18th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) – Program and Tickets

OPENING NIGHT!

Thursday, 12 March

Enrico Macias, the Algerian-born international recording superstar, presents El Gusto! The much-loved 2014 Pomegranate Award Recipient for Sephardi Excellence in the Arts will be on hand to present this year’s awards, and for a performance. This Opening Night reception will include authentic Sephardi hors d’oeuvres and desserts

• El Gusto, 6:30pm 

Director:  Safinez Bousbia

Ireland, UAE, Algeria, 88 min
In French & Arabic with English subtitles

The remarkable story of Jewish and Muslim musicians from the Casbah separated by political conflicts for over 50 years and reunited to celebrate their common passion: Chaabi music, a.k.a the people’s music of Algeria.

ARGENTINA IN THE NEWS

Saturday, 14 March

In January 2015, an unsolved terrorist act from 1995 was recently thrust back into the spotlight with news of the death of the prosecutor in charge of resolving the crime. God’s Slave reimagines the preparation and execution of the heinous crime and
its aftermath.

• God’s Slave, 8:30pm

Director: Joel Novoa
Venezuela & Argentina, 90 min
In Spanish with English subtitles

Based on the true story of the bombing of the AMIA Community Center in Buenos Aires in 1994, this heart-pounding and nuanced political thriller closely follows the game of cat and mouse between an Islamist terrorist and a Mossad operative as they each follow their convictions.

 

FAMILY DAY

Sunday, 15 March

With something for all ages, the day begins with a free program for children to learn about upcoming Jewish and Persian holidays. For older children and people of all ages, the afternoon program features films about Bukharian veterans of World War II, a celebration of the Judeo-Moroccan musical tradition, and the magic of matchmaking.

Free – Kids Holiday Shorts! 11am

• Babak & Friends: A First Norooz, 33 min

Norooz, the Persian New Year, is a holiday for Persians of all persuasions, including Jews and Muslims. In this short film, Babak, a little boy, travels to the ancient capital of the Persian Empire, Persepolis, to learn about the traditions of Norooz and rejoice in the rich culture of Iran.

• Be Happy, it’s Purim, 30min

Everyone’s dressing-up for Purim, so get out your costumes and join the fun! Presented by Shalom Sesame, Israel’s Sesame Street, this short film explores the story of Esther, the Persian Jewish Queen, who saved her community from the evil Hamman.

• Bukharian Shorts, 1pm
• Aron Aronof & the Bukharian Museum, 6 min

On the top floor of a yeshiva in Queens, Aron Aronov has gathered unique items to memorialize the history and culture of Bukharian Jews, a Sephardi minority group from Central Asia. But maintaining a museum single-handedly has its challenges.

• Bakhsh in Rego Park, 5min

A Bukharian Jew living in Rego Park, Queens, takes us throughthe process of making Bakhsh, a traditional meal that her family has been preparing for generations.

• Bukharian Lens: The Untold Story of Bukharian Jews, 18min

Denied for decades by the Soviet regime’s anti-Jewish propagandists, learn the untold story of bravery and sacrifice by Bukharian Jewish veterans of World War II who fought the Nazis. This unique, inter-generational film project features interviews with veterans, many of whom have since passed.

• Direct From Casablanca! 4pm

KHOYA: JEWISH

MOROCCO SOUND ARCHIVE

Director: Vanessa Paloma

Morocco, 45 min
Judeo-Arabic, Haketia, Hebrew, French, and English, with English subtitles
World Premiere

Join us for a special Screening & Listening party. Hear excerpts of a sound archive founded by researcher, writer and performer, Vanessa Paloma Elbaz. They include historical recordings, commercial and field recordings, and oral histories on Jewish life in Morocco.

• Do You Believe in Love? 6:30pm

Directors: Dan Wasserman & Barak Heymann
Israel, 50 min
In Hebrew with English subtitles

Get ready to meet the most unexpected and charming matchmaker in Israel: Tova. Apart from being hugely successful, she’s also paralyzed from the neck down. This award-winning festival-favorite is a heart- warming documentary that is sure to woo even the hardest of hearts.

MAKING ALIYAH: THE ROAD TO ISRAEL

Monday, 16 March

Many roads have led to Israel, and the vast number of stories are thought-provoking and powerful.  Tonight’s films feature the stories of Jews from Rhodes and Iraq. The evening will be accompanied by Iraqi hors d’oeuvres.

• It Never Rained on Rhodes, 6pm

Director: Barry Salzman
USA, Canada, Belgium, Greece, South Africa,
30 min, In English

A short experimental film about the universality of loss. Avoiding specific geographic, demographic and historic references, the director attempts to transform the story of one small community into a vehicle that emotionally engages the audience in personal notions of loss and history.

• The Dove Flyer, 8pm

Director: Nissim Dayan
Israel, 88 min
In Arabic with English subtitles

Sixteen year old Kabi is typical teenager in Iraq in the 1950’s – surrounded by activists, he tries to decipher the difference between the various Jewish underground movements until a single act brings them together. Based on the award- winning novel by Eli Amir, this is the modern exodus story of one of the world’s most ancient Jewish communities.

IRANIAN INTRIGUE

Tuesday, 17 March

Two films about unexpected communities tied to Iran: the large number of Israelis living in Iran before the 1979 Revolution and the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living who came to the U.S. in its wake.

• Before the Revolution, 7pm

Directors: Dan Shadur
Israel, 60 min
In Farsi & Hebrew with English subtitles

Drawing on rare archival footage, personal histories, and interviews, this is the untold story of the Israeli Paradise in Iran: During the 60’s and 70’s, thousands of Israelis lived in Tehran, enjoying special status under the Shah’s dictatorial rule. Protected by large arms deals and complex financial ties, this community relished in luxury, until the Revolution turned their lives, and the country, upside down.

• The Iranian Americans, 9pm

Directors: Andrew Goldberg
USA, 60 min
In Farsi & English with English subtitles

Short synopsis: With Iran in the news virtually every day, most Americans have little knowledge of the story of the hundreds of thousands of Iranians who live in the U.S. including a huge sub-community of Iranian Jews. This PBS documentary chronicles the underreported history of a group of emigrants finding refuge, overcoming adversity, and ultimately creating new Persian-American lives.

JEWS & MONEY: THE STORY OF A JEW IN PARIS

Wednesday, 18 March

Before Charlie Hebdo and the murders in a Kosher butcher in Paris, there was the abduction, torture, and murder of Illan Halami, a French Jew whose family has roots in Tunisia.  This poignant evening features one French narrative film – a New York premiere — and one documentary film that explores the murder of one man whose death can be seen as a precursor to the increasing number of anti-Semitic attacks in France today.

• 24 Days, 6:30pm

Director: Alexandre Arcady
France, 108 min
In French with English subtitles
New York Premiere

This award-winning thriller tells the true story of the kidnapping and murder of Ilan Halimi. Targeted by the self-described “Gang of the Barbarians,” Halimi was kidnapped and taken to an apartment in the Bagneux neighborhood of Paris. There he was held captive and tortured for three weeks before being dumped in the woods by his captors.

• Jews & Money, 8:30pm

Directors: Lewis Cohen
France, 90 min
In French & English with English subtitles

In 2006, Ilan Halimi had been seized for ransom, allegedly because, as a Jew, he would have easy access to money. Using the trial of Ilan Halimi’s murderers as the base, this film delves into the centuries old stereotype that Jews often have easy and deceitful access to money.

CLOSING NIGHT: SPOTLIGHT MOROCCO

Thursday, 19 March

Quite unlike other communities, Moroccan Jews decided to immigrate to Israel for diverse reasons, with the majority not leaving Morocco until the 1960s and 1970s. “Destinies Undone” delves into the complex circumstances. Our second film of the evening celebrates the magic and mystery of a Moroccan Jewish fortune-teller in Israel with an especially rich couscous recipe.

• Moroccan Jews: Destinies Undone, 6pm

Director: Directed by Younis Laghari

Morocco, 60 min
In French, Arabic, & English with English subtitles
U.S. Premiere

Once upon a time, there were over 250,000 Jews in Morocco. Why they left has rarely been of interest, until now. A probing and comprehensive exploration of the many reasons the Jews of Morocco left their homeland, leaving behind a rich and vibrant history.

• Orange People, 8pm

Directors: Directed by Hanna Azoulay Hafsari
Israel, 90 min
In Hebrew with English subtitles

This vibrant and sensual story of three generations of Moroccan women living in Israel playfully examines the universal struggle between following past traditions and the desire to break free and be independent.

BUY TICKETS

 Fuente: nysephardifilmfestival.org