San Diego International Jewish Film Festival Celebrates 32nd Season With Virtual And In-Person Lineup
The 32nd Annual San Diego International Jewish Film Festival (SDIJFF) runs over 12 days, from Feb. 9-20, 2022. The SDIJFF showcases a selection of the best contemporary Jewish films and TV series. Twenty-five feature films, eight short films and three TV series will be screened, the festival began Wednesday, Feb. 9.
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In-person or online screening available
Film enthusiasts can view these screenings in-person at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre and/or watch from the comfort of their home. Virtual film screenings are on demand beginning on February 10 and will remain available throughout the duration of the festival. Free screenings will be held as part of Preview Day on February 9 at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre, with “Ask Dr. Ruth” at 1:30PM and “Mighty Ira” at 4:30PM. The Underwriter-exclusive screening of “The Conductor” will be at 7:30PM.
This festival is known to be one of the most prestigious Jewish film festivals in the country. Tickets are $15 per program and $12 for JCC members.
Whether in person or online, attendees can expect to experience some of the best films ever shown. Christina Fink, SDIJFF Chair, explained with her signature enthusiasm, “I think that the most exciting news is that we had a huge number of films to choose from. The inflow of potential selections surprisingly did not slow down due to COVID. I can only guess that there were a lot of films that had been produced and they were adding editing touches. I really don’t know, but I thought we’d be lucky if we had 50 films and could pick some 25 decent ones during the second year of the pandemic, but we had well over 200 films to select from and curate the very best. I am incredibly proud of the collection we are bringing to the community this year.”
Film highlights
“The Film Selection Committee did an outstanding job of identifying films that were both compelling and entertaining – a mix of interesting documentaries and beautiful narratives,” said Ryan Isaac, Director of Cultural Arts for the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family JCC, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS.
All of the films and TV series that will be screened at the festival were carefully selected to represent the Jewish experience, including highlights such as:
“The Conductor”
Spend time with the talented and approachable Marin Alsop, the first female conductor of a major symphony orchestra.
“The Chef (Season 1, Episodes 1-9 | 9 Episode Series)”
The complete first season of Israeli TV series The Chef. A behind-the-scenes look at a gourmet restaurant in Tel Aviv. Nominated for 12 Israeli Academy Television Awards.
“Greener Pastures”
Opening Day film: Cannabis keeps the residents of a nursing home smiling, but Dov, the unhappy newest resident, revolts and plans his getaway.
“Persian Lessons”
Centerpiece film: Inventing a language he doesn’t speak; Gilles manages to survive in a concentration camp by teaching “Persian” to the camp commandant.
“Tiger Within”
Closing Night film: A Holocaust survivor (Ed Asner) develops an unlikely friendship with a homeless, anti-Semitic teenage girl in Los Angeles.
The Film Selection Committee
This year’s 2022 Film Selection Committee includes: Christina Fink as Chair, Joyce Axelrod as Founding Chair, along with Francine Ginsburg and Helen Fleming as Past Chairs, as well as Herb Adelman, Judith Friedel, Michele Kipnis, Leslie Oster, Saundra Saperstein, Sarah Scott, and Sandra Silverstein.
Tickets are on sale now. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit here.
See you there, San Diego!
