Each year, for one week, the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (LAJFF) brings to greater Los Angeles the Jewish experience through the film.
Jewish means belonging to the Jewish nation, it is also a religion and it is also diverse culture which Jews from all corners of the world created while, for centuries they were living in exile and away from their homeland Israel. Israeli films have now brought into the mix of Jewish culture, as the 69 year old reestablished Jewish commonwealth has been creating its own unique Jewish-Israeli culture and film content.
The LAJFF that has blossomed into an institute is sponsored by the Jewish Journal and TRIBE Media Corp, with Mr. John Fishel as this year honorary Chair and Hilary Helstein, Festival Director, is a tapestry of carefully curated films. This year the festival honored actor Ed Asner and at the opening night the screening of his film ‘My Friend Ed’, Directed by Sharon Baker.
With a team of dedicated volunteers, supported by public enthusiasm, the festival has become much anticipated annual event. Among the array of films’ line-up are world premieres, thought-provoking documentaries, comedies, award-winning dramatic features, and short films, all USA made and from multiple countries, many chosen for screening from the world’s most prestigious film festivals.
One can say that the films shown in the LAJFF have become one other indicator showing the common threads that unite the Jewish people.
Every film tells a story and the LAJFF brings to light Jewish stories, it gives a Jewish growing voice and brings to light Jewish talent in the art of the film.
The films’ line-up is rich. I personally saw on the festival’s second night, the Los Angeles premiere of the film ‘The Wedding Plan’, Israeli director, Rama Burshtein, about a religious woman on her nothing will get in the way quest to find a husband and get married. The outstanding film brings to light the complex relation of the religious Jews, their deep belief and hope, a trait that represents the Jewish people as a whole.
If you did not know before reading this article about the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, now you know. Next year become the LAJFF movie-goer and you will have an outstanding the art of the film experience and a window to learn about diverse Jewish culture.