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If only all film festivals kept it kosher
The 6th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
By Nathan Flood
Staff Writer/Editor
When asked to cover Atlanta Jewish Film Festival for this month's issue I was, well, a bit hesitant. I mean, what did the festival offer me, a person from a different religion and culture? My experience with Jewish cinema had up to this point had been limited to Annie Hall and Schindler's List .
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Founding director Judy Marx.
(photo: Eric Bomba-Ire) |
I wondered—momentarily and regrettably all too flippantly—if I was in for a steady diet of Holocaust films and Woody Allen wannabes.
And while the great tragedy of the Shoah did feature prominently in many films, it turned out there was so much, much more on offer—with apologies to the festival organizers, I was quite happy to be disabused of my misinformed assumption. I even learned a nugget of Judaism that I'll share, which of the following theater concessions is NOT kosher? Goobers, Coke, Popcorn, or M&M's? The answer to that question in a minute.
Now for those of you not familiar with the festival, it was started six years ago by the Atlanta chapter of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). According to Judy Marx, the festival's founding director—and now associate director of the AJC—it all happened when someone came back home from a Jewish film festival in Los Angeles and said, basically, "We need to start this here." And so a festival was born.
"The goal of the festival," said Marx, "is the same as that of the AJC, which is to build bridges of understanding—within the Jewish community as well as outside. We look for films that bring different ethnicities together, to help us understand more about ourselves and others.
"We're not all the same, but we all have something to learn from one another."
At first, the festival was a homegrown event geared to the Atlanta Jewish community with no outside marketing, but like all good things it quickly grew until it became large enough that the AJC recognized they needed someone with full time responsibilities to oversee it.
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Kenny Blank, executive director.
(photo: Eric Bomba-Ire) |
Enter Kenny Blank.
A volunteer and NYU film school graduate, Blank was in journalism at the time but wanted to return to his passion, film. Hired as the festival's first full time executive director, he's here to take the festival to the next level. And indications are it's well on its way.
This year the festival played at two local venues, the Lefont Theater in Sandy Springs and the new Regal Cinemas at Atlantic Station. Spanning seven days (January 23-29) the festival showcased 36 films, both documentary and narrative, from 12 different countries. Attendance for the festival's run was over 6,000.
"The films do have to have a Jewish identity," Blank said. "It's a celebration of the culture as well as the religion.
"But it's also about celebrating independent film. Independent audiences are more thoughtful and want a more sophisticated movie going experience...we lean towards films that are more challenging.
"Our audiences come to be challenged and enlightened. Entertained, yes, but also educated at the same time. They have a more enriching movie-going experience than if they're just watching another Hollywood blockbuster."
And there's definitely much to offer fans of independent film. Almost all the films were Atlanta—if not regional or world—premieres. Each film was prefaced by an opening presentation, and almost half included question-and-answer sessions afterward with someone directly involved with the film: producer, director, actor.
Documentaries, dramas, comedies—and yes, pictures centered on the Holocaust—several great films screened in Atlanta during the festival that wouldn't have been seen here otherwise. But if you missed it, check out the festival's website. The winning film will be featured at a special encore screening; details will be posted at the AJFF site.
And the answer to the question? Popcorn.
Why? Popcorn is made with hot oil, which needs to be certified kosher. And even if the oil being used is kosher there's still no guarantee that a non-kosher oil or flavoring was not previously used, rendering the equipment and all subsequent popcorn not kosher. Didn't know that, did you?
See? Building bridges of understanding already.
Nathan Flood is an editor for CinemATL and a local screenwriter currently working on his second feature length script, "Science Fair Project."
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