The 41st Atlanta Film Festival Starts Today!
The 41st Annual Atlanta Film Festival begins today and will run throughout April 2, 2017. For a span of 10 days total, participators can expect an enthralling plethora of more than 160 feature length and short film presentations, 37 Creative Conferences and over a dozen Special Presentations. The Atlanta Film Festival has proven to be a monumental event that draws in filmmakers, writers, film lovers and more from all over the country and abroad. This highly anticipated Festival (aka ATLFF) has received global recognition as one of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" and "50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee". The Opening Ceremony and red carpet screening this year will feature a narrative, DAVE MADE A MAZE - a story about a character named Dave who falls victim to his own fort erected in his personal living room. Dave winds up "trapped by the fantastical pitfalls, bobby traps and critters of his own making." Following the opening film, there will be a after party available to pass-holders who have obtained wristbands at the conclusion of tonight's screening.
For more information on AFF, please visit, www.atlantafilmfestival.com and to check out my recap from last year's 40th annual AFF, visit http://urbanluxmag.com/2016/04/02/40th-atlanta-film-festival/.
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The 2017 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in Review
Wednesday, February 15th marked the close of this year's grand Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF). With over 37,500 film lovers in attendance and a total of 202 screenings showcased over the span of 23 days, this year's film festival has been a huge success! This year, facilitators of AJFF deliberately focused on enhancing audience experience and accessibility to draw in more participation both local and otherwise. As a second year participant at AJFF, I was totally excited to see which film selections would be shown this year and excited about engaging with other die-hard AJFF fans! Beginning with the opening night at the Cobb Energy Centre where guests gathered together in a classy place, enjoying all of the delectable food items there to the brilliant Alone in Berlin opening night film, nothing has been a disappointment!
This year, AJFF announced for the first time, Jury Award Winners delegated among various categories including best Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Short, Emerging Filmmaker, Building Bridges and Human Rights. Details and results for these awarding films can be found via www.ajff.org. Beyond that, I think it's is important to mention that this film festival is a high-quality event from start to completion, which makes you feel like you've not only learned something about the culture, but also gained a greater appreciation for the diversity and history of Jewish community as a whole. And closing night was just as spectacular!
The finale screening for AJFF this year was the comedic drama known as The Women's Balcony. This film tells the story about a close-knit synagogue congregation that is torn apart after their dedicated women's balcony collapses during a Bar-Mitzpah. In utter shock including the rabbi's wife ending up in a coma, the congregation is swiftly engaged by the young Charismatic Rabbi David, who at first, appears to want to help them. Gradually, they realize Rabbi David's legalistic, fundamentalist ways only end up doing the congregation more damage than good. Finally, the women of the congregation speak out and peacefully protest their objection to his directives which proves to turn matters favorably for both the men and women involved.
A great closing film choice followed by a kingly dessert reception lacing the upstairs and downstairs lobbies of The Woodruff Arts Centre, there is no better way that I could imagine finalizing such an excellent film festival like this one!
For more information about #AJFF2017, please visit www.ajff.org. Desserts for the closing reception were provided by Icing Cake Designs & Sweets Boutique.
Also, be sure to checkout these photos from the closing ceremony all Courtesy of Rhema Word Enterprises.
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#AJFF2017 Film Review | Aida's Secrets
Aida's Secrets is yet another stunningly captivating film and documentary showcased at this year's Atlanta Jewish Film Festival! The story involves two estranged brothers Izak and Shepsel, who were never told about one another, both born during the post-war era in separate displaced persons camps. Separated from their Polish mother Aida and 65 years later, the brothers find themselves reunited, in hopes of putting the missing pieces back together concerning their uncertain heritage. While visually-impaired Shephsel ends up in Canada and his brother Izak, is shipped away to Israel for adoption, an investigation spearheaded by Izak's family, successfully, brings the two together to rejoin their mother Aida. This documentary is a story of redemption, hope, and particulary, Aida's Secrets is a film about how unconditional love prevails in spite of decades of unresolved questions.
Filmmakers Alon and Shaul Schwarz, capture the beauty of this family's story and teach us the importance of courageously confronting circumstances experienced with those closest to us in order to redeem lost, yet highly valuable time. For more information about #AJFF2017, please visit www.ajff.org.
#AJFF2017 Film Review | Past Life
A brilliantly emotion-packed film, Past Life, is inspired by a true story about two sisters Sephi (played by Joy Reiger) and Nana (Nelly Tager), who find themselves, 30 years after the Holocaust, forced to dig up the truth about their father's haunting past. The story thickens after an electrifying vocal performance, when Sephi is abruptly reviled in public by an elderly Polish woman, Agnieska Zielinski (Katarzyna Gniewkowska), who accuses Sephi's father of being a murderer. Confused and devastated, the sisters commence their own secret investigation of their their Holocaust-surviving father, Baruch (Doron Tavory), with hopes of piecing together their father's secret wartime past. As the film progresses, Baruch decides to disclose the truth about what took place during the War and shares the dark story about the months he had to hide from the Nazis in a Polish cellar. With this new insight into their father's past, the sisters find themselves even more inquisitive about whether even this is truth or not as it poses serious questions about their own heritage and sense of personal identity.
Nana later discovers that she is severely ill as the family progressively begins to blame her condition as a curse resulting from her father's transgressions. Yet, the brilliance about this entire film is the turn of forgiveness and reconciliation that it teaches. We learn how the past has its direct and indirect influence on the future and about the burden of strong intergenerational ties. Past Life is a film for anyone who understands the importance of moving beyond the past no matter how painful it is, in order to move forward. This film empowers you to forgive, to let go and to courageously address matters that could either damage or otherwise restore for generations to come.
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
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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!
Bronze Lens Film Fest's VIP Media Reception
Last night at the elegant Davidoff of Geneva Cigar Shop in Atlanta, the Bronze Lens Film Festival staff, its key players and media, all met up for a VIP reception. The event took place at the chic Shops of Buckhead Atlanta in the upscale Davidoff of Geneva store. Local media guests, actors, film producers and the executive staff for Bronze Lens all gathered inside to discuss this year's itinerary for the film festival. Executive Producer Kathleen Bertrand facilitated the discussion by letting the public know that they have been working hard year-round to make sure this year's film festival is an absolute success. She also explained the importance of support from the community to keep projects like this thriving and vibrant.
Both she and Board Director Tirrell Whittley, share with us that we as people of color should be intentional about our support. She mentions that they've never had a problem with getting volunteers from the community and this year, have over 800 + volunteers involved. Kathleen says, "Film festivals like Bronze Lens will not survive if we continue to allow everything to be free" and Tirrell also encourages people to support by sponsoring a college student for just $30 to attend the festival this year. Not only does the film festival provide opportunities for people to be exposed to films by people of color, but more importantly, there is a strong educational piece that happens during the festival and amazing networking for people passionate about filmmaking.
This year's Bronze Lens has a lot of exciting events to look forward to including a conversation with Actor David Banner, workshops such as "Becoming a Camera Ready Vendor" and "The Status of Production in Georgia", and more! Also this year, Kathleen has announced that Bronze Lens will be showing the premiere episode of OWN TV's "Queen Sugar". And to top the evening off, we had an opportunity to hear from the talented Actress Terry Vaughn about her new comedy film called #DigitalLivesMatter; a comedy about DC Young Fly with his over 3 million followers who finds that all of his followers are suddenly deleted by a hacker at the time of a major audition he has prepared for. She in conjunction with production company Nina Holiday Entertainment have been diligently working on the film which will be showcased at this year's festival and will be also available via streaming next month.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.bronzelens.com.
*All photos are courtesy of TKO Photographic.
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