BLACK•ISH/JEW•ISH
6/19/2018
SAN FRANCISCO, June 19, 2018 - The 38th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, presented annually by the Jewish Film Institute, is pleased to present the black·ish / jew•ish spotlight which will showcase stories highlight compelling personal and cultural narratives that locate the grey areas in everyone, challenge stereotypes and beg the question: #What'sYourISH?. These films will screen during the Festival, which returns to the Bay Area July 19th to August 5th, and include:
SFJFF38's Closing Night film, Sam Pollard's electrifying documentary SAMMY DAVIS, JR.: I'VE GOTTA BE ME, presented in partnership with the Museum of the African Diaspora, is a redemptive journey into the complicated history of the famous entertainer, with very current implications for the politics of identity. The film will screen Sunday, July 29th at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco with Pollard in attendance. The film will also screen Sunday, July 22nd at the CinéArts Theatre in Palo Alto, Saturday, August 4th at the Piedmont Theatre in Piedmont, and Sunday, August 5th at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
BLUE NOTE RECORDS: BEYOND THE NOTES excavates the African American and Jewish relationships that solidified the iconic Jazz record label as America's most important musical export, with spellbinding footage from the making of seminal albums. The film will screen Saturday, July 21st at 3:35PM at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, and Sunday, August 5th at 4:05PM at the Piedmont Theatre in Oakland.
SATAN & ADAM, the SFJFF38 Local Spotlight, takes viewers on a twisting, 30+ year journey with the unlikely blues duo of an African American busker from Harlem and a white, Jewish harmonica player who transcend their cultural divides through music. The film will screen Sunday, July 22nd at 4:00PM at the CinéArts Theatre in Palo Alto, Saturday, July 28th at 6:20PM at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, Sunday, July 29th at 6:55PM at the Albany Twin Theatre in Albany, and Friday, August 3rd at 6:00PM at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael. Oakland based filmmaker V. Scott Balcerek will be present for all screenings of the film.
CROSSROADS, a team of improbable lacrosse players at an African American charter school in North Carolina and their Jewish coach are equally transformed through mentorship, friendship and mutual understanding. Director Ron Yassen and subjects Bobby Selkin and Xavier Hare will be present for screenings of the film Saturday, July 28th at 4:00PM at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, and Sunday, July 29th at 4:45PM at the Albany Twin Theatre in Albany. Additional screenings will also take place Saturday, July 21st at 4:15PM at the CinéArts Theatre in Palo Alto, and Sunday, August 5th at 2:05PM at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
---
Entering its 38th year, the Festival is expecting an audience of over 40,000 moviegoers at the following theaters; the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, the Albany Twin Theatre in Albany, the Piedmont Theatre in Oakland, the CinéArts Theatre in Palo Alto, and the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
For general and ticket information, visit sfjff.org or email jewishfilm@sfjff.org. To contact the SFJFF Box Office directly, please email boxoffice@sfjff.org or call 415.621.0568. The full program for SFJFF38 will be revealed on June 19, 2018. For Festival logos, photos and press materials, visit jfi.org/press or sfjff.org/press. To request interviews or screeners, contact Larsen Associates.
HASHTAGS: #SFJFF, #SFJFF38 and #SFJewishFilm
| Facebook: | facebook.com/sfjewishfilm/ |
| Twitter: | @SFJewishFilm |
| Instagram: | @SFJewishFilm |
| YouTube: | youtube.com/SFJewishFilm |
| Website: | www.jfi.org / www.sfjff.org |
About the Jewish Film Institute
The Jewish Film Institute (JFI) is the premier curatorial voice for Jewish film and media and a leading arts and culture organization in the Bay Area. Presenter of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, JFI catalyzes and inspires communities in San Francisco and around the world to expand their understanding of Jewish life and culture through film, media, and dialogue. Year round, the Jewish Film Institute promotes awareness and appreciation of the diversity of the Jewish people through multiple mediums - including original online programming that reaches a global audience of over 2 million views. All of these services, along with artists' support and educational initiatives, give audiences around the world even greater access to Jewish culture and the visionaries who shape it.
About the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF), presented by the Jewish Film Institute, is the largest and longest-running festival of its kind and a leader in the curation and presentation of new film and media exploring the complexities of Jewish life around the world. Presenting more than 65 films and 135 individual screenings, performances and events in five Bay Area cities (San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Rafael, Oakland, Berkeley), SFJFF attracts more than 40,000 filmgoers and industry professionals to its 18-day program.
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival 38 Sponsors
The Jewish Film Institute and San Francisco Jewish Film Festival wish to thank the 2018 Premier Festival Sponsors Sterling Bank & Trust and The Seligman Family Foundation.
SFJFF38 wishes to thank its Premier Media Sponsors: the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGATE; its Grand Media Sponsors: J. the Jewish News of Northern California, KQED and The Forward; and its Major Media Sponsors: ABC7/KGO-TV, Berkeleyside.com and the SF Bay Times.
The Festival wishes to thank its Business and Community Sponsors: Berkeley Film Foundation,
Britex Fabrics, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Craig Harrison's Expressions of ExcellenceTM,GoWatchIt, Ingeniux Web Experience Management, Schoenberg Family Law Group, Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha and Wareham Development and Where the Buffalo Roam.
SFJFF38 also recognizes its Hospitality and Events Sponsors: Leftwich Event Specialists, Inc., Ba-Bite, Catch SF, Hagafen Wineries, the Hotel Carlton, Lagunitas Brewing Co., Landmark Theatres, L'Chaim Sushi, Frena Bakery, Little Star Pizza, Melons Catering & Events, Sullivan & Botello Party Rentals, Poesia, Salt & Honey, Saul's Restaurant and Delicatessen, Taste, Wise Sons and Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar.
###