For the past 16 years, the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival (GPJFF) has celebrated Jewish culture through film, bringing an exciting lineup of films to Arizona honoring Jewish traditions and heritage. From February 12-26, 2012, the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival will be showing11 films showcasing the best of Jewish traditions at three valley locations: Harkins Camelview 5, Scottsdale; Harkins Crossroads 12, Chandler; and Harkins Arrowhead 18, Peoria in Phoenix Arizona. The line up is below.
Orthodox Stance AREA PREMIERE
Documentary – 83 minutes, Hebrew/English/Russian, w/ English subtitles
Preceded by Hava Nagila: What Is It? – Short
Dimitriy Salita, Russian, immigrant and Orthodox Jew follows a traditional route out of poverty: Boxing. It is truly that sport’s story of “body and soul.”
Guest Speakers: Camelview 5: Director Jason Hutt, Arrowhead 18: Harvey Prezant, former boxer, now a boxing judge and trainer.
Naomi AREA PREMIERE
Drama – 90 minutes, Hebrew/Arabic, w/ English Subtitles
All the elements of a psychological thriller are here. A May-December marriage on the brink. A mother prepared to do whatever to protect her “boy.” Unease and uncertainty joined with suspicion. A surprise conclusion awaits you.
The People v. Leo Frank AREA PREMIERE
Docudrama – 85 minutes, English
A troubling, boldly depiction of murder mere words cannot convey. It takes this powerful docudrama to convey the shocking and tragic events as they unfolded in 1913 Atlanta.
Guest Speaker: Camelview 5 and Chandler Crossroads 12 : Writer/Director/Exec Producer: Ben Loeterman
Hidden Children ARIZONA PREMIERE
History/Docudrama – 90 minutes, French w/ English subtitles
Here is fact more poignant, filled with outrage, with pain, and with more twists and turns than fiction. It’s the true saga of two little French Jewish boys, the Finalys, sheltered by a devout Catholic woman when their parents were sent to their deaths in a concentration camp. The film will tug at your heart.
Guest Speakers: Camelview 5: Dr. Murray Henner. Arrowhead 18: Rabbi Arthur Abrams. Chandler Crossroads 12: Paul Wieser.
Je Taime I Love You Terminal ARIZONA PREMIERE
Drama, Comedy, Romance – 80 minutes, English
“Love usually happens when God decides He needs a laugh.” You will, too, in this romantic diversion. Israeli Ben meets English Emma and the result is outrageous, flaky fun. Have a good laugh; we all can use one.
The Matchmaker AREA PREMIERE
Drama – 112 minutes, Hebrew w/ English Subtitles
The matchmaker is a mystery. Is he a Holocaust survivor with a hidden past, a shady business man or more on a mission as a mentor to a teenager coming of age than in business? Watch, enjoy, and perhaps find some answers.
Guest Speaker: Chandler Crossroads 12, Rabbi Dean Shapiro
The Human Resources Manager ARIZONA PREMIERE
Drama – 103 minutes, Hebrew, English, Romanian, w/ English subtitles
Life and death come together in this film. An Israeli Manager is forced to return the remains of a woman to her native Rumanian village. He and perhaps you, too, learn much about life from this journey of trials and tribulations.
My Best Enemy ARIZONA PREMIERE
Drama/Dark Comedy – 109 minutes, German w/ English subtitles
Wonderful acting and directing make this “edge-of-seat” thriller work.
Discussion Leader: Chandler Crossroads 12 – Bill Goodykoontz, Chief Film Critic, Gannett and Film Critic, Arizona Republic.
Guest Speaker: Arrowhead 18, Peoria – Paul Wieser, Holocaust Expert
Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg
Documentary – 92 minutes, English
Preceded by Seltzer Works – Short
First via radio, then by TV, the depressed American public took this warm, loving Jewish mother into their homes and hearts. See how Gertrude Berg, as Mollie, brought to life an imagined cast of characters.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
