TAMPA, FL – The Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival returns for twenty-fifth year to provide its most ambitious occasion to date.
Since its inception in 1997, TBJFF has presented Jewish films that address topics such as life, love, tradition, family, history and existing events.
“This year, the JCC and the Tampa Federation and the Jewish Federation of the Florida Gulf Coast are proud to offer an extraordinary provision of jewish lens films we’ve never seen before,” said Brandy Gold, director of TBJFF. .
The TBJFF 2021 committee, made up of 20 film buffs led by screening committee co-chairs Stewart Donnell and Roxana Levin, has been tasked with screening around 75 films since the fall, opting for a poster of 25 feature films for the festival’s silver. Anniversary. Two additional feature films are also included in the festival’s programming.
“We pledged to wear down our plans for an exclusive 25th anniversary birthday party and we all agreed to make careful and artistic plans for COVID-19 care,” said Sara Golding, who co-chairmans TBJFF’s Executive Committee with Loni Shelef.
This year’s theaters are basically virtual cinemas, however, the opening and ending nights will be presented in the user and virtually. Space is limited to user openness and end events. Those wishing to attend to purchase their tickets are encouraged in advance.
The big screen birthday party will open in virtual cinema and user with the first TBJFF driving party on April 11. The WINNER of the STARR Award will be honored. Participants will be able to purchase on-site food truck concessions to enjoy the film.
The festival will last until April 25. Those attending as a user will enjoy a champagne toast at the 25-year festivals and a film about lawn fun instead of Bryan Glazer Family JCC, 505 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa.
Due to the pandemic, last year’s festival was delayed until June and was completely virtual. Some of the films scheduled to be shown at the planned festival were not held in the new period. Four of these films are now available and the 21 new award-winning feature films and feature films have been joined to show the art of storytelling with a Jewish lens.
“The stories of Jewish life presented in a variety of genres will surely have interaction and motivate viewers,” Gold said.
“It’s been a total year for film and all the arts. I am grateful to our committee for your efforts in the variety process. It wasn’t easy, however, we have an exceptional festival that we’re proud of,” Shelef said. Our variety committee has done a fair task under difficult conditions. “
Due to coronavirus guidelines, committee members screened approximately 75 films at home.
“The films that were decided this year are exceptionally moving and offer the opportunity for the audience to come together to celebrate, reflect more deeply and have motivational discussions about the realities of Jewish life,” Gold said.
The committee’s selection award was awarded to the opening film, “Golden Voices”, which tells the story of two actors from the Soviet film industry who have to rebuild their lives after emigrating to Israel. In this bittersweet comedy-drama, Victor and Raya Frenkel, legends of the Soviet Union, have dubbed the audience the voices of wonderful foreign film stars such as the Iron Curtain, but after the collapse of the USSR, they joined the wave of Soviet Jews who moved to Israel. country, a new absurd truth fulfills his dreams of a wonderful life. Not needing Russian-speaking voiceover artists in Israel, the couple implemented their talents in a strange and unforeseen artistic way. Nominated for 4 Israeli Oscars, adding Best Actress (Maria Belkin), this film reflects the hopes and fears of immigrants around the world.
To expand the festival experience, TJBFF brings back conversation cafes along with many of the movies, complementing the movie viewing experience. Conversation Cafés take a position in the virtual broadcast of a movie, allowing audiences to watch the film before or after movie club-style discussions. These informal discussions are loose for participants and will be moderated through members of the film screening committee. Conversation cafes are open to anyone who has seen the movie, plans to watch it, or simply needs a smart conversation.
This year, 10 unique participation systems also show the film festival, with guest filmmakers, directors, film skills and subject matter experts. MS is loose and the network is invited to participate. Registration is required to obtain non-public and own links. Guests will be registered on webinar systems via Zoom and will have the opportunity, in some cases, to ask questions of speakers.
The initial SEP will come with a Q&A consultation with “Til Kingdom Comes” director Abie Touren and Emmy-winning Israeli filmmaker Maya Zinshtein. The film examines the dubious alliance between evangelicals supporting Trump and Israel’s right-wing factions. Their mesic beliefs, American evangelicals give massive sums to the Holy Land while exerting undue influence on politics in the Middle East. Faith, money, and strength are a poisonous infusion flowing from the pulpit of a poor Kentucky church through Washington’s corridors to effects in Israel.
Another SEP features Shari Rogers, director of the compelling new documentary “Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance”, which will be enrolled in a discussion panel with members of the Black and Jewish Community Cooperative (BJCC). Established in October, the BJCC is a 12-member committee that includes leaders from Tampa’s black and Jewish communities and focuses on issues similar to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The film takes the viewer into the civil rights era of the 1960s. During a divided and deeply entrenched racial segregation, Jewish leaders worked intensively with Dr. Martin Luther King on his project of national hope and healing.
“History almost forgets that bigotry and discrimination united the African-American and Jewish American communities,” Rogers said. << we have already heard the tragic horrors of the Jewish revelry in the Holocaust. But this would possibly be one of the first times we've heard that his delight is similar to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The African-American network was supported by Jewish leaders and, as a result, the Jewish network was retained through Martin Luther King Jr. and its people. "
Rogers’ film shows the links between the two movements. It highlights the similarities between the reports of those affected by slavery and the Holocaust and the scars that these tragedies have left on their souls. As he analyzes the story from a new perspective, “Shared Legacies” reminds us that there are specificities in the black or Jewish experience. But suffering brings others to life and strength and healing can begin by supporting others.
“People who help each other, get together, motivate each other seems to be a common theme in 25th anniversary programming,” Gold said. “I think it’s desirable for each of the films to have their own hidden heroes. Sometimes the hero is obviously visible, and it can be days before you suddenly realize which character you took the farther away, which in the story was the ultimate memorable . . . This is the strength of wonderful cinematography. “
Strength programming continues with genuine skills, love, relationships, discoveries, movements, the Holocaust, art, dance and sports that can be discovered in festival films.
The full programming presented is made imaginable with the help of the following sponsors: Tampa Bay Film, Herman Forbes Charitable Trust, Hillsborough County, Sara and David Scher, as well as many individual donors.
Each day two movies will be uploaded to the virtual cinema platform, once purchased and able to play, the movie guest will have 48 hours (two full days) to watch the film. Movies will be downloaded at 1 a. m. et 7 p. m. every day unless it’s Shabbat. The time to download the film will vary between Friday and Saturday. Customers can purchase individual videos to watch for $12 plus streaming fees or purchase mini or full access passes. MS and Conversation Café are free.
The film ticket price for the drive-in for opening night is $25 consistent with the car, and the final night film about the film on the lawn is $25 for a two-chair organization in combination and a split champagne to toast the WINNER of the STARR Award. .
Once tickets or passes are purchased, visitors will be able to see the full festival menu on their streaming device. The place of work of the price tickets will be open from 9 a. m. at 9 p. m, the festival unless it’s during Shabbat.
Click here to view the entries and program.