The Mizel Arts and Culture Center will host the 19th Annual Denver Jewish Film Festival at the Elaine Wolf Theatre at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center from Feb. 4 to Feb. 15.
“This year’s festival features a variety of films that any movie lover will enjoy,” said Steve Wilson, executive artistic director for the MACC. “Many of the films have won prestigious awards and critics’ praise, and 11 out of 28 are directed by women. I am really proud of the selection our film festival chairs put together, and we are excited to have the opportunity to introduce the Denver community to these extraordinary and resonating films.”
The film festival chairs, Sharon Haber, Julie Schwarz and Erica Singer, worked with their film committee on securing a fascinating combination of films ranging from documentaries to true-to-life comedies. As they were choosing the films, a theme emerged: coexistence.
“Living together in peace despite our differences is the underlying theme of the 2015 Denver Jewish Film Festival,” Haber said. “Whether it be Israelis and Palestinians, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters or friends, our lineup this year exemplifies that idea of coexistence and finding peace within ourselves and others.”
The 2015 Denver Jewish Film Festival, sponsored by Wagner Wealth Management, will kick off on Feb. 4 with a party celebrating this year’s festival honoree Kathy Neustadt and a screening of the Jewish family comedy “It Happened in Saint- Tropez.” Neustadt is a former president of the JCC and member of the Neustadt family, founders of The Neustadt International Prize for Literature and the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature.
“The Denver Jewish Film Festival continues to introduce its audiences to a collection of educational and significant movies,” Neustadt said. “My family and I remain steadfast in supporting organizations and events that celebrate the arts and literature, and we hope the community joins us in attending the 19th year of this wonderful event.”
The two-week festival will feature 28 films, many of which have been nominated for and won Ophir Awards, the Israeli equivalent of the Academy Awards. This will be the first time some of the featured films will be screened in Denver. Prior to the screening of the films, a state-of-the-art sizzle reel that was created by co-chair Singer will show. Some of the screenings will include special guest speakers for audience questions and answers. Producer Nancy Spielberg will speak at the screening of her much-buzzed about film “Above and Beyond” on Feb. 5. Sister of famous director Steven Spielberg, Nancy is a documentarian who produced this film about the creation of the Israeli Air Force. Also speaking during the festival will be director and writer Lacey Schwartz, who will conduct an audience question and answer session at the screening of her award-winning film, “Little White Lie.” on Feb. 12, which deals with race and Jewish identity.
Topping off the lineup is a grand finale celebration on Feb. 14 that will include a dessert buffet and screening of the film “The Outrageous Sophie Tucker”. On Feb. 15, the festival concludes with a special series presentation, “Israel Through the Lens.” All of the films featured during this last day of the festival will exhibit the diversity of Israel.
For more information about or to purchase tickets for the 2015 Denver Jewish Film Festival, please call 303-316-6360 or visit www.maccjcc.org/film.
‘Zero Motivation’ is one of the films featured during the two-week 19th Denver Jewish Film Festival.
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