S.F. Jewish Film Festival

The 2013 Film Festival has a great line up. Films at the Castro Theater and SFJJ, as well as Grand Lake and Piedmont Theater in Oakland, California Theater in Berkeley Smith Rafael Film Center in Marin County and Cinearts in Palo Alto. Plan to attend. Tickets still available

An amazing festival. Great storytelling. Lots of points of view. Always thought provoking. Sometime edgy. After being a long-​time fan I joined the Festival’s board to help support efforts to continue deliver stellar experiences to attendees all year long.

I have been attending the SF Jewish film festival for many years, first as a volunteer usher, later as a pass holder, and now as a board member. I love watching films in foreign languages I speak (some french, spanish, hebrew) and having access to so many of the latest independent films and documentaries in one week is a thrill.
The themes and genres of the films are varied — not every one is for me – but I usually even take off a few afternoons to attend some of the daytime shows.
I feel lucky to have this in my own backyard.

My friend spent many hours as a volunteer pre-​screener for them last year. My friend just told me what their thank you was: Nothing, they never even bothered to send my friend a pass to see even 1 free movie. They obviously take their volunteers for granted.
The SFJFF accepts a very large grant each year from the SF Grants for the Arts so they are not supposed to discriminate against non-​Jewish filmmakers. They claim they don’t but I have my proof, «the smoking gun», which is hard to get, but they were foolish and arrogant, and I have a Jewish close friend who has pre-​screened films for them. When I submitted my film they rejected it but I found out later their programmers said it was very well made film but they claimed they didn’t know Heifetz was Jewish and pretended to be ignorant of all the other Jewish content in the film. They knew I am not Jewish. They also claim they don’t show films without Jewish content even if it is made by a Jewish filmmaker, like Tiffany Schlain. That is not the way I see it.
SF Grants for the Arts just took their word that they «only select films based on the merits» when a complaint of discrimination was filed, and did no investigation. They didn’t even return the complaint call left on their voice mail. Once they received a written complaint letter, they had to respond. Then they made sure the SFJFF knew which filmmaker had complained so they could retaliate. Then they attacked the filmmaker’s reputation even though SFJFF’s own pre-​screeners acknowledged the film was «very well made». Who put the SF Grants for the Arts up to attacking the message bearer?
If SFJFF wants to discriminate, they should return the grant money they took with the condition they not discriminate based on ancestry. This may also be in violation of state laws against discrimination. What they did is also against their own «Values Statement». I never would have complained even if what they did was illegal in CA if they had not taken the money from GFTA. The City of SF could give it to an non profit that is all inclusive and obeys the rules. BTW, personally, I don’t think practically every film they show needs to have Klezmer music, it’s such a Cliché, and it is certainly not cutting edge or music to bring in the teenagers:)
SFJFF’s behavior mentioned here is totally consistent with the complaint by Unilocal reviewer John S. who posted on 7÷27÷2009 that SFJFF changed their normal procedure when they screened, Rachel, a film that had some apparently anti-​Israeli material. He thought they should not have invited «someone who didn’t believe they should be showing the film at all to make a statement before the film» since it was «the only film at which people from opposing sides were invited to speak.» Read the rest of what he had to say in his 4 star review.
Isn’t it a conflict of interest for Unilocal to be sponsoring the SFJFF when they are also posting reviews about it? Some of these all too glowing 5 star reviews look like they should be investigated. The giveaway is when the wording sounds like a festival employee, not a customer. «Enjoy The Festival!»

Uplifting, inspiring, educational, emotional, engaging and fun! A treasure, indeed.
Truly one of the Bay area events I look forward to each year. I only wish I had more time to see each/​every film. The film leadership truly picks the best and brightest. Never (well, hardly never) disappoints. It truly engages.
Also want to point out how well organized it is. Not an easy feat considering (from the venues and volunteers to the audiences).
Enjoy the SFJFF !!

I love any excuse to go to the Castro theater to watch an interesting movie or documentary.
I also love any excuse to hang out with Jews.
My latest excuse: the SF Jewish Film Festival.
I happened upon a free documentary after a long day at work with my babies.
Soon enough I was sitting in the beautiful theater with about 100 old folks.
The film was pretty good, but what was more exciting was the fact that there were most likely hundreds of incredible stories surrounding me during that hour and a half.
So, as a twenty something year old, I humbly encourage all of my cohorts to take advantage of the Jewish Film Festival this year and open their ears to some amazing stories from some very strong souls.
The end.

I’m so thankful for the rich cultural experiences available to me in the Bay Area, and the SF Jewish Film Festival has most definitely enriched my life in that vein. Last Saturday, I came to the Castro Theater to screen Zrubavel, a story of Ethiopian Jewish families set in Jerusalem. What an amazing story, and not only to see this presentation, but to attend an after screening Q & A with one of the film’s leads. And not to forget, what a great venue procured for the event! With this experience, I hope to have many other great ones under the umbrella of this festival, along with other film festivals in San Francisco I have yet to attend.

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Connie C sent me an invitation to The Jewish 29^th Film Festival at the Castro which Unilocal happens to be one of the sponsors. This is my first experience with the Jewish Film Fest I have volunteered for the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Asian Film Festival in the past years. After the movie, I sauntered over to Sumi Sushi to hook up with Unilocalers and movie goers. I met Shiva (Development and Marketing for SFJJ) who sat with me while I was checking out the restaurant I also met her cousin from Israel who seemed as uncomfortable as I was. One guy came up to me and I told him that I’m a Unilocaler and he responded «Oh, I’m Jewish».
The Film: A Matter of Size
«The tale of four Israeli men who embrace their heft by attempting to master sumo wrestling! «quote from Connie C.
Gidi is the main character who (no pun intended) grows on you. Some of the Yiddish terminology went passed me when some viewers laughed at some food terminology. I wish they had a Yiddish word list for people like me. The story is sweet and hilarious. Amazing how these men with massive girth moves so gracefully!
The Film: Joshua (Deutschland 2009)
Short Film on opinion of Germany Today (part fantasy and satire)
A wild visual trip.

I went to see the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival’s showing of Rachel this past weekend, and I just wanted to express my gratitude to the festival for refusing to completely bow to special-​interest pressure and cancel the screening.
I won’t get into the specifics of the controversy here, but there were some people who objected to SFJFF’s showing of Rachel because of the film’s obvious political slant. Say what you will about any film and its political viewpoint; but there’s really no good reason to object to the presence of a relevant film in a film festival, and since Rachel Corrie’s death at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 2003 is relevant to the Jewish community because of the circumstances of her death and because of the recent invasion (and ongoing siege) of Gaza, the film is especially important now.
Basically, I liken the people boycotting the SFJFF because of the showing of Rachel to people boycotting libraries for carrying specific books. Argue the politics all you want, but you can’t really have an argument if people can’t read (or, in this case, view) the different sides.
If you’ve got some free time in the next couple of weeks, go to one of the festival’s many films.
Why am I not giving the festival five stars? Well, although I’m glad they didn’t cancel the film completely, I think it was idiotic to invite someone who didn’t believe they should be showing the film at all to make a statement before the film. Yes, Rachel Corrie’s mother would be answering audience questions after the screening, but that’s pretty typical of film-​festival screenings. Apparently, the SFJFF felt obligated to present both sides of the story at this screening, but it’s the only film at which people from opposing sides were invited to speak. At the two screenings of documentaries about captured IDF soldiers, I’m sure SFJFF won’t be inviting Hamas and Hezbollah apologists. Plus, the man who spoke before the movie wasn’t even trying to engage in dialog; he opposed the showing of the film in the first place, so what was he doing there, and why did SFJFF give him time?

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is a treasure. Each time I have gone to the festival I am uplifted, enlightened and inspired.
See article from the Sunset Beacon Newspaper at link:

My wife says this is her favorite Jewish holiday. The quality of films in this festival are stellar and it is rare that I don’t learn something and enjoy the films. The political slant of the festival has become more conservative over the years since the wonderful Janis Plotkin left. Nevertheless it is still extremely worthwhile even if one of the venues does not allow food in the theater which I personally think is anti-​Semitic…

One of the best film festivals in the city, and one of the best Jewish Film Festivals in the world… period.