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THE NEW YORK SEPHARDIC JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 2016
The American Sephardi Federation’s 19th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival will be held between March 10th and March 17th, 2016. Through the poignant medium of film, the NYSJFF provides viewers with an understanding of the rich mosaic culture of Jews from the Middle East and greater Sephardic Diaspora. Contemporary voices steeped in history and tradition are celebrated throughout this week-long series of events, including première screenings, intriguing stories, poignant documentaries, filmmaker Q&As, and Pomegranate Awards ceremony.
The Festival takes place at:
The Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011
Trailer:
Tickets:
PROGRAM:
MARCH 10th - OPENING NIGHT - 7pm
ENSEMBLE
Director: Mohamed Fekrane
In 1942, Ahmad, an Imam from Paris, makes a life-changing decision to help save as many children as possible after Isaac, a young Jewish boy escaping a Nazi concentration camp, finds refuge in his mosque. Inspired by a true story.
Director will be in attendance for Q&A
MARCH 12th - 9pm
HOW TO WIN ENEMIES
Director: Gabriel Lichtman
Lucas is a young and handsome lawyer with a penchant for detective stories. Barbara is a lustful and smart lawyer who also loves literature. After a night together, Lucas awakes to find Barbara has gone, along with his financial savings. Determined to solve this mystery, Lucas finds himself in a captivating, twisted, romantic comedy plot.
TICKETS:
MARCH 13th - 2pm
PRINCE OF EGYPT
Director: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner & Simon Wells
In this animated retelling of Shemot (Exodus) accompanied by the soulful singing of
Israeli-Yemeni legend Ofra Haza, Egyptian Prince Moses discovers his roots as a Jewish slave and embarks on a quest to free his people from bondage.
Free film screening, kids party, and special prize given out for best costume. Ages 8+
MARCH 13th - 5pm
ORO MACHT FREI
Director: Jeffrey Bonna
In 1943, the Nazi-allied Italian Social Republic issued an order of arrest for all Jews, who had already suffered under Mussolini’s Racial Laws, in its territory. This riveting documentary explores the aftermath through the testimonies of nine Roman Jews, archival footage, family photos, and the perspectives of renowned historians.
Filmmakers in attendance for Q&A.
TICKETS:
MARCH 13th - 8pm
BEQASSOR
Director: K. Amarnath
In this Bollywood classic featuring musical interludes, Pramila (aka Esther Abraham), a Baghdadi Jewish star and the First Miss India (1947), plays a young, naïve girl caught in the cross-fire of a deep-rooted sibling rivalry between her upright husband and her scheming brother-in-law. The brother-in-law exploits the girl’s trusting nature to falsely implicate her husband in a corruption case, and turns husband against wife by wrongly defaming her character.
Journey through clips of the glory days of Bollywood, when Pramila, Sulochana, Nadira and other Jewish stars and scriptwriters dominated silver screens across India. Kenneth Robbins, author of a multi-volume history of the Jewish of India and the curator of ASF’s Bollywood & the Bene Israel in Bollywood and Beyond exhibition, will present an interactive lecture.
TICKETS:
MARCH 14th - 4pm
SHATTERED RHYMES
Director: Sami Shalom Chetrit
A cinematic portrait of Algerian-born Moroccan-Israeli poet Erez Bitton, recipient of last year’s Pomegranate Award for Lifetime Achievement and the first Sephardi to win the Israel Prize in Literature. The film explores the social, cultural, and political experience of Moroccan and other immigrants to Israel through Bitton’s poetry and life milestones, especially his tragic loss of eyesight at age 11.
Filmmaker in attendance for Q&A.
TICKETS:
MARCH 14th - 6pm
A SONG OF LOVES
Director: R. David Buzaglo
Moroccan Rabbi David Buzaglo, frequently considered the greatest Hebrew liturgical poet of the 20th century, had a major impact on Maghrebi Jews. Buzaglo’s poetry while faithful to a Moroccan tradition dating back to Andalusian Spain was also innovative (e.g., he transmuted secular , even risqué, Arab pop music tunes, into the sacred). This film is an intimate look at Buzaglo’s life and legacy, from his prolific period in the Diaspora through the piyyut revolution in Israel today.
TICKETS:
MARCH 14th - 8pm
MIDNIGHT ORCHESTRA
Director: Jérôme Cohen-Olivar
In this cross-generational, interfaith comedy, the son of a once famous Jewish musician returns to his home country to bury his father. Aided by an eccentric cab driver , his search for the former members of his father’s band unexpectedly transforms his life forever. Starring Gad Elmaleh, Hassan El Fad, and Jade Chkif.
Followed by an After Party by ASF’s Young Leadership Board
TICKETS:
MARCH 15th - 6pm
MY EMO LIFE
Director: Rafael Attias
In this introspective, historical and contemplative narrative, Rafael Attias creates a poetic exploration of place and belonging, weaving together themes of generational and geographical displacement, family continuity, fatherhood, marriage, and aging.
Filmmaker in attendance for Q&A.
Followed by a Sneak Peek.
TICKETS:
MARCH 15th - 8pm
CARVAHLO’S JOURNEY
Director: Steve Rivo
A real life 19th century American Western adventure, Carvalho’s Journey tells the extraordinary story of Solomon Nunes Carvalho (1815–1897), a Sephardic Jew born in Charleston, South Carolina, who became a ground-breaking photographer , artist, and pioneer in American history.
Filmmaker in attendance for Q&A.
TICKETS:
MARCH 16th - 6pm
ARABIC FILM
Directors: Eyal Sagui Bizawe & Sara Tsifroni
Back in the day, when there were only a few television channels to choose from and when Israel and Egypt were at war, families across Israel would gather in their homes on Friday nights to watch old Arab-language classics. How did Israeli television obtain these films? Why were they shown? This unexpected documentary brings us the stars, the stories, and takes us directly into living rooms brimming with nostalgia.
TICKETS:
MARCH 16th - 7:30pm
SHORE OF LOVE
Director: Henry Barakt
Layla Mourad, the widely popular Egyptian film diva whose Sephardi (and Ashkenazi)
Jewish roots have largely been forgotten, stars in this musical romance as a beautiful, penniless girl with a voice from the heavens. She marries Adel, a rich young bachelor while their scheming families try to break them up. Released in 1950 and considered a masterpiece of the Golden Age of Cinema in Egypt, this classic includes many of Mourad’s most memorable songs.
TICKETS:
MARCH 17th - 7pm
CLOSING NIGHT
FOR SABBATH
Director: Oron Cohen
Filmmaker Oron Cohen deftly films his Iraqi grandmother, Malka, while she teaches him how to make the traditional dish she’s been perfecting since 1950, kubba. A scented tribute to the women we all hold dear to our hearts—our talented grandmothers.
MARCH 17th - 7:15pm
ON THE BANKS OF THE TIGRIS
Director: Marsha Emerman
When Majid Shokor escaped from Iraq he discovered that the songs he loved as a child in Baghdad have a hidden history. To find out more, Majid makes a bold journey from his home in Australia to Israel, countries in Europe, and Iraq to meet Iraqi musicians, hear their music and stories, and unite them in a concert celebrating coexistence.
TICKETS:
