Monday was Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. It's kind of a strange name when you think about it. Sitting in a movie theater all day is anything but taking action. Of course, what it really means is that the films (all documentaries) will inspire you to take action. And the … Continue reading Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Category: Jewish FF
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival: Sunday at the Castro
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
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 2
Four more films that will play at this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Three of them are documentaries; the other is a comedy. Three of them are about Israel/ Palestine issues. This is the last article I'll write on this festival until after Opening Night. A- What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael … Continue reading San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Preview: Part 2
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Preview: Part 1
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
This year’s San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
I'm back from a three-week vacation in Europe. Had a great time. But I missed the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival's schedule announcement. So, a couple of weeks late, let me tell you what's coming up. Me in Nuremberg The Bay Area hosts quite a few of what I call identity film festivals, because they're … Continue reading This year’s San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
The Jewish Film Festival on the other side of the hills
The Jewish Film Festival WinterFest closed only a few days ago, and we already have another Jewish film festival coming up. The East Bay Jewish Film Festival doesn't take place in Oakland or Berkeley, but much farther east, in the more suburban towns of Pleasant Hill and Livermore. I've seen some of the films - … Continue reading The Jewish Film Festival on the other side of the hills
British & Yiddish Film Festivals in February
February may have been the cruelest month for T. S. Eliot, but for Bay Area movie lovers, it's not that bad. Here are two festivals running in 2019's second month. Mostly British Film Festival February 14 - 21 Vogue If you like foreign films, but hate subtitles, this is the festival for you. None of … Continue reading British & Yiddish Film Festivals in February
My Last Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
For personal reasons, Saturday was my last day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. I caught two documentaries. A Science Fair Highly-motivated high school students compete in local and national science fairs for fun and college tuition. They also hope to place in the biggest such event, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This … Continue reading My Last Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Friday was the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival's Take Action Day, which, when you think about it, is a strange name for sitting on your butt all day. They screened five political documentaries at the Castro that day. I saw the first three. None of these could reasonably be called Jewish films. The Festival justified … Continue reading Take Action Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
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