Virtual Screening Details: Israeli Spotlight

Streaming Timeframe: Sat. March 13, 7pm - Tues. March 16, 7pm (sales end 2 hrs before; no grace period after 72-hour window expires)
Available for Viewing in WA, OR, CA, MT, ID
How to Watch? Read our Streaming FAQ Page

About The Film

Fresh off their El Al flight from the Soviet Union in 1990, Victor and Raya Frenkel try to navigate life, love, and making a living in their new home of Israel. With decades of experience as Russia's premier film-dubbing artists, the Frenkels must find new, creative, and quirky outlets for their highly specific talents. Their fish-out-of-water journey of survival and belonging overflows with heartache, hope, and humor.

Director Bio

Evgeny Ruman was born in the USSR in 1979, and immigrated to Israel at age 11. A graduate of the Tel Aviv University School of Film, he created the 50-episode daily drama series Between the Lines, the first Israeli television series in Russian. His first full-length feature IGOR AND THE CRANES' JOURNEY premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012, won Honorary Mention at the Haifa Festival, Best Director at the Minsk Festival, and the Jury's Award at the Chicago Children's Film Festival. His second film THE MAN IN THE WALL premiered at the 2015 Rotterdam International Film Festival and was nominated for several Ophir Awards and premiered at the Jerusalem Festival. Ruman has also edited several films, including FIVE HOURS IN PARIS, directed by Leon Prodovsky, winner of the 2009 Haifa Festival, and PUTIN'S OLYMPICS, a documentary directed by Alex Gentlev, which won the German "Emmy" award in 2014.

 Sponsors:

• Ruth Etzioni and Ross Kling
  
• Community Partner: Jewish Family Service of Seattle

Virtual Screening Details: Opening Night

Streaming Timeframe: Thurs. March 4, 7pm - Sun. March 7, 7pm (sales end 2 hrs before; no grace period after 72-hour window expires)
Available for Viewing throughout the United States
Zoom Program: Conversation with Howie Mandel and Director Barry Avrich.
How to Watch? Read our Streaming FAQ Page
How to Join the pre-recorded Zoom? Every ticket and pass holders will be issued a separate ticket to watch the pre-recorded Zoom. Look for an email on March 4th!

Make it a Special Event! ORDER NOW >> from Trophy Cupcakes: 4-Pack of festival-themed cinema cupcakes! Drive-by pickup only at SJCC on Thurs. March 4, 4-6pm. Order and learn more on our Culinary Partners Page... 

About The Film

"Lovingly directed by biography documentarian Barry Avrich, 'But Enough About Me' is a touching look at a man who uses humor to cope with a world that terrifies him." - Atlanta Jewish Times

This revealing documentary follows the life and career of Howie Mandel, the veteran comedian, actor, and producer, arguably better known for his battle with OCD and as a judge on the hit reality TV show America's Got Talent than for his comedic genius. By turns raw, funny, and touching, the film explores Mandel's early years in the comedy industry and his breakout role on one of the most beloved television series ever, St. Elsewhere. We follow him on the road performing 200 stand-up shows a year, behind the scenes at AGT, and with his family.

Through powerful onstage moments, intimate interviews, and archival footage of his early performances, we discover how Mandel emerged from being a carpet salesman to become one of the most famous and paradoxically approachable performers in the world. He frankly discusses his provocative journey, from his wild early days to his struggles with OCD and unprecedented success today.

"Beyond the comedian, beyond the germaphobe, director Barry Avrich digs deep" — Bill Harris, The Lede

Guest Bios

Howie Mandel has remained a constant force in show business for more than 30 years. He can currently be seen on NBC's flagship series America's Got Talent where he has served as a judge for eleven seasons. In 2019 he released his first solo special in 20 years Howie Mandel Presents Howie Mandel at the Howie Mandel Comedy Club. More recently, Mandel teamed up with ePlay Digital Inc. to launch the charity, Breakout the Masks, and a mobile game campaign to give back to those involved in the fight against COVID-19. He received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program for Deal or No Deal and a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host for the syndicated version of the show. His frank, funny and no-holds-barred memoir, "Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me" (2009), about his ongoing struggle with OCD and ADHD made The New York Times bestseller list. View more on IMDB >>

Acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Barry Avrich is responsible for over 48 documentaries and best known for provocative exposes of Hollywood power brokers such as Lew Wasserman (The Last Mogul), Harvey Weinstein (The Reckoning), Blurred Lines: Inside the Art World, David Foster: Off the Record, and the critically acclaimed film Prosecuting Evil. Avrich has also produced the Scotiabank Giller Prize and Canadian Screen Awards broadcasts. In 2007, Avrich built the world's first state-of-the-art movie theatre in a hospital at Toronto's SickKids. Barry Avrich also directs and produces the prestigious Stratford Festival "Stage to Screen" films. In 2016, Avrich released his best-selling memoir, Moguls, Monsters and Madmen. View more on IMDB >>

Virtual Screening Details: Gay Gezunt! LGBTQ+ Spotlight

Streaming Timeframe: Fri. March 12, 7pm - Mon. March 15, 7pm (sales end 2 hrs before; no grace period after 72-hour window expires)
Available for Viewing throughout the United States
How to Watch? Read our Streaming FAQ Page

About The Film

KISS ME KOSHER is an endearing dual love story and romantic misadventure about so-called un-kosher love between clashing cultures, generations, and families. Berta, a sprightly Jewish grandmother, and her equally vivacious granddaughter, Shira, argue passionately about love and what women can and cannot do. When one falls for a German woman and the other a Palestinian man, it gets complicated. Their families collide over shared, fraught historical pasts, and their romances must bridge that wide chasm to have a fighting chance for a future together. What happens with lovers who don't fit—but belong together?

With a loving eye for characters grappling with societal and religious conventions, Israeli director-writer Shirel Peleg crafts a wonderful story that goes beyond clichés to unmask them, saying, "I wanted to see if it would be possible for a young couple to build a future without ignoring the past."

Director Bio

Shirel Peleg was born in Venezuela and raised in Israel. She graduated in 2010 with a BFA in film and television from the Sapir College. In 2012, she immigrated to Germany where she learned the language and enrolled in the renowned Filmakedemia Baden-Württenberg. Her directing credits include WE'RE BACK AGAIN and THE NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER, which was presented at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

 Sponsors:

• Shari Basom and David Spiekerman
• Community Partner: Congregation Tikvah Chadashah
• Outreach Partners: Pride Foundation

Virtual Screening Details: Closing Night

Streaming Timeframe: Thurs. March 18, 7pm - Sun. March 21, 7pm (sales end 2 hrs before; no grace period after 72-hour timeframe expires)
Available for Viewing throughout the United States
How to Watch? Read our Streaming FAQ Page | How to Join the Zoom? Details to come

About The Film

In this uproarious Argentinean slapstick comedy, a controlling Jewish mother who hasn't seen her grown children for many years devises a crazy scheme to get them all together again under her roof. As much as she desperately wants to visit her kids and grandchildren living abroad, her extreme fear of flying plagues her with wild panic attacks as soon as she boards a plane. At her wit's end, she asks neighbors and friends to abet her outrageous plan to fake her own funeral. But her innocent scheme unleashes mayhem, as things go from bad to worse in less time than it takes to spin a dreidel in this hilarious farce about familial relationships that puts the "fun" back in funeral.

Director Bio

Néstor Sánchez Sotelo is an Argentinean producer, director, and writer. He is the founder and CEO of Del Torro Films, a production company with more than 20 titles including three he directed: THE NOBODIES, FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, and MY AMAZING FUNERAL.

 Sponsors:

• Cathy Sarkowsky and Max Sarkowsky