It’s a good excuse for a popcorn feast: the 17th Annual San Diego Jewish Film Festival is bringing nearly 50 big-screen events to the area Feb. 8-18. Sponsored by the Mizel Family Foundation and presented by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center’s Jacobs Family Campus, the festival showcases Jewish-themed films from around the world.
“We are excited to bring such diversity to this year’s Film Festival,” says Sandra Lynn Kraus, festival producer. “We have films covering politics, history, family relationships, heroism and Jewish heritage. Many are prize winners from other festivals around the world.”
Accompanying the films will be an international roster of visiting guest artists, including actors, filmmakers and scholars who will introduce their work, participate in panel discussions and meet and greet with festival patrons. The festival is designed to appeal to movie watchers of all ages with special events for families, children, teens and young adults.
The films range from short subjects to documentaries to feature-length pieces. “Ira and Abby,” a witty romance starring Jennifer Westfeldt and Chris Messina, opens the festival on Feb. 8. Playwright Tony Kushner’s life is explored in “Wrestling with Angels,” a documentary directed by Academy Award-winner Freida Lee Mock, who will be a guest of the festival on Feb. 13.
“What a Wonderful Place,” which won the Israeli Academy Award for best picture, entwines three stories about the impact of immigration on Israel. It will be screened Feb. 17-18.
The San Diego Jewish Film Festival takes place at the AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres, UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center, UltraStar Poway Creekside Plaza 10, and at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre at the Jacobs Family Campus, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla.
Single ticket prices for most films are $10.50 for JCC members and $12.50 for non-members. Festival passes, senior and student discounts, “Flix-Mix” packages for ages 25-45, and group rate discounts are available. For tickets or information call (858) 362-1348 or visit lfjcc.org.
No comments on record for this story.
This is a public form for the free exchange of comments. Foul language, threats and anything overtly mean or nasty will be removed.