The 19th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
The 19th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is set to kick off beginning next Wednesday, February 6 through Tuesday Feb 26, 2019. Opening night, film lovers and patrons of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) will view the Israeli dramedy called “Shoelaces”. This film is a story about the relationship between an aging mechanic and his full-energy special-needs son that he abandoned. The film provides a very realistic depiction of special-needs people, but in a way that is humorous and nature-sensible. Along with this film, the Atlanta Film Festival will present 180 screenings, with “an international collection of 76 films from 24 countries, at various Atlanta venues including Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, Regal Perimeter Pointe, Regal Atlantic Station, UA Tara Cinemas and The Woodruff Arts Center.
Since my first involvement with AJFF many years ago, I have grown to love and respect the overall AJFF experience and the great effort they put into bringing together such a host of gifted filmmakers, actors and creatives of the Jewish community. This is an event not be missed!
For more information and tickets, please visit www.ajff.org.
*Photo Courtesy of Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
DRESS LIKE A GENT
Opening Night at the 2017 AJFF
With a sense of high anticipation in the air, the time for The 2017 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival was finally here! Tuesday night, the majestic Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta quickly began to flood with long-time patrons, media affiliates, industry personalities and film lovers. This, my second year attending this amazing film festival, left me totally excited to see what the opening ceremony had in store for us. And to my point, the ceremony from start to finish was just excellent! From the plethora of cuisine sponsors and their delectable selections to the administration, greeters, and overall hospitality, they did not miss a beat! The AJFF opening gala is always an upbeat atmosphere that allows guests and industry professionals alike the opportunity to mix and mingle in a very classy place. In fact, the gala is the ideal space for networking among like-minded people who passionately appreciate the cultural enlightenment that this film festival has to offer.
Among the dining sponsors present for the gala were the following:
Atlas
Buckhead Diner
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
Ecco
For All Occassions & More
The General Muir
IL Giallo Osteria & Bar
Imperial Fez
Nan Thai Fine Dining
Ouzeria
Southern Art & Bourbon Bar
Soto Soto
Taco Cowboy
Southern Baked Pie Company
Tiff’s Treats
Piece of Cake
Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roasters
Following the conclusion of the gala, we all made our way into the main arena in preparation for the feature screening Alone in Berlin. Despite technical difficulties in the beginning, the crowd was electrified to be present that night and you could tell that everyone had high hopes for the opening film. Not to mention, we were being serenaded by an amazing band posted in the balcony prior to the show starting. Finally, at the top of the show, we were pleasantly surprised to receive an official welcome to the 2017 AJFF by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed! Mayor Reed told us that we should be a very proud city to hold the position of hosting the world’s largest Jewish Film Festival as well as the fact that our very own Atlanta Falcons are in the Super Bowl!
Just before the Alone in Berlin began, AJFF Executive Director Kenny Blank and AJFF Board President Steve Labovitz came on stage to share with us that we are living in a very exciting moment to witness history unfolding as the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival works tirelessly year-round to “Achieve new ways of culture and social understanding in a way that only film can." And that we should all be grateful to be a part of a city and event that believes in "making arts a priority in our community". This film, Alone in Berlin, is a heart-gripping story of a middle-class husband and wife in Berlin Germany who tragically lose their son at war and who choose to defy the Nazi regime by leaving random post cards throughout the city as a form of silent protest. Actors Emma Thompson and Brendan Glesson execute and splendid performance of this couple’s grief to action. And knowing that this was based on a true story, we were all left utterly touched by their courage and unyielding determination to avenge their son’s death and the powerful political statement of justice they left behind.
For more information about this film, the 2017 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and to purchase tickets, please visit www.ajff.org.
*Photos Courtesy of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
DRESS LIKE A GENT
The 2017 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Just 2 Days Away!
Patrons both local and abroad are eager to welcome the 17th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) which will kick off this Tuesday, January 24th at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Just two weeks ago, the 2017 lineup for the festival was announced to feature over 200 screenings of 75 different films from 24 different countries. This year's opening ceremony will take place at the Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta beginning with an awarding-winning WWII drama Alone in Berlin, starring Emma Thompson and Brendan Gleeson. In addition to this prime screening, there will be an array of amazing films throughout the festival including an enthralling story of survival called Across the Waters, a comedic drama called The Pickle Recipe by Director Michael Manasseri and many, many more.
As a second year media participant in the Jewish Film Festival, I can say that last year was an unforgettable experience and one in which left me very anticipatory for this year's festival! One thing for sure, AJFF is for anyone who is a film lover and has a genuine appreciation for cultureally-infused films and narratives. Its mission, to "seek to use the power of film to both entertain and educate, AJFF challenges conventional perspectives on complex and challenging issues facing the Jewish and global communities." Screenings will be held throughought the city in various theaters and the closing ceremony will be held on February 15th again at the Atlanta Symphony Hall featuring a comical women's narrative called The Women's Balcony.
The 2017 AJFF will take place from January 24 - February 15th thoughout Atlanta. To purchase your tickets or for more information, please visit www.ajff.org.
Don't you miss it!
Back on the Farm's 4th Annual Fall Social
A team of celebrity chefs will create a dinner to remember in celebration of Back on the Farm's 4th Annual Fall Social! Commemorating 4 years at the Atlanta History Center (AHC), this year's festive farm dinner will be led by executive chef Todd Richards and will highlight delectable farm-fresh foods. The focus of this prized charity dinner is to raise funds for animals at AHC's Smith Family Farm. Dinner guests and sponsors can look forward to an impeccable dinner specially prepared by Chef Richards and his hand-picked team of chefs. The event will happen on Friday, September 30th as pre-dinner cocktails will be served on the farm beginning at 6 PM followed by the seated dinner at 8 PM in the Grand Overlook.
This year's layout of featured chef's will include:
Event Executive Chef
Todd Richards, Executive Chef of White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails and Chef/Owner of Richards' Southern Fried
Back on the Farm Featured Chefs
Mark Brown of Blazin' Jerk
Erika Council of Southern Souffle
Julio Delgado of JP Atlanta
Seth Freeman of Peach Dish
Jared Hall of One Flew South
Cooper Miller of Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall
Duane Nutter of Southern National, Mobile, AL
Mihoko Obani of Nexto
Christian Perez of White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails
Matthew Raiford of The Farmer and The Larder, Brunswick, GA
Guy Wong of Ton Ton, Le Fat and Mizo Izakaya
Featured Bartenders
Tiffanie Barriere of Southern National, Mobile, AL
Greg Best of Ticonderoga Club
Jerry Slater of Flying Pig Hospitality
Krista Lark Slater of Flying Pig Hospitality
Featured Stylists
Some of the crops prepared by these chefs will be foods commonly used during the 1800s on the Smith Family Farm; affirming the historical aspect behind the event. The fun part about all of this is that there will be not only be great food, but also great fellowship in an amazing environment among those who appreciate the history of the farm and the common cause at hand.
For more information or to purchase tickets to Back on the Farm, please visit www.atlantahistorycenter.com or contact Katherine Hoogerwerf at 404.814.4102 or KHoogerwerf@AtlantaHistoryCenter.com for details.
DRESS LIKE A GENT