Scene from “Mabul (The Flood),” which is part of the 2013 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival.
The Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival is presenting eleven feature films during its 17th season of celebrating Jewish heritage through film. The 2013 GPJFF takes place Feb. 10-24. Films are being screened at three Harkins Theatres locations — including Harkins Camelview 5 in Scottsdale, Harkins Chandler Crossroads and Harkins Arrowhead 18 in Peoria.
Dramas featured in this year’s festival include “Kaddish for a Friend,” “Melting Away,” “Joanna,” “Blank Bullet,” “Mabul” (“The Flood”) and “The Other Son.” Comedies include “The Day I Saw Your Heart,” “Dorfman” and the dark comedy/drama “My Best Enemy.”
Scene from “The Day I Saw Your Heart,” which is part of the 2013 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival
Documentaries include “AKA Doc Pomus” — which explores the impact of a childhood dominated by poverty, polio and pain on the 1940s songwriter whose hits include “Viva Las Vegas” and “Save the Last Dance for Me” — and “Hava Nagila (The Movie),” which traces the odyssey of a song that’s “practically the Jewish anthem.”
You can have a little fun with the song before the festival kicks off by entering a “Hava Nagila Music Video Contest.” Seems the festival is looking for folks to share their vocal or musical renditions of “Have Nagila” through videos posted on YouTube before the Feb. 3 deadline.
I’m imagining kazoos, phonetic spit, ukeleles, marching bands, American sign language, handbells, musical cheers complete with pom poms and all sorts of creative fare. I’d love to see music teachers run with this baby, but click here for contest details before you whip out the video camera lest my bright ideas don’t qualify.
Some screenings include an additional short film, such as Australia’s “The Bris” and Israel’s “The Gentle Dog.” Films are introduced by guest speakers who’ll lead post-screening discussions for viewers who want to stay for a bit of lively dialogue. Think filmmakers, experts in Jewish culture, film critics, rabbis and professionals who work with Arizona organizations serving the Jewish community.
Scene from “Kaddish for a Friend,” which is part of the 2013 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival.
Topics addressed by this year’s selections include friendships that defy cultural boundaries, raising a transgender child, the impact of autism on family life, the role of tragedy in inspiring art, consequences of individual choices made during the Holocaust and more.
Planning for the 2014 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival is already underway. Filmmakers are invited to submit feature films, documentaries, shorts and animated films “with some relevance to Jewish themes, issues, history or culture” for consideration.
Scene from “Melting Away,” which is part of the 2013 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival.
The Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival has also issued a call for entries to the 2014 GPJFF Student Film Competition, an international competition open to all college and graduate students. The winning entry will be shown at next year’s festival.
The festival also operates a community outreach program called “Films in the Schools,” which has already shared films with more than 3,500 students in more than 35 schools. They’re working this year to reach additional schools, so more students can explore issues of acceptance, diversity, tolerance and brotherhood through the medium of film.
Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival tickets are $10 per film if purchased in advance ($11 at the door). Folks can call 602-733-1278 to click here for information on tickets, ticket packages and group discounts.
Click here to read a related story about a special screening of the film “Nicky’s Family” to benefit the development of a Holocaust museum in Chandler.
— Lynn
Note: Please note that festival films are not rated and parental discretion is advised (you’ll find film trailers on the festival website).
Coming up: Exploring children’s film festivals, Art meets travel
Stage Mom Musings 