The 2022 Annual Festival is finally here, and with 50+ films from 18 countries, it may well be our best lineup ever. But the road to this year's festival was twisting, with lots of sharp turns and obstacles, and ultimately involved a pivot from a hybrid festival to a virtual exclusive experience. Hear from festival director, Kenny Blank, and AJFF president, Sari Earl, as Brad explores how we got here, and why the 2022 AJFF is not to be missed.
July may be coming to a close, but chances are, you are still catching up on all the Jewish content that came out this month on physical media and streaming platforms, because there was a lot. With that, Sara and Brad are back to chat about what to watch as of this month, from buzzworthy reality television, to suspenseful AJFF alums with star power, to classics and controversial commercial titles and more. There is something for just about everyone on this list - and even some titles that aren't within go-to genres or comfort zones of your humble hosts, which makes for some great discussion. Some of these may have slipped under your radar, so tune in as we recap and recommend what to watch from this month.
Nora Ephron was a trailblazing female filmmaker, especially when it came to romantic comedies, with directorial efforts like Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. Even more prolific as a screenwriter, she penned those two films plus a dozen others, including the iconic When Harry Met Sally, the classic Jewish rom com that transcended stereotypes about the genre. Yet her name does not necessarily come up as often as male writer-directors. Sara and Brad are here to help correct that, diving into what made her work so meaningful, what made her prose so memorable, and what to make of her legacy, as a filmmaker, an essayist, a journalist, and a foodie. And here to help is Eleanor Ringel-Cater, Pulitzer Prize-nominated former film critic for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Enjoy this exclusive Q&A with filmmaker Carl-Ludwig Rettinger, moderated by Holocaust historian Dr. Deborah Lipstadt. Rettinger's docudrama film "The Red Orchestra" chronicles a network of activist spies within the Third Reich. Carefully excerpted film clips of the early 1970s, interspersed with archival footage and interviews with the descendants of the Red Orchestra, work together to create a fresh account of the courageous men and women who played a decisive role in the outcome of the war.
We talked about AJFF's upcoming programs, including Playback, last episode. But we want to talk more about Playback, especially since it's back in just a couple weeks. Launched last year as part of our 20th anniversary, this online competition invites you to rediscover films from the festival vault and vote for your favorites. Returning on July 12, Playback will feature eight films around the theme of "reunion", and tickets have just gone on sale. So join Sara as she chats with AJFF Film Programming Manager Shellie Schmals, and learn even more about AJFF's own version of March Madness... in... July.
Heading into the depths of summer there's a lot going on at AJFF. From Selects to Connects to Playback, we have a World War II spy doc, a gripping portrait of gay adoption, and seven weeks of films matching up to win your vote. Sara and Brad will help you navigate it all, so you don't miss a minute of AJFF over the next few weeks.
Summer movie season is officially here, with big studio tentpoles finally hitting theaters – and many moviegoers finally willing to enter the hallowed ground of their local cineplex. Action franchises and family-friendly adventures do not typically boast Jewish themes, of course, which made us wonder whether there are, in fact, any Jewish blockbusters? What would that even look like? Perhaps a film from the blockbusters arguable inventor, Steven Spielberg? Perhaps starring the Jewish meme-star Jeff Goldblum? Returning to the podcast to help us sort this out is Senior Editor of Collider, and our resident expert on summer movies, Matt Goldberg. For a type of movie that wouldn't seem to have a Jewish connection, there is a lot to discuss.
A Q&A Panel from the 2021 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival for the film, Sublet. In this warmly affecting cross-generational melodrama, a middle-aged gay American writer numbed by tragedy finds solace in the company of a younger Israeli man. Sublet will be released in theaters in the U.S. on June 11 2021. Listener warning: the Q&A contains spoilers for the film.
It's the beginning of another month, so it's time to figure out what to stream (or venture to theaters for) over the next few weeks. The theme for June? A month for reconnecting with classics, from 1980's Best Picture to a modern remake of a Mel Brooks classic, with plenty of quintessentially Jewish filmmaking in between. Plus new indie gems hit theaters in the middle of the month. Listen along as Sara and Brad dissect what to watch for June 2021!
AJFF's Selects series is more of what you love about the annual festival, and this past month, with our first Selects program of the season, our audience got to see Stand! in our Virtual Cinema: a stirring cross-cultural musical, in which a young immigrant couple finds romance on the streets of 1919 Winnipeg, as they battle for a better life amidst violent social upheaval. The Canadian film stars Marshall Williams from Glee, and Atlanta's very own, Laura Slade Wiggins from Shameless in the lead Romeo and Juliet type roles. Marshall and Laura joined us for an exclusive Q&A panel, along with Juno-award-winning Writer/Composer Danny Schur, which you will hear on this episode of the podcast.
It's pop quiz time, with film terms and definitions. Listeners who tuned in to last week's episode about what makes a film good – and who gets to determine that, anyway – got a mini crash course in film fundamentals. But with so many key questions to cover around classics, cult hits, quality and canon, Brad and Sara wanted to take another episode to dive even deeper into some of the terminology of cinema. So join your hosts as they offer some additional definitions and unconventional examples of everything from editing to cinematography and to the ever elusive mise-en-scène.
Discriminating audiences know a great work of cinema when they see it. And festivalgoers have high expectations for the quality of film we present annually at AJFF and year-round programs. But what are the ingredients and traits that make for exceptional filmmaking? For audiences seeking to fine-tune and expand their palate, a deeper awareness and understanding of the creative building blocks of cinematic stories can greatly enhance their viewing experience. An expert in hard-to-find cult germs from her perch with TCM Underground, Turner Classic Movies programmer Millie De Chirico joins our latest podcast for a larger industry perspective on some intriguing big picture questions and hot topics. Who are arbiters of taste, and who decides a movie's status in the canon of film history? What's the definition of a classic vs. a cult hit? Where are lines blurred between objective and subjective quality? Plus, what are some specific examples of Jewish film works you may have missed? Join hosts Sara and Brad as we find out!
The pinnacle of the awards season has now come to a close, with the 93rd Academy Awards. Like every film industry event and awards show during the pandemic, this year's Oscar telecast had its own unique spin on reinventing a traditional format for COVID times. It's been a particularly exciting time for Jewish-themed film and television programming, with a number of such titles being recognized and honored. Among them: an Israeli short, White Eye, which was nominated for Best Live-Action Short Film at the Oscars and screened at the most recent 2021 edition of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. For this episode of our In Conversation podcast, host Sara Glassberg had the opportunity to speak with the film's director, Tomer Shushan, in an interview recorded just days before the big night, to learn more about the film's journey from inception, to production, to the film festival circuit, and eventually the Academy Awards.
As the pandemic continues to reshape the ways we experience arts and entertainment, the worldwide circuit of film festivals is among those reimaging how to connect with and best serve audiences under highly unique circumstances. Even as vaccinations increase and cinemas slowly reopen, film festival programmers are channeling new levels of ingenuity and agility in presenting their lineups in the age of COVID. For an insider look at how festivals are pivoting, we've invited the Atlanta Film Society's executive Director Chris Escobar to share his perspective, plus a sneak preview of the 45th edition of the Atlanta Film Festival, now underway. Learn about the not-to-be-missed films and innovative experiences of ATLFF, plus an outlook on where the industry goes from here during a year of transition. Join your hosts Sara and Brad for AJFF and ATLFF in conversation!
Welcome back to a new season of AJFF In Conversation: The Jewish Film Podcast. Hosts Sara and Brad are back from the 2021 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and brief post-festival hiatus feeling rested and ready to bring you more interviews, deep-dive discussions, and much more, beginning this week with some recommendations of what Jewish movies and media to watch. From Hollywood historical dramas to classic sitcoms and past AJFF documentaries, this month's episode includes a variety of suggestions for your viewing pleasure both at-home or, finally, in theatres, for those who are comfortable returning to cinemas.
Each year, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival bestows special recognition to outstanding films and filmmakers participating in its annual international celebration of the cinema arts. In Competition titles vie for honors across six Jury Prize categories, including Best Narrative, Documentary, and Short, as well as Building Bridges, Human Rights, and Emerging Filmmaker. These prestigious prizes are deliberated by an esteemed panel of industry luminaries, including fellow filmmakers, actors, film critics and journalists, academics, and exceptional students. Joining our In Conversation podcast to talk about the importance of Jury Prizes to audiences, filmmakers and the festival's mission, we'll talk with AJFF Jury chairperson Gabe Wardell. It's also a chance to learn about which AJFF films are in contention this year, our impressive roster of jurors, plus a preview of the big Awards Show, coming up Wednesday March 10. So join host Sara and her special guest as we get ready to find out who the winners are!
One of the biggest silver linings of a hybrid edition of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is the ability to bring film talent together from all around the world in an even more robust way than in a typical year. There is perhaps no better example of that than our opening night. We kicked off the 2021 AJFF with the North American premiere of boundary-crossing (and bridge building) romantic comedy, Kiss Me Kosher, and were able to virtually host talent from across multiple time zones for a lively conversation that spanned the globe, from LA to Hawaii to Tel Aviv to Berlin. Listen to the Q&A which featured writer/director, Shirel Peleg, producer Christine Guenther, and the film's stars, Moran Rosenblatt, Luise Wolfram, John Carroll Lynch, and Rivka Michaeli, and moderated by CNN Correspondent Holly Firfer. And you'll hear from hosts Brad and Sara about some other guest highlights and upcoming not-to-be-missed panel discussions, and how to watch them.
Though audiences will experience most of this year's Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in the Virtual Cinema, organizers were also committed to finding fun and innovative ways to safely bring the community together. Thus, plans for a night at the drive-in were born! Three nights, actually. Thanks to an exclusive partnership with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 2021 AJFF will feature screenings at the 11-acre greenspace, The Home Depot Backyard. This safe-but-shared moviegoing experience, set against a spectacular backdrop, will include Young Professionals Night and the SXSW comedy of discomfort, Shiva Baby, plus a pair of campy, kitschy 80s classics: Mel Brooks' Spaceballs and the musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors. To learn more about the drive-in experience AJFF has in store for you at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including some special extras, join our latest podcast as host Sara is joined by our drive-in event planners, Film AJFF Programming Manager Shellie Schmals and Event Operations Manager Chris Holland.
We're counting down to the start of this year's Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and here to help you get ready for our hybrid 21st edition. By now, you may have perused the film lineup in the AJFF program guide or website. With such a diverse array of international and independent movies to pick from, it's not always easy to choose. Our latest podcast turns to two trusted voices: Emory Film Studies Chair Dr. Matthew Bernstein and AJFF Board member, as well as AJFF Film Evaluation Co-Chair and Emory Spanish and Jewish Studies Professor Dr. Hazel Gold. As you prepare to make your movie picks, we can't think of better festival friends to guide you through the 38 feature narrative and documentary films (and don't forget the shorts!), coming soon to the best seat in your house.
Our hybrid 21st edition of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is nearly here! The movie lineup has been unveiled online, program guides are arriving in mailboxes…and now, it's time for you to get ready to fest! With so much to explore and anticipate, there is no better way to usher in the annual festival than to hear directly from our very own festival leadership. Join podcast host Sara for a conversation with AJFF Board president and vice president, Max Leventhal and Sari Earl, as well as AJFF Executive Director Kenny Blank. They'll share their reflections on the extraordinary challenges of mounting a film festival during the pandemic, as well as the festival experiences they are most excited to share with the community. It's a unique behind-the-scenes vantagepoint on what has been an extraordinary undertaking and labor of love in service to you, our devoted audience.