Category: Jewish FF 2019

Are donors censoring the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival?

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

A Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) activist claims that a powerful donor forced the Jewish Film Festival to ban JVP patriation. Is it true? I'm not sure. Let me try to unravel the story. About a week ago, as this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival was winding down, the Eastbay Express published an article … Continue reading Are donors censoring the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival?

Ethiopian Jews, a dying magician, & a Soviet stand-up comic: My Last Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

Thursday was the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival's last day at the Albany Twin, and my last day at the festival. I saw three films. Oddly, two of them were fiction; a surprising ratio in this year's documentary-heavy lineup. None of the films I saw were followed by a Q&A. That shouldn't be surprising. Filmmakers … Continue reading Ethiopian Jews, a dying magician, & a Soviet stand-up comic: My Last Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

Religious fanatics and a strange honeymoon: Tuesday at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

I saw three films at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Tuesday. Two were documentaries about ultra-Orthodox Jews connecting with outsiders. The third was a dramatic comedy about a Holocaust vacation. I don't have to tell you why these are Jewish films. They're obvious. City of Joel A short fiction film, Black Hat, preceded the … Continue reading Religious fanatics and a strange honeymoon: Tuesday at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

A lovable Hollywood mogul, the Holocaust & the Occupation, and the man who made Casablanca: Saturday at the SF Jewish Film Fest

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

I saw three movies at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Saturday. Two of them were documentaries, the other was a fiction film based on history. One of them was the best I've seen at this year's festival. Another was the worst. Carl Laemmle This interesting, entertaining, but conventional documentary tells us that the creator … Continue reading A lovable Hollywood mogul, the Holocaust & the Occupation, and the man who made Casablanca: Saturday at the SF Jewish Film Fest

San Francisco Jewish Film Festival: Sunday at the Castro

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

Sunday was my first full day at this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. I saw three features: two documentaries and one narrative. They were all good, but none were excellent. This Is Personal Watching this documentary sometimes feels like experiencing all the horrors of the last three years all over again. But it also … Continue reading San Francisco Jewish Film Festival: Sunday at the Castro

Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles, & Opening night at the Jewish Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

In recent years I've had some bad experiences with San Francisco Jewish Film Festival opening nights - even when the movie was excellent. Long waits, late starts, longer introductions, and horribly uncomfortable seats in the Castro balcony. This year, I'm glad to say, everything went well. We got great seats in the 4th row (I … Continue reading Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles, & Opening night at the Jewish Film Festival

San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Preview: Part 1

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 4 Comments

Here's my first selection of films for this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, in order of quality. A American Factory One of the most technically accomplished, emotionally effective documentaries I've seen in a while. Fuyao, a car glass manufacturer from China, takes over a closed factory in Detroit, producing jobs and cultural conflicts. The … Continue reading San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Preview: Part 1