Israel’s official Oscar entry, Orit Fouks Rotem’s deft and heartfelt debut brings together disparate Arab and Jewish women who learn self-expression through the power of film. Young Tel Aviv–based filmmaker Rona (Dana Ivgy) teaches a documentary workshop to the residents of Hadera. The women—both secular and religious, reflecting contemporary Israeli society—film their daily activities and routines. At the outset, tempers flare because of cultural misunderstandings, but the students soon form an empowering bond over shared experiences. The casting features a mix of seasoned and nonprofessional actors, each shooting and sharing footage for the first time onscreen. Nominated for eight Israeli Academy Awards with wins for Best Film, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress.
Director(s): Orit Fouks Rotem
Type: Narrative Feature
Run Time: 91 minutes
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WELCOME TO THE 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
February 8-21, 2023
Storytelling is humankind’s most transformative medium. Good stories investigate
life’s intricacies. Great stories unite us through empathy. At a time when we all need a great story, the 23rd Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is proud to present 60 world-class films. By presenting and contextualizing these dynamic stories, AJFF seeks to entertain, educate and inspire our wonderfully diverse city.
Karaoke, a delightful comedy helmed by emerging filmmaker Moshe Rosenthal and nominated for 14 Israeli Academy Awards, sets the festival tone as our Opening Night selection. Killing Me Softly With His Songs bookends the lineup with its tuneful tribute to composer Charles Fox. Narrative highlights include courtroom saga The Accusation, morality-testing Farewell, Mr. Haffmann, Polish protest feature March ’68, Yiddish-language SHTTL, Israel’s Oscar submission Cinema Sabaya, and character-dramas Where Life Begins, Barren, and America.
Must-see documentaries include 1341 Frames of Love and War, Prophets of Change, and Reckonings, along with taut depictions of terrorism in Closed Circuit and Savoy.
Young Professionals Night, presented by AJC ACCESS, will bring Atlanta’s next generation of leaders to the Woodruff Arts Center for a reception and screening of French-Israeli comedy, Paris Boutique.
Cinephiles, rejoice! A magnificent restoration of The Hourglass Sanatorium awaits. Other film-loving fare includes silent-era gem Broken Barriers, zany classic The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, and the 45th anniversary of Girlfriends. For those who enjoy the Virtual Cinema, many titles can be streamed from the comfort of
home with optional closed captioning. And remember to join our “In Conversation” series: curated conversations surrounding some of the festival's hottest titles.
To AJFF newcomers, and everyone, we invite you to join our story. AJFF is for all of Atlanta, regardless of faith, politics or identity. Together, we look forward to indulging in curiosity, engaging in conversation, and experiencing this incredible culture, one story at a time.
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ABOUT THE ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
Since 2000 the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival continues to engage and entertain our city’s diverse communities through curiosity, conversation, and culture. One of Atlanta’s premiere philanthropic arts organizations, AJFF delivers world-class international and independent cinema, using film as a vehicle to promote empathy, meaningful dialogue, and universal, cross-cultural understanding.
AJFF champions an inclusive exploration of the Jewish experience, its complex history, and its intersection with people of all faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds. AJFF assembles a wide range of community leaders, advocates, filmmakers, and educators to contextualize an ever-expanding range of topics told through the power of storytelling, and unites over 38,000 active festivalgoers annually with both in-theater and streaming content.
With emphasis on continuous innovation and mission-driven expansion, AJFF seeks to inspire the next generation of cinephiles and the culture-curious by actively broadening its educational outreach, community engagement, and accessibility efforts through captivating annual programming and events.
Join us:
www.ajff.org
