or as regularly and with such scale?

2 | Once Upon a Time fan Jr asks: “So Emma has been paying rent in downtown Boston for however many years…? Being a Savior must pay better than I expected!” Also, with Henry now living in Seattle, can we eventually expect a 3-way crossover...

Warning: The following recap contains major spoilers from the Season 4 finale of The Blacklist.

Ever since Raymond Reddington walked into FBI headquarters four years ago, requesting to speak only with Elizabeth Keen, there’s been a flurry of theories about Red’s relationship to the profiler. Is he Liz’s father? Is he, somehow, her mother? Is there another explanation, beyond blood relation, that justifies Red’s loving-yet-creepy fascination with her?

But if, throughout the years, you’ve remained a staunch advocate of the most plausible theory on that list — that Red is indeed Liz’s dad — then Thursday...

The Blacklist Mr. Kaplan Trailer NBC‘s The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 21: Mr. Kaplan TV Show Trailer stars James Spader and Megan Boone. As Red prepares for a showdown with Mr. Kaplan, Liz has a chance to finally learn if he is father. The Blacklist: Season 4’s plot synopsis from

Continue reading: The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 21: Mr. Kaplan Trailer [NBC]...

The Blacklist The Debt Collector Review The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 20: The Debt Collector raises the stakes between Red (James Spader) and Mr. Kaplan (Susan Blommaert) but proves most interesting when following Ressler (Diego Klattenhoff). In fact, this season in general and last night’s episode in particular might be the most interesting Ressler has [...]

Continue reading: TV Review: The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 20: The Debt Collector [NBC]...

Raymond Reddington may want to invest in a second fedora: The Blacklist has been renewed for a fifth season at NBC.

Related2017 Renewal Scorecard: What’s Coming Back? What’s Getting Cancelled? What’s on the Bubble?

The 22-episode renewal comes as Season 4 gears up for a showdown between Reddington and his confidant-turned-nemesis, Mr. Kaplan. According to series creator Jon Bokenkamp, Mr. Kaplan “will undermine [Red’s] criminal empire in ways he never expected” and “intends to take him apart piece by piece” in the season’s final installments.

The Blacklist thus far this season has averaged 5.4 million weekly viewers and a 1.0 demo rating,...

The Blacklist Dr. Bogdan Krilov Trailer NBC‘s The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 19: Dr. Bogdan Krilov TV Show Trailer stars James Spader and Megan Boone. Mr. Kaplan enlists the services of an underworld doctor to bring Liz’s memories back. The Blacklist: Season 4’s plot synopsis from NBC: In the shocking third-season finale, [...]

Continue reading: The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 19: Dr. Bogdan Krilov Trailer [NBC]...

The Blacklist Philomena (No. 61) Review The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 18: Philomena (No. 61) blows open an exciting new chapter of the show that puts the FBI task force in hot, uncharted waters. Last night’s episode saw Mr. Kaplan (Susan Blommaert) fire the opening shots in her war against Reddington (James Spader), an act that, in [...]

Continue reading: TV Review: The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 18: Philomena (No. 61) [NBC]...

Might Mr. Kaplan’s efforts to take down Red also mean the FBI task force could become collateral damage?

With the investigation into the bodies and Red’s associates getting turned in on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 18, it seems as if the news that the FBI has been working with Red is bound to get out.

And Ressler’s former partner may be the person to uncover that.

Imagine if he found out that Ressler was involved? Will there be a standoff? Will Ressler have to kill his friend to keep it quiet if he does figure it out?

Julian seems determined to get to the bottom of it all, making it his personal mission to get Red.

And now that he’s going after Liz?

It will be interesting to see how that all turns out.

If anything, Ressler’s connection to Julian makes it much more investing, that...

The war with Mr. Kaplan and Red has gone to a new level.

Dembe looks to be out of commission in this ultimate battle, according to these photos from The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 18, but Red isn't leaving his side. At least not right away.

It looks like Marvin is somehow getting involved in the latest case and or battle with Mr. Kaplan. But will he really help?

And what's Ressler doing with that new guy?

Take a glimpse at these preview pictures from "Philomena."

1. Red checks in on Dembe - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 18 Red sits by Dembe's side while his friend recovers. But what book is Dembe reading? 2. Red's got a package - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 18 Dembe appears to be sleeping. And it looks like Red has brought a paper-wrapped gift. Could be just what he needs to cheer up. 3. Dembe rests - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 18 Dembe will recover,...

The Blacklist Philomena Trailer NBC‘s The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 18: Philomena TV Show Trailer stars James Spader and Megan Boone. Mr. Kaplan prepares to take down Red and the FBI. The Blacklist: Season 4’s plot synopsis from NBC: In the shocking third-season finale, former FBI agent Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) [...]

Continue reading: The Blacklist: Season 4, Episode 18: Philomena Trailer [NBC]...

Mr. Kaplan’s back, and she’s not pulling any punches.

Ultimately, the fact that she’s been after Red wasn’t a surprise, but that didn’t make the buildup or the reveal any less exciting.

At the same time, it was a smart move to put The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 16 and The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 17 back to back rather than waiting a week in between.

Because while the second part of the two-hour event filled in a lot of holes and revealed Kate’s past, the present-day aspect of the story was really about the punchline ending.

So I could understand people being frustrated if they had to wait a week after the reveal only to see that current storyline does not move forward a ton.

And really, the two episodes almost work better as a whole, making the “event” all about Kate’s return and fantastically kicking...

The Blacklist is back!

After a two-month break, NBC's crime thriller returns with two back-to-back episodes on Thursday. The Blacklist left off with the revelation that Raymond Reddington's (James Spader) own bodyguard and right-hand man, Dembe (Hisham Tawfiq), may have been the one who betrayed him. The why will be revealed soon, but with Dembe on the lam, Red and his crew are working against the clock to find out the truth.

"Everybody's going to see if we can find Dembe and what he did to Red," series star Megan Boone told Et on NBC's midseason premiere red carpet in New York City last month.

Related: 'Blacklist' Star Ryan Eggold Gears Up for a New Adventure With 'Redemption'

The 33-year-old actress also promised that the second half of season four will throw longtime fans for a loop.

"There are so many reveals," Boone said of the return, adding that the upcoming episodes feature "exciting" developments...

It looks like The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 17, the second hour of the two-hour return, will take a dive into the past.

According to these preview photos, Mr. Kaplan is hanging out with Liz's mom.

And is that Red's former associate from The Blacklist Season 1 making a return?

Get excited with these pictures from "Requiem."

1. Mr. Ketch decides to clean - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 17 Mr. Ketch puts on some gloves. Is this the beginning of her "cleaner" status? 2. Kate and Katarina - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 17 It looks like Mr. Ketch and Katarina were friends back in the day. So Kate has far more of a connection to Liz than we may have realized. 3. Peeking down the stairs - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 17 Mr. Kaplan must hear something downstairs. But what could it be? Is it the first time she meets Red? 4. Katarina holds her baby - The Blacklist Season...

The Blacklist really knows how to deliver some fantastic endings.

I was expecting the return of Mr. Kaplan for The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 15, revealing that it’s been her that’s been attacking Red and his organization.

Finding out that Dembe, one of Red’s most trusted associates, if not his most trusted, was the one who poisoned Red was a great and shocking conclusion to the winter finale.

Dembe may have gone rogue, but it wasn’t out of the blue. Ever since Mr. Kaplan’s “death,” he’s been questioning Red and his ability to work with him.

But to poison him?

That takes things to a different level, and it will be interesting to learn more about that particular move in future episodes.

There’s definitely more at play with regard to Dembe’s actions and Red being poisoned, but I still think that Mr. Kaplan is...

Might Mr. Kaplan be the person behind the attack on Red and his organization?

Who else would know the inner workings of Red’s operation and hit at him in such a personal way?

Unfortunately, The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 14 didn’t reveal who the person is that’s behind it all, rather, waiting until the last moments to explain that it was “Red” who hired Isabella Stone.

I'm guessing that the true reveal that’s it’s been Mr. Kaplan all along will probably be in the winter finale.

After all, there’s been no sign of her since she got out of the woods on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 8, and it just feels like the direction the series is headed.

What could be more personal of a showdown than one between Red and Mr. Kaplan?

But Red’s dealings (and portrait experiences) were a small part of the hour.

Dembe’s confession about Red killing Mr. Kaplan on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 10 should have had a larger impact on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 11.

Instead, besides being a bit grumpy with Red at the outset of the hour, she jumped right on the latest case he was offering and didn’t mention anything until the last five minutes.

With the way we’ve seen Liz handle things before, it was a bit of a surprise that she wasn’t more forward and questioned Red earlier on.

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "The Harem"

And even when she did bring it up at the end, there wasn’t the anger I expected her to level at Red.

Sure, there was a sadness that she expressed, and she clearly didn’t think that Red trying to protect Mr. Kaplan’s sister excused him from his actions, but I didn’t get...

Who else is worried about Dembe’s fate now?

If Red saw Mr. Kaplan faking Liz’s death to help her as betrayal, what will he think when he finds out Dembe told Liz that Red killed Mr. Kaplan?

It was a bold move from Red’s right-hand man on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 10, and one that could cost him, even if he’s doing it to try and help Red. That and he’s still feeling grief over Mr. Kaplan’s death.

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "The Forecaster"

Dembe is a fascinating character, and one who often stays in the background until is called upon to do whatever work is needed, but when he does get screen time, he always shines.

He plays his emotions close to the chest, but there are glimpses of concern or frustration that peak through. The big one was clearly him dropping in on Liz,...

Even in the future, you have to pay the cost to be the boss.

That's the gist of Incorporated Season 1 Episode 4, which is, unfortunately, another snore-fest (Sigh).

Every character faces a choice, either in flashbacks or present day, and must decide if they are willing to pay the price to get what they want.

The problem, just like in all the previous episodes, is that I just don't care about the characters enough to give a damn about what decisions they make.

The brave new world angle about baby gestators and choosing every genetic trait of your child is supposed to be chilling I guess, but everyone on the show acts like they are choosing an emoji to insert into an Im, not all aspects of a human being.

We are not having a clone of me. Don't you want the baby to look like you at all?

Laura Permalink:...

The fall finale of The Blacklist Season 4 teased that it would provide the long-awaited answer about Red and Liz’s relationship.

Red confessed to being Liz’s father.

After four seasons, we finally know… or do we?

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "Dr. Adrian Shaw: Conclusion"

I can’t help but be skeptical of Red’s answer on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 8. Are we to truly believe that when Red said, “Yes, is that what you want me to say? Yes, Elizabeth is my daughter,” it was a factual statement?

Or was it the only answer Red could have given to Alexander under the circumstances? After all, Alexander was adamant to get it out of him, so would saying no have even been a possibility for Red?

I want to believe Red, that his answer was the truth that viewers now know, even if Liz doesn’t. Yet.

But...

Liz may have discovered a parentage surprise on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 7, but the reveals seem to be far from over.

Though, Liz is nowhere to be found in these preview photos for The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 8. So what is she up to?

Instead, it looks as if the FBI team is working on an interrogation. But will that lead them to Alexander Kirk?

Meanwhile, it looks like Mr. Kaplan is still dealing with her crazy captor. Hopefully she finds a way to escape.

Buckle up for the fall finale with these pictures from “Dr. Adrian Shaw: Conclusion.”

1. Time for a group meeting - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 8 Harold, Ressler and Samar have come together for what looks to be an important meeting. Are they looking for Liz? Or does it involve Alexander Kirk? Maybe both? 2. Aram is shocked - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 8 Aram is back at his computers,...

Alexander has finally been captured.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Agnes was rescued safe and sound as well, but I did wonder if The Blacklist would take the dark route in killing the baby if Alexander chose to jump.

That would have been a drastically different turn of events, and maybe too much of a tragic spin for the series. It definitely would have caused a rift in the group, that’s for sure.

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "The Thrushes"

Instead, Liz was reunited with her child on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 6, which thankfully puts an end to the cat-and-mouse game with her biological father.

It definitely was time.

And it was interesting that Liz wound up choosing to go along with Red’s plan. There was a certain means to an end, but there was enough level of trust in him to get her daughter back.

Red or Alexander? Who can Liz really trust?

Red may seem hell bent on taking out Alexander, but he’s also trying to get Agnes back. And then there’s Alexander, who according to a DNA test is actually Liz’s father, but he’s not giving up Agnes.

I’d much rather trust the FBI task force of Harold, Ressler, Samar and Aram at this point.

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "The Lindquist Concern"

Not surprisingly, The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 5 waited until the last moments to tease some key pieces of information, the big one seemingly being the definitive reveal of Liz’s father.

Does that finally put to bed the theory that Red is Liz’s father? Probably not, but it would be nice to get some real answers involving Liz’s past and her connection to Red.

At this point, I feel like a broken record for saying it,...

The hunt for Agnes is nearing an end.

And in these preview photos from The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 5, it appears that Red and Dembe are working with the doctor in the hunt for Alexander Kirk. And is that a smile from Dembe?

Plus, it looks like Red's preparing for a church showdown and there's a naked guy in the bathtub. All part of Red's plan, obviously.

Get ready for the newest episode by checking out these pictures from "The Lindquist Concern," and watch The Blacklist online for more clues.

1. Red is on some serious business - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 5 Red, Dembe and Dr. Sebastian Reifler look like they are on an important mission. But why are they in a giant hanger? And what clever story from Red’s past about hangers will he share with the group? 2. Red makes a joke - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 5 Red seems to be enjoying himself with Dr.

The hunt for Agnes looks like its drawing to a close.

But there’s certainly a question as to whether the baby will make it out alive.

The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 4 teased the possibility of Agnes being hurt if Alexander does choose to use her to help himself get better, but would the series take that dark of a turn?

Would The Blacklist Season 4 forgo a happy ending? Might something like Agnes being hurt and/or killed tear Tom and Liz apart? Tear Liz and Red apart?

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "Gaia"

I’d like to lean toward a reunion between the baby and her parents, but it’s also kind of exciting not knowing which direction the series might go.

And imagine the dramatic rift that would take place going forward. Add a reveal about some truth Red’s been keeping from Liz, and things will definitely be taking a major turn.

Mr. Kaplan is very much alive.

It seems that Red’s history with his former associate affected his normally accurate shot on The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 2. And rather than check to make sure she was truly dead, it looks like the thought of having to look at her after “killing” her must have been too much for him.

It’s definitely a major mistake that will come back to haunt Red and an interesting twist for the series.

A former friend turned enemy? Is there any other outcome after she recuperates?

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "Miles McGrath"

Thank goodness the answer of her fate wasn’t dragged out, and while a major reveal, it was a minor part of The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 3.

“Miles McGrath” was much more focused on Red’s hunt for Alexander Kirk, or Constantine. It was good to see the blacklister of the week...

Red made sure to end The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 2 with a bang.

Despite Mr. Kaplan’s earlier acknowledgment of what she guessed Red had in store for her and later seeing Red walk Mr. Kaplan to a quiet space and saying it was pretty much his only option, I couldn’t help but find it hard to believe that Red would kill her.

And yet he was perfectly fine with pulling the trigger... but he did kill her, right?

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "Mato"

Red may have not checked Mr. Kaplan's pulse at the end, but he was feet away from her when he shot her, and there was blood splatter. Or did Red's bullet merely clip her and she's still alive?

Does that mean she might come back as a scarred adversary later on in the season or was her clutching the grass at the end...

You win this round, NBC marketing department.

Promos for Thursday’s The Blacklist warned viewers not to miss the last five minutes — but the hour’s climactic twist had nothing to do with the Great Elizabeth Keen Rescue Mission of 2016, as we were led to believe.

In fact, as the episode neared its conclusion, Liz and Tom actually reunited, with baby Agnes on her way to safety. It was — spoiler alert! — Mr. Kaplan, Red’s longtime confidant and fixer, who didn’t survive the outing. Or… did she?

PhotosFall TV Predictions: Grey’s Husband Twist, Twd Death, a Criminal Send-Off,...

After a killer twist at the end of The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 1, both Liz and Agnes still have not been rescued.

But these preview photos for The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 2 look to reveal that Red and the FBI team aren't resting until they find the two.

Ressler looks to be leading a brave charge, while Red is trying to deal with Mr. Kaplan after her betrayal.

And do the photos hint at Liz's past? Will even more truths be uncovered soon enough?

Check out these pictures from "Mato," and after, scroll through our list of 13 things we want to see on The Blacklist Season 4! New episode airs Thursday at 10 p.m.!

1. Red and Mr. Kaplan chilling out on the couch - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 2 If only Red and Mr. Kaplan were hanging out with each other, BFFs again. Instead it looks like the two are attending couples counseling, and...

What? No happy ending for The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 1?

The return of The Blacklist was a fast-paced hour that was all about rescuing Liz. It’s just too bad Red only managed to get close multiple times, only to have any type of victory squashed.

Sure, going up against Liz’s alleged father Alexander Kirk wasn’t going to be an easy task, but at least getting Agnes back would put some light into such a dark situation.

Nope. That last-second twist as Red’s vehicle was rammed and Agnes was kidnapped again was a real shocker to cap off an engaging premiere. Did anyone see that coming?

View Slideshow: The Blacklist Photos from "Esteban"

Red certainly going on a ruthless rampage on his quest to get Liz back wasn’t really anything new. Though sometimes it’s easy to forget that Red still plays by the rules of the bad guys.

At this rate, Elizabeth Keen might actually miss being dead.

Ever since she was “resurrected” from last season’s tragic “death,” The Blacklist‘s leading lady has only continued to encounter the very heartache, violence and betrayal she was trying to escape. And Thursday’s Season 4 premiere was no different.

A quick reminder of where the NBC drama left things in May: Red, deep into the process of tracking down longtime rival Alexander Kirk, learned that Liz had faked her own death (and, even worse, Mr. Kaplan spearheaded the entire ruse). Meanwhile, Liz fled to Cuba to start a new...

You don't want to mess with Raymond Reddington... and definitely not when it involves Liz Keene.

The Blacklist Season 3 Episode 23 dropped the bombshell reveal that Liz was in fact alive and that Mr. Kaplan helped her fake her death.

Oh, and on top of that, Liz was then kidnapped by someone who claims to be her real dad.

If these photos from The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 1 are any indication, Red is going to be on a rampage to get her back, guns blazing.

But will he save her? Will he forgive Mr. Kaplan? And is Tom digging his own grave?

Take a peak at these pictures from "Esteban," and check out our list of 13 things we want to see on The Blacklist Season 4 before the premiere on Thursday at 10 p.m.

1. Red takes a stroll on the beach - The Blacklist Season 4 Episode 1 It looks like Red forgot his swim trunks and floaties.

The attorney for Savilla Stoltzfus, the Pennsylvania woman charged with endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly "gifting" her then-14-year-old daughter to a man who allegedly impregnated her twice, tells People his client had good intentions and that "differences in culture is what this case is about." Stoltzfus and her husband, Daniel, who are Amish, promised their daughter's hand in marriage to Lee Kaplan, 51, Savilla's attorney, Craig Penglase, tells People exclusively. Of such a practice, Penglase says, "That happens in cultures all over the world." Penglase adds, "Everything [Savilla] did she was for her family, and what she did...

A Pennsylvania judge ruled Tuesday that Lee Kaplan, the Festerville man arrested in June after police allegedly rescued 12 girls from his home, will stand trial for sexual assault and related charges, People confirms. Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Kate Kohler tells People that the parents of many of the 12 girls, who ranged in age from 6 months to 18 years old, will also stand trial. The girls' father, Daniel Stoltzfus, was charged with conspiracy to commit statutory sexual assault and child endangerment. Their mother, Savilla Stoltzfus, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. When Kaplan, 51, was arrested, Savilla Stoltzfus was also living in Kaplan's home.

A Pennsylvania judge ruled Tuesday that Lee Kaplan, the Festerville man arrested in June after police allegedly rescued 12 girls from his home, will stand trial for sexual assault and related charges, People confirms. Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Kate Kohler tells People that the parents of many of the 12 girls, who ranged in age from 6 months to 18 years old, will also stand trial. The girls' father, Daniel Stoltzfus, was charged with conspiracy to commit statutory sexual assault and child endangerment. Their mother, Savilla Stoltzfus, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. When Kaplan, 51, was arrested, Savilla Stoltzfus was also living in Kaplan's home.

Warning: The following post contains major spoilers for the Season 3 finale of The Blacklist. If you have yet to watch the episode, turn back now.

Step aside, Jon Snow. Your resurrection is yesterday’s news.

Confirming what many fans of The Blacklist have suspected since the pivotal April 14 episode, in which Liz Keen died from complications during childbirth, Thursday’s Season 3 finale revealed that Megan Boone’s protagonist is, in fact, alive — and Tom has been in on it the whole time.

Picking up where last week’s installment left off, the season ender found Red using every resource in...

My major discovery -- though it may yet win the Audience Prize at Sundance in the World Dramatic Competition, is the new “Divorce, Italian Style”. Or as my friend Gary Meyer said, maybe it’s more like the great Norman Lear’s “Divorce, American Style”. “Divorce, Sharia Style” is actually entitled “Halal Love (and Sex)” and depicts four tragi-comic interconnected stories about devout Muslim men and women as they try to manage their love lives and desires without breaking any of their religion’s rules.

“Halal Love (and Sex)” is hilarious and eye-opening, culturally open and sharing, and God knows, we all need a good laugh about what we spend 90% of our mental life wishing for…good sex.

The film opens in an elementary school classroom as the teacher begins to explain to the young girls how babies are made.

In Beirut, Awatef is recruiting a second wife to help her satisfy her overly loving husband. The jealous Mokhtar needs to find his ex-wife another man to be able to marry her again, for the 4th time. Lubna, freshly divorced, can finally marry her true love, but on a short-term contract only. Everyone tries to live and love, by the rules of Islam.

This is a sophisticated, bourgeous comedy, somewhat French in character but most likely 100% Lebanese in its warm humor and its depiction of love and sex in civilized society today. Assad Fouadkar, the writer and director and the two Razor Film producers Roman Paul and Gerhard Meixner are all fully educated in the U.S. as well as their own respective countries of Lebanon, Australia and Germany and their understanding the meaning of cross-cultural brings special veritas to this comedy of manners.

Assad Fouladkar was born in Lebanon where he taught at the Lebanese American University before going to study filmmaking at Boston University. His thesis short, “God Have Mercy” was a finalist at the Student Academy Awards. Fouladkar’s debut feature, “When Maryam Spoke Out” won major awards worldwide and was selected as Lebanon’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. Recently he has also directed the sitcom “Ragel W Sit Sitat”.

He originally took the treatment of his idea to Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors and while it attracted interest, no company came aboard definitively until the script was developed.

Roman Paul says, "We met Assad via the commissioning editor of 'Wadjda', Layaly Badr. Then we teamed up with Sundance to further develop the script."

That development took place with the Sundance Institute’s own Paul Federbush who felt it merited his personal efforts outside of any Lab. Assad was already an alumnus of the Sundance Institute. Being head of the international labs however, Paul had the protection of a firewall between the lab and the festival, so its ultimate selection for this year’s festival was not a result of his involvement or the lab’s involvement. The film was accepted on its own merits. The Guardian gave it four out of five stars. Assad will be interviewed by Newsweek Magazine; the BBC has taken note of the film and U.K. is now awakening to the film’s attractive merits. And I was not alone in my surprise at encountering such a fun film here in Sundance; I have heard many others buzzing about it too.

Producers Roman Paul and Gerhard Meixner have been focused on international feature film production for worldwide distribution since forming Razor Film Produktion in 2002. Their movies have premiered and been awarded at major festivals all over the world. They have won two Golden Gloves and one Emmy, were nominated twice for an Academy Award and received the Bernd-Eichinger Award for Outstanding Achievements in Production at the German Film Awards in 2014. They have been codirectors of the International Productions Masterclass “Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris” at Filmakademie Ludwigsburg and La Femis Paris. Roman Paul studied at the Goethe University in Frankfurt and in Paris, the U.S., and Japan. He holds a Masters Degree in Theater, Film and Media Studies and American and German Literature. He started his career in the film business as an assistant of acquisitions for the arthouse distributor Prokino in Munich which is, I think, where I met him one year at the Hof Film Festival. In 1999 he took over as head of international acquisitions at Senator Film Distribution in Berlin and Los Angeles. He is a member of the European and the German Film Academy and Ace (Atelier du Cinema Europeen) initiated by the late Claudie Cheval.

Gerhard Meixner originally trained in economics before working in marketing. He went on to study film production and media studies at the Hochschule fur Fernsehen and Film in Munich and at UCLA in Los Angeles. He worked for MGM/ United Artists. After graduating, he worked as a freelance story editor and script reader for various companies in film and TV. He began working as a producer for Senator Films in Berlin before setting up Razor Film. He too is a member of the German and European Film Academy.

Razor’s past films, the Uruguayan coproduction "Mr. Kaplan" 2014, the groundbreaking "Wadjda" 2012, the sleeper of Tiff 2012 "The Patience Stone" (coprod), "The Future" 2011, "Goodbye First Love" 2011 (coprod), "Womb" 2010 (coprod), "Paradise Now" 2005, the debut film they coproduced, "The Wind Journeys" by Cirro Guerro (current nominee for Oscar Award Best Foreign Language Film "Embrace of the Serpent") 2009 prove that Roman and Gerhard have a sharp eye for talent and good material as well as the broad cross-cultural understanding which makes for international film successes.

"Halal Love" was not produced by Razor alone however. Sabbah Media is the Lebanese production company, a company established in the 1950s. Aside from producing they distribute for Dreamworks, Warner Bros., BBC and others and have two other media companies. Sadek and Ali Sabbah currently lead and manage the full line of the whole business, to preserve a leading market position and carry on their ancestors' dear mission: honoring the past and promoting the future.

It is refreshing to see a comedy from the region and particularly one that bucks traditional stereotypes and depicts strong women in control of their own lives within their respective relationships.

“Halal Love (and Sex)” is edgy but it just skirts the far edge of propriety and never oversteps what is halacha or kosher. I think Americans and other citizens of the world will get great enjoyment out of these human stories and it will soften the hard edges of mistrust growing around religious factions today much to the rest of our collective distress. Laughter is the best medicine and this provides plenty of laughs.

Sundance 2016 – World Cinema Dramatic Competition

Rt: 94min

International Premiere

Lebanon

Director: Assad Fouladkar

Writer(s): Assad Fouladkar

Producer: Roman Paul, Gerhard Meixner, Sadek Sabbah

Starring: Darine Hamze, Rodrigue Sleiman, Mirna Moukarzel, Ali Sammoury, Zeinab Khadra, Hussein Mokadem, Fadia Abi Chahine

International sales agent: Films Distribution.

On Wednesday, May 27th, Premios Platino's hosts Alessandra Rosaldo and Juan Carlos Arciniegas alongside actor Eugenio Derbez, as well as Elvi Cano (Director Egeda Us) and Gonzalo Elvira (Fipca Mexico) will announce the nominees for the Awards in Los Angeles, CA.

During the press conference Mexican actress Kate Del Castillo will announce the recipient of the Premio de Honor (Lifetime Achievement Award). In addition Rick Nicita, Chairman of the American Cinematheque, will accept a special Platino Award to The American Cinematheque for its contribution to Iberoamerican Cinema.

Produced by Egeda, in collaboration with Fipca, the Premios Platino of Iberoamerican Cinema was born with the vocation to establish itself as a major international ceremony, promoting Latin American cinema as a whole and transcending borders. It is one of the most important tools to promote and support our film industry and all the professionals who, day after day, put forth all their effort and commitment so that audiences can enjoy the best films.

The candidates for the 2nd Platino Awards (Premios Platino) were announced during the 18th Málaga Film Festival in Spain. 73 feature films and 18 Ibero- American countries compete for the final nominations in the 14 categories for this prestigious award. The competing films had to be commercially released or premiered in an A-List Film Festival during 2014. The final nominations will be announced tomorrow at the Andaz Hotel West Hollywood. The Premios Platino Award Ceremony will take place on July 18, 2015 at Starlite Marbella in Spain.

As part of the same event The Premios Platino has distinguished the Málaga Film Festival with a special award for its contribution to the circulation and promotion of Spanish and Ibero- American cinema.

Here is the list of preselected candidates in each category ahead of tomorrow's final nominations

Premio Platino for the Best Ibero-American Fictional Film

· "Cantinflas"

(Kenio Films) (Mexico).

· "Conducta" (Behavior)

(Instituto Cubano Del Arte E Industria Cinematográfica, Rtv Comercial) (Cuba).

· "El Mudo" (The Mute)

(Maretazo Cine, Urban Factory) (Peru, Mexico).

· "El Niño"

(Vaca Films Studio, S.L., Telecinco Cinema, S.A., Ikiru Films, S.L., La Ferme! Productions, El Niño la película, A.I.E.) (Spain).

· "La Danza de la Realidad" (The Dance of Reality)

(Camera One, Pathe Y Le Soleil Films) (Chile).

· "La Dictadura Perfecta" (The Perfect Dictatorship)

(Imcine - Instituto Mexicano De Cinematografía, Estudios Churubusco Azteca, S.A., Bandidos Films, Fidecine, Eficine 226) (Mexico).

· "La Isla Mínima" (Marshland)

(Antena 3 Films, S.L., Atípica Films, S.L. y Sacromonte Films S.L.) (Spain).

· "Libertador" (The Liberator)

(Producciones Insurgentes, San Mateo Films) (Venezuela, Spain).

· "Matar a un Hombre" (To Kill a Man)

(Arizona Production, El Remanso Cine Ltda) (Chile).

· "Mr. Kaplan"

(Baobab 66 Films, S.L., Salado Media, Expresso Films) (Uruguay, Spain).

· "O Lobo Atrás da Porta" (A Wolf at the Door)

(Tc Filmes, Gullane Filmes) (Brazil).

· "Os gatos não têm vertigens" (Cats Don't Have Vertigo)

(Mgn Filmes) (Portugal).

· "Pelo Malo" (Bad Hair)

(Sudaca Films, Hanfgarn & Ufer Filmproduktion, Artefactos S.F., Imagen Latina, La Sociedad Post) (Venezuela Peru, Argentina).

· "Refugiado"

(Gale Cine, Burning Blue, El Campo Cine, Staron Films, Bellota Films, Río Rojo Contenidos) (Argentina, Colombia).

. "Relatos Salvajes" (Wild Tales)

(Kramer & Sigman Films, El Deseo P.C - S.A.) (Argentina, Spain).

Premio Platino for Best Directing

Alberto Rodríguez (Spain), for "La Isla Mínima." Alejandro Jodorowsky (Chile), for "La danza de la Realidad." Álvaro Brechner (Uruguay), for "Mr Kaplan." António-Pedro Vasconcelos (Portugal), for "Os gatos não têm vertigens." Claudia Pinto (Venezuela), for "La Distancia más Larga." Damián Szifron (Argentina), for "Relatos Salvajes." Daniel Monzón (Spain), for "El Niño." Daniel Vega (Peru) and Diego Vega (Peru), for "El Mudo." Ernesto Daranas (Cuba), for "Conducta." Fernando Coimbra (Brazil), for "O lobo atrás da porta." Fernando Pérez (Cuba), "La Pared de las Palabras." Luis Estrada (Mexico), for "La Dictadura Perfecta." Mariana Rondón (Venezuela), for "Pelo Malo." Miguel Cohan (Argentina), for "Betibú." Sebastián del Amo (Mexico), for "Cantinflas. "

Premio Platino for Best Actor

Benicio Del Toro (Puerto Rico), for Escobar. "Paraíso Perdido." Damián Alcázar (Mexico), for "La Dictadura Perfecta. Dani Rovira (Spain), for "Ocho Apellidos Vascos." Daniel Candia (Chile), for "Matar a un Hombre." Daniel Fanego (Argentina), for "Betibú." Edgar Ramírez (Venezuela), for "Libertador." Fernando Bacilio (Peru), "El Mudo." Ghilherme Lobo (Brazil), "The Way He Looks." Javier Gutiérrez (Spain), for "La Isla Mínima." Jorge Perugorría (Cuba), for "La Pared de las Palabras." Leonardo Sbaraglia (Argentina), for "Relatos Salvajes." Oscar Jaenada (Spain), by "Cantinflas." Salvador del Solar (Peru), for "El Elefante Desaparecido." Viggo Mortensen (USA), for "Jauja." Wagner Moura (Brazil), for "Futuro Beach" .

Premio Platino for Best Actress

Angie Cepeda (Colombia), for "El Elefante Desaparecido." Bárbara Lennie (Spain), by "Magical Girl." Carme Elías (Spain), for "La Distancia Más Larga." Elena Anaya (Spain), for "Todos Están Muertos." Érica Rivas (Argentina), for "Relatos Salvajes." Geraldine Chaplin (USA), for "Dólares de Arena." Isabel Santos (Cuba), for "La Pared de las Palabras." Julieta Díaz (Argentina), for "Refugiado." Laura de la Uz (Cuba), for "Vestido de Novia." Leandra Leal (Brazil), for "O Lobo Atrás da Porta." Maria do Céu Guerra (Portugal), for "Os gatos não têm vertigens." Martha Higareda (Mexico), for "Cásese Quien Pueda." Paulina García (Chile), for "Las Analfabetas." Samantha Castillo (Venezuela), for "Pelo Malo." Silvia Navarro (Mexico), for "La Dictadura Perfecta. "

Premio Platino for Best Original Score

Adán Jodorowsky (Chile), for "La Danza de la Realidad." Antonio Pinto (Brazil), for "Trash. A esperança vem do lixo." Edilio Paredes (Dominican Republic), Ramón Cordero (Dominican Republic), Benjamín de Menil (Dominican Republic), for "Dólares de Arena." Federico Jusid (Argentina), for "Betibú" Gustavo Dudamel (Venezuela), for "Libertador." Gustavo Santaolalla (Argentina), for "Relatos Salvajes." Juan A. Leyva (Cuba), Magda R. Galbán (Cuba), for "Conducta." Julio de la Rosa (Spain), for "La iIsla Mínima." Mikel Salas (Spain), for "Mr Kaplan." Pedro Subercaseaux (Chile), for "Crystal Fairy y el Cactus Mágico." Ricardo Cutz (Brazil), "O lobo atrás da porta." Roque Baños (Spain), for "El Niño." Ruy Folguera (Argentina), for" Olvidados." Selma Mutal (Peru), for "El Elefante Desaparecido." Vicent Barrière (France), for "La Distancia más Larga."

Premio Platino for Best Animated Film

"Até que a Sbórnia nos Separe" (Otto Desenhos Animados) (Brazil). "Dixie y la Rebelión Zombi" (Abra Prod. S.L.) (Spain) "El Ultimo Mago o Bilembambudín" (Fabula Producciones, Aleph Media S.A., Filmar Uno) (Argentina, Chile). "Historia de Cronopios y de Famas" (Prodarte) (Argentina). "La Leyenda de las Momias de Guanajuato" (Ánima Estudios, S.A. De C.V.) (Mexico). "La Tropa de Trapo en la Selva del Arcoíris" (Continental Producciones, S.L, Anera Films, S.L., Abano Producions, S.L. La Tropa De Trapo, S.L.) (Spain, Brazil). "Meñique" (Ficción Producciones, S.L., Estudios De Animación Icaic) (Cuba, Spain). "Mortadelo y Filemón Contra Jimmy el Cachondo" (Zeta Audiovisual y Películas Pendelton) (Spain). "The Boy and the World" (Filme de Papel) (Brazil). "Pichinguitos. Tgus, la Película" (Non Plus Ultra) (Mexico, Honduras). "Ritos de Passagem" (Liberato Produçoes Culturais) (Brazil).

Premio Platino for Best Documentary Film

• "¿Quién es Dayani Cristal?" (Canana Films, Pulse Films Limited) (Mexico).

"2014, Nacido en Gaza" (La Claqueta Pc, S.L.Contramedia Films) (Spain). "Avant" (Trivial Media Srl, Tarkio Film) (Uruguay, Argentina). "Buscando a Gastón" (Chiwake Films) (Peru). "E agora? Lémbra-me" (C.R.I.M. Produçoes, Presente Edições De Autor) (Portugal). "El Color que Cayó del Cielo" (K & S Films) (Argentina). "El Ojo del Tiburón" (Astronauta Films, Gema Films) (Argentina, Spain). "El Río que Nos Atraviesa" (Ochi Producciones, Maraisa Films Producciones) (Venezuela). "El Sueño de Todos" (S3d Films, Tridi Films) (Chile). "El Vals de los Inútiles" (La Pata De Juana, Cusicanqui Films) (Chile, Argentina). "Invasión" (Apertura Films, Ajimolido Films) (Panama, Argentina). "Maracaná" (Coral Cine, S.R.L., Tenfield S.A.) (Uruguay, Brazil). "The Salt of the Earth" (Decia Films) (Brazil) "Paco de Lucía. La búsqueda" (Ziggurat Films, S.L.) (Spain) "Pichuco" (Puente Films) (Argentina).

Premio Platino for Best Screenplay

Alberto Rodríguez (Spain), Rafael Cobos (Spain), for" La Isla Mínima." Alejandro Jodorowsky (Chile), for "La Danza de la Realidad." Álvaro Brechner (Uruguay), for "Mr. Kaplan." Anahí Berneri (Argentina), Javier Van Couter (Argentina), for "Aire Libre." Carlos Vermut (Spain), for "Magical Girl." Claudia Pinto (Venezuela), for "La Distancia Más Larga." Damián Szifron (Argentina), for "Relatos Salvajes." Daniel Ribeiro (Brazil), for "The Way He Looks." Daniel Vega (Peru), Diego Vega (Peru), for "El Mudo." Ernesto Daranas (Cuba), for "Conducta." Fernando Coimbra (Brazil), for "O lobo atrás da porta." Luis Arambilet (Dominican Republic), for "Código Paz." Luis Estrada (Mexico), Jaime Sampietro (Mexico), for "La Dictadura Perfecta." Mariana Rondón (Venezuela), for "Pelo Malo." Tiago Santos (Portugal) for "Os gatos não têm vertigens. "

Premio Platino for Best Ibero-American Fiction Debut

"10.000 Km," by Carlos Marqués- Marcet (Lastor Media, S.L., La Panda) (Spain). "23 segundos," by Dimitry Rudakov (Clever Producciones) (Uruguay). "Branco sai, preto fica," by Adirley Queirós (Cinco Da Norte Serviços Audiovisuais) (Brazil). "Ciencias Naturales," by Matías Lucchesi (Tarea Fina, Metaluna Productions) (Argentina). "Código Paz," by Pedro Urrutia (One Alliance Srl) (Dominican Republic). "Feriado" by Diego Araujo (Cepa Audiovisual S.R.L., Abacafilms, S.A., Lunafilms Audiovisual) (Ecuador, Argentina). Historias del Canal (Hypatia Films, Manglar Films, Tvn Films and Wp Films) (Panama). "La Distancia Más Larga," by Claudia Pinto (Castro Producciones Cinematograficas, S.L.U., Sin Rodeos Films C.A., Claudia Lepage) (Venezuela). "Las Vacas con Gafas," by Alex Santiago Pérez (Cozy Light Pictures) (Puerto Rico). "Luna de Cigarras," by Jorge Bedoya (Oima Films, Koreko Gua, S.R.L., Sabate Films) (Paraguay). "Mateo," by Maria Gamboa (Hangar Filmsdiafragma, Fabrica De Peliculas, Cine Sud Promotion) (Colombia). "Perro Guardian," by Bacha Caravedo, Chinón Higashionna (Señor Z)(Peru). "Vestido de Novia," by Marilyn Solaya (Icaic) (Cuba). "Visitantes," by Acan Coen (Sobrevivientes Films, Akira Producciones, Nodancingtoday) (Mexico). "Volantín Cortao," by Diego Ayala and Aníbal Jofré (Gallinazo Films) (Chile)...

Last time "The Blacklist" gifted us with its presence, Red was shot full of bullets and left to die on the streets of Washington D.C., which -- by the way -- is clearly the least safe city ever. Obviously, Red isn't dead (don't be crazy), but he does spend most of this episode unconscious and totally fedora-less -- giving Elizabeth Keen a chance to find his attempted-killer and finally discover what The Fulcrum is. In other words: this is a great episode full of huge reveals!

Reddington Gets The Star Treatment From Liz's Ex-Boyfriends (That's Boyfriends, Plural)

Red can't be whisked to the nearest ER (might have something to do with the fact that he's a wanted criminal), but he has a contingency plan in effect for near death situations -- which brings us to Mr. Kaplan. This well-dressed crime scene cleaner springs into action with a crew of doctors,...

Spanish Film Club (Sfc) , an initiative by film distribution company Pragda, offers grants twice a year to help high schools and universities bring the very best in contemporary Spanish and Latin American cinema to campuses to introduce students to the language and cultures of these territories. To date more than 100 schools have participated in the program.

The inventive model allows schools to select a minimum of five films from a catalog to create a film festival on campus. A committee of American and Spanish experts in Spanish language cinema has made an eclectic and diverse selection of films featuring first-time filmmakers and established masters alike. All films feature English subtitles. Representing 19 countries, the films renew every year. Spanish Film Club also allows the organization of virtual Q&As with filmmakers and provides with all the necessary material for its promotion.

The project’s ultimate goal is to introduce students and a generally broader audience to the cultures of these territories and to create a stable exhibition platform of the latest Spanish and Portuguese language cinema.

The Next Grant Deadline is April 1, 2015, visit Here for more information

Some of the latest films available for programming include:

-"Paraiso" (Mexico)

-"Los Bañistas" (Mexico)

-"The Liberator" (Venezuela)

-"Mr. Kaplan" (Uruguay)

-"Wrinkles" (Spain)

-"Who Is Dayani Cristal?" (Mexico/U.S.)

-"Bad Hair" (Venezuela)

-"7 Boxes" (Paraguay)

Outside of a few well-known exceptions, there is very little distribution of contemporary Spanish and Latin American cinema throughout universities. One of Pragda’s goals is to provide professors and educators from every department access to materials rarely or never seen within North America and other territories. In addition, we are interested in opening markets for films that would normally have a difficult time reaching general audiences. Knowledge and cultural exchange are keys in a country where Hispanics are the largest minority.

Sfc was created to answer the following questions by students and professors:

1. Why can’t professors teach about Human Rights, for instance, with new, exciting, and up-to-date documentaries?

2. One of the best ways of learning a language is through films and TV, why can’t we use these tools in class?

3. I don’t have the resources to travel, but I love learning about the many cultures addressed in class. I wish professors could explain the different customs of the regions they teach with more illustrative tools than books.

4. Wouldn’t it be terrific to watch never-before-seen films in Spanish, right on my university campus?

5. How could I meet students from other university departments who share the same love for Spanish culture?

6. I am tired of watching always the same Hollywood stories, but there are no art-house theaters in my university town. Can’t the university organize alternative screenings of national and independent cinemas?...

The Washington Jewish Film Festival (Wjff) celebrates its 25th year with 11 days of dynamic film programming – accompanied by cultural and educational events – exploring the best of international cinema through a distinctly Jewish lens. February 19 through March 1, audiences will be treated to more than 100 screenings and related events across the Washington area. Hosted by the Washington Dcjcc, this year’s milestone festival features world, East Coast and mid-Atlantic premieres, an exciting roster of filmmaker and cast appearances, and an exquisitely curated line-up of screenings, festivities and other programs including 12 Wjff retrospective film screenings curated by former festival directors in honor of the 25th year.

“For 25 years, this festival has celebrated international cinema in building the single largest Jewish cultural event in Washington,” said Ilya Tovbis, Washington Jewish Film Festival director. “With our most ambitious festival to date, the 25th Wjff will honor a quarter-century of exhibiting the full diversity of the Jewish experience.”

A full festival schedule can be found at www.wjff.org. Highlights are included below.

Among the programs scheduled to take the festival beyond the screen are the 5th Annual Community Education Day on Arab Citizens of Israel, a day of in-depth exploration of the daily lives and challenges of Israel’s Arab population through a keynote address by the president of Al-Qasemi College of Engineering and Science, a panel discussion among Middle East experts, and the D.C. premiere of the film, Dancing Arabs, with its filmmaker Eran Riklis (Sunday, February 22, from 1:30-5 p.m. at the Dcjcc); a state of the cinema address on Israeli documentary film (Tuesday, February 24, at 7 p.m. at the Dcjcc); a pre-festival workshop led by leading Washington and New York film critics for a small group of Washington students; a short film student competition; and the third iteration of Two Jews Walk into a Bar, a cinematic bar event (Sunday, February 8, at 5 p.m.)

Opening Night Film: "Magic Men"

Opening Night will feature "Magic Men," in which a 78-year-old Greek-born atheist (Makram Khouri, Ophir-winner for Best Actor) and his estranged Hasidic rapper son travel from Israel to Greece searching for the magician who saved the father’s life during World War II. Their Adriatic road trip erupts into constant bickering but also has moments of affection, humor, and good will, as father and son reconnect during their adventure. The film is the latest feature from the directors of "Mabul," "A Matter of Size," and "Strangers." Opening Night will be held Thursday, February 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, and The Opening Night Party with Director Guy Nattiv will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza immediately following the screening.

Centerpiece Evening: "Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem"

Wjff’s Centerpiece Evening will take place at the AFI Silver Theatre on Saturday, February 21, at 7 p.m. and feature an extended Q&A session with Theodore Bikel, the unstoppable performer whose career spans more than 150 screen roles (including an Oscar-nominated turn in The Defiant Ones) and countless stage and musical productions. In "Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem," portraits of two beloved icons—Sholom Aleichem and Theodore Bikel—are woven together in an enchanting new documentary. The two men have much in common: wit, wisdom and talent, filled with deep humanity and Yiddishkeit. Theodore Bikel, now 90, Bikel has played Tevye the Milkman on stage more than 2,000 times, and has animated Aleichem's work through his two celebrated musical plays about the great Russian author. An additional screening will take place Monday, February 23, at 8:45 p.m. at the Washington Dcjcc.

Wjff Visionary Award: "Hester Street"

The Annual Wjff Visionary Award recognizes creativity and insight in presenting the full diversity of the Jewish experience through the moving image. The 2015 honorees are Carol Kane and Joan Micklin Silver. Carol Kane will be present at a screening of her Oscar-nominated performance in Silver’s humorous and poignant movie, "Hester Street," about a traditional Jewish woman (Carol Kane) who arrives with her son to America in the 1890s, only to discover that her cheating husband has assimilated and resents his wife’s old-fashioned ways. The Wjff Visionary Award will be presented Tuesday, February 24, at 7:15 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre.

Spotlight Evening: "East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem"

Israeli-Palestinian singer Mira Awad and songwriter Steve Earle will join legendary singer-songwriter David Broza for a 45-minute musical set and Q&A following a screening of "East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem" on Thursday, February 26, at 7 p.m. at Sidney Harman Hall of the Shakespeare Theater Company. In the film, Broza journeys to East Jerusalem to record his latest album with Israeli, Palestinian and American musicians.

Closing Night: "Mr. Kaplan"

The 25th Wjff will come to a close at the Dcjcc on March 1, at 7:30 p.m. with a screening of Uruguay’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award, "Mr. Kaplan." In Uruguayan director Alvaro Brechner’s 2014 feature film, 76-year-old Jacob Kaplan, fed up with his community and his family’s lack of interest in its own heritage, becomes convinced that his German neighbor is a runaway Nazi and secretly takes on the role of a spy, but he is no match for the forces of age. This heartwarming comedy tells the truth of life that transcends time and ideology. The Closing Night Reception and Audience Award announcements follow the screening.

Additional Films of Note

Nominated for this year’s Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, the 2014 Israeli film "Gett, the Trial of Viviane Amsalem," will be screened Wednesday, February 25, at 8:45 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre. Director Ronit Elkabetz tells the story of Amsalem, who is seeking a Jewish divorce from her estranged husband, who repeatedly refuses over the course of several years, leaving Amsalem locked in a seemingly unending battle created by the rules of Orthodox marriage in Israel. The film is Israel’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award and was the Israeli Film Academy’s 2014 Best Film.

The Hebrew language "The Farewell Party" is a dark comedy about a group of friends at a Jerusalem retirement home who build a machine for self-euthanasia to help a terminally ill friend – and then requests start coming in from more and more fellow retirement home residents interested in such a service. To be screened Saturday, February 28 at 7 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre, and then again on Sunday, March 1, at 5:15 p.m. at the Dcjcc, the film won 2015 Ophir Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Actor.

"Next to Her," also in Hebrew with English subtitles, tells the arresting story of Chelli and her mentally disabled sister, whom she is raising by herself until required by a social worker to place her in a day-care center, only to then meet a man who leads to a relationship triangle between the three. The film was a critically acclaimed selection for the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. It will be screened Monday, February 23 at 7:15 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre; Thursday, February 26 at 8:30 p.m. at the Katzen Arts Center at American University; and Saturday, February 28 at 6:45 p.m. at the Jcc of Greater Washington in Rockville.

Silent Films with Live Original Music: "Breaking Home Ties" and "The Golem"

On Monday, February 23, Wjff will screen the first of two silent films with live original music accompaniment. At 6:30 p.m. at the Dcjcc, pianist Donald Sosin and violinist Joseph Morag will accompany the 1922 silent film, "Breaking Home Ties." Then on Thursday, February 26 at 7:15 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre, Grammy-nominated Gary Lucas will present a reprisal of one of his most beloved original scores, the 1920 German silent horror-fantasy-expressionist film "The Golem," the tale of a 16th-century rabbi who made a man out of clay to save the Jewish community of Prague from annihilation.

Films with Local Ties/Themes

"The Rosenwald Schools"

On Wednesday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m., local filmmaker and former Washington Film Festival Director Aviva Kempner will be present for the world premiere of her new documentary at the Avalon Theater. The film tells the incredible story of how businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald joined with African-American communities in the South to build schools for the black community during the early part of the 20th century.

"My Favorite Neoconservative"

Raised in the Washington suburbs, the film’s director, Yael Luttwak watched inside the Beltway bigwigs walk the halls of her childhood home; her father, Edward Luttwak, is a prominent conservative military strategist who was the architect of the air campaign of the first Iraq war. The documentary reveals the personalities behind the headlines and tells a father-daughter story with a sardonic political twist. The film will be screened Sunday, March 1, at 3:15 p.m. at the Dcjcc.

Ticket Information

Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets online. In addition to $12 single tickets, Wjff will be offering full festival passes for $125 and All Access VIP Passes for $225. More information is available at www.wjff.org and by calling 1-888-718-4253.

About the Washington Jewish Film Festival

The Washington Jewish Film Festival (Wjff) is the centerpiece of the Washington Dcjcc’s comprehensive year-round film program. One of the largest and most respected Jewish film festivals in North America, Wjff is an international exhibition of cinema that celebrates the diversity of Jewish history, culture and experience through the moving image.

The Wjff serves over 15,000 people annually through 80+ screenings, nearly all of which are world, U.S. or regional premieres.

Follow the Washington Jewish Film Festival on Twitter ( @wjff ) for updates with the latest information about the festival and filmmakers who will participate in the Wjff Lounge. Join the conversation using #wjff2015 on social media.

About the Washington Dcjcc

The Washington Dcjcc works to preserve and strengthen Jewish identity, heritage, tradition and values through a wide variety of social, cultural, recreational and educational programs and services. The Dcjcc is committed to welcoming everyone in the community; membership and all activities are open to all. The Dcjcc is a partner agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and a designated agency of the United Way. Follow on Twitter ( @16thstreetj ), like on Facebook , and find more information online at www.washingtondcjcc.org .

The Morris Cafritz Center for the Arts at the Dcjcc, of which the Wjff and the year-round film series are a part, presents fresh, pertinent and provocative Jewish voices that address issues both contemporary and universal. The Center is supported by a grant from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

At the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) happening now, there are 27 films eligible for the Cine Latino Award, which will be presented to the best Ibero-American film screening at the Festival. Several of these films represented their respective countries at in the Best Foreign Language category for the upcoming Academy Awards. Sponsored by the Guadalajara International Film Festival (Ficg) and the University of Guadalajara Foundation/USA, the winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

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“What does it mean to be Latino or Ibero-American? We often engage in the most intensely absurd discussions trying to find a definition that satisfies us all. I believe, however, that the best answer can be found in the movies: where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and unique stories become universal fables. The increasing power of visual language and an innovative spirit –this is what our film industries have in common! And once again, 2014 has proven to be one of the most exemplary years for Ibero-American cinema. The Palm Springs International Film Festival recognizes the talent and creativity of its makers both in front of and behind the camera with the Cine Latino Award. This year we celebrate the vitality of the region with a record 27 films. We are truly grateful to the vision and commitment of two of the leading cultural, social and educational organizations in Mexico and the United States -- the Guadalajara International Film Festival and the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA -- for sponsoring this award and helping to strengthen the cultural and artistic bridges so fundamental to all of us,” said Hebe Tabachnik, Ibero-American Programmer for Psiff.

“For the third consecutive year, top caliber Latino films will compete in the Ibero American competition at the Palm Springs Film Festival from January 2 to the 12, 2015,” said Iván Trujillo, Festival Director for the Guadalajara International Film Festival. “Their stories, genres and production values have garnered these films both critical and audience recognition at the most important festivals all over the globe. This will be indeed a very competitive year for an award that is acquiring more and more prestige worldwide.”

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“We have reached an important milestone. When the Foundation of the University of Guadalajara in USA made an agreement to sponsor an award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, we made a commitment to increase the cash prize within three years up to $10,000 to recognize the ‘Best Ibero American Film’ in the festival. Our Foundation is extremely proud to have fulfilled this arrangement with the Festival. Achieving this goal is only part of a whole project for the future,” said Raúl Padilla, President for the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA.

Jury members include Josep Parera (Entertainment Editor – La Opinión) Nacho Carballo (Festival Director, Gijón International Film Festival, Spain) and Tom Davia (Founder & Managing Partner of Cinemaven Media).

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They will review 27 films to select the Cine Latino Award winner. This year’s eligible films are:

"10,000 Km" (Spain), Director: Carlos Marques-Marcet "August Winds" (Brazil), Director: Gabriel Mascaro "Behavior" (Cuba), Director: Ernesto Daranas Serrano "Ciudad Delirio" (Colombia, Spain), Director: Chus Gutiérrez "Flowers" (Spain), Directors: Jon Garaño, José Mari Goenaga "Futuro Beach" (Brazil), Director: Karim Ainouz "Gente de Bien" (Colombia, France), Director: Franco Lolli "Güeros" (Mexico), Director: Alonso Ruiz Palacios "Hawaii" (Argentina), Director: Marco Berger "The Hours With You" (Mexico), Director: Catalina Aguilar Mastretta "La Tirisia" (Mexico), Director: Jorge Pérez Solano "Lake Los Angeles" (USA), Director: Mike Ott "The Liberator" (Venezuela, Spain), Director: Alberto Arvelo "Magical Girl" (Spain), Director: Carlos Vermut "Mateo" (Colombia, France), Director: María Gamboa "A Moonless Night" (Uruguay, Argentina), Director: Germán Tejeira "Mother of the Lamb" (Chile), Directors: Rosario Espinosa Godoy, Enrique Farías "Mr. Kaplan" (Uruguay), Director: Álvaro Brechner "Natural Sciences" (Argentina), Director: Matías Lucchesi "Nn" (Peru, Colombia, France, Germany), Director: Héctor Galvez "Not All Is Vigil" (Spain, Colombia), Director: Hermes Paralluelo "One for the Road" (Mexico), Director: Jack Zagha Kababie "The Perfect Dictatorship" (Mexico), Director: Luis Estrada "Sand Dollars" (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Argentina), Directors: Israel Cárdenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán "To Kill a Man" (Chile), Director: Alejandro Fernández Almendras "The Way He Looks" (Brazil), Director: Daniel Ribeiro "Wild Tales" (Argentina, Spain), Director: Damián Szifrón About The Palm Springs International Film Festival

The Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming 135,000 attendees last year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. The Festival is also known for its annual Black Tie Awards Gala, honoring the best achievements of the filmic year by a celebrated list of talents who, in recent years, have included Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, David O. Russell, Meryl Streep, and Kate Winslet.

The Awards Gala of the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is presented by Cartier and sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and Entertainment Tonight. The City of Palm Springs is the Title Sponsor of the Film Festival. Presenting Sponsors are Wells Fargo, The Desert Sun and Spencer’s. Major sponsors are Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Wessman Development, Bank of America, Wintec, Regal Entertainment Group, Ignition Creative, Desert Regional Medical Center, Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, Windermere Real Estate, Eisenhower Medical Center, Guthy-Renker, Integrated Wealth Management, VisitGreaterPalmSprings.com, Ocean Properties, Chihuly and Telefilm Canada.

For more information visit www.psfilmfest.org.

About The Guadalajara International Film Festival

Ficg was founded with support from the University of Guadalajara in 1985 by the Mexican filmmaker Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, with the tremendous help from young film students like Guillermo del Toro. It will celebrate its 30th edition next March 6-15, 2015. Ficg is the lead film festival in Latin America. It is a forum for the training, education, and creative exchange among industry professionals, film critics, and film students from all over Ibero-America.

About the Foundation of the University of Guadalajara in the U.S.

The University of Guadalajara Foundation in the United States of America is an extension of Fundación Universidad de Guadalajara, A.C., and is made up of a number of prominent academic and social leaders. The Foundation works to attain private support from individuals, foundations and corporations in order to fulfill the mission and vision of the University of Guadalajara in Los Angeles.

It seeks to improve the quality of life and social integration of migrants and hispanic nationals by increasing their access to education and enhancing their sense of belonging and identification with their environment by developing their skills and capabilities through educational services and relevant social research.