FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Brandy Gold brandy.gold@jewishtampa.com
Film Festival Director 813.769.4725
24th Annual Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival Features Eclectic Curated Collection of Films - Virtually
May 24, 2020 - Tampa, FL - The Tampa JCCS & Federation and Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties are thrilled to announce the 24th Annual Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival (TBJFF) - Virtually! Opening on June 24 and running through June 28. “The evolved festival is exciting and packed with films that truly merit celebration!” said committee Co- Chair Sara Scher. This virtual line-up is “the most eclectic that we have seen in years,” says Festival Co-Chair Loni Shelef. The films will delight moviegoers with topics varying from stories of complex and discreet family situations, love stories, heroic Holocaust survival, Jewish values and traditions and, of course, Jewish humor and extraordinary entertainment!
A Virtual Film Festival will allow fans to join in the celebration, from their own homes, by tuning into a carefully curated collection of films via VIMEO and Video on Demand (VOD) streaming. The program's schedule includes intimate conversations with film directors, talent and local film aficionados by the way of ZOOM. "The opportunity to host the highly anticipated Jewish Film Festival virtually is very exciting, the committee wanted to share these fabulous films and the stories behind them, and now we have the ways to do it!" says Brandy Gold; Festival Director. The TBJFF committee will host an opening celebration where audience members ZOOM in to see Robert & Terri Tankel and Bill Fleece representing Herman Forbes Charitable Trust receive their most deserving STARR awards and to hear warm welcome greetings from the Committee Chairs and opening film Director and Producer of Those Who Remained; Barnabas Roth.
Throughout the five day festival TBJFF enthusiasts will have the opportunity to watch, discuss and be entertained with enhanced programming for ten feature films! Plans also include opening entertainment and interactive experiences by the way of our popular Conversation Cafe's at designated time throughout the week. The full schedule and lineup can be viewed at tbjff.org and directions on how to access the festival will be on the cover page of the website. During the winter months, a dedicated committee of 40 volunteers viewed more than 100 films, curating a collection of their favorites to share with diverse audiences.
The Festival committee felt strongly that the important messages conveyed in these films warranted deeper discussion for viewers. A series of talk back sessions in the Conversation Cafe's, along with question and answer opportunities to engage the audiences has been created.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is a this gentle, beautifully rendered historical family drama, a German-Jewish girl takes her first steps into adulthood, as world events intrude on her happy, carefree existence. Nine-year-old Anna is too busy with schoolwork and friends to notice Hitler’s face glaring from posters plastered all over 1933 Berlin. But when her father suddenly vanishes, and the family is secretly hurried out of Germany, Anna begins to understand life will never be the same. What follows is a courageous adventure full of fear and uncertainty, as Anna and her family navigate unfamiliar lands, and cope with the challenges of being refugees. Oscar-winning filmmaker Caroline Link directs this adaptation of Judith Kerr’s semiautobiographical bestselling children’s novel. This film is in German with English subtitles and suggested for ages 10+. Join us on Sunday June 28th. And in the afternoon via ZOOM for a Q & A in the Conversation Cafe' with Etta Donnell.
Another exciting addition to our film guest line-up is Dani Menken the Director of the Jury Award winning film Picture Of His Life.
Amos Nachoum is one of the greatest underwater photographers of all time. Fascinated by the most fearsome creatures on Earth, he has developed a unique approach that puts him face to face with his subjects. Now, at the age of 65, he has one final photographic dream remaining - to photograph a polar bear underwater, while swimming alongside it. The film follows Amos in the Canadian Arctic, as he prepares for his ultimate challenge. As the journey unfolds, so does an intimate and painful story of dedication, sacrifice and personal redemption. Dani Menken will be joining us after the closing film at 7:15 PM via ZOOM on Sunday, June 28 for a director led Q & A.
Overall, the 24th annual Film Festival not only brings award winning and top notch films to Tampa Bay this year bit also includes incredible opportunities for in-depth conversations and audience engagement that will leave all of the festival guests looking forward to next year’s 25th annual Silver anniversary!
The 2020 Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival is generously sponsored by the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, Hillsborough County, Herman Forbes Charitable Trust, Film Tampa Bay, Sara & David Scher and many others. To become a corporate sponsor, patron of the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival, please contact (813) 769-4725 or donate on-line at tbjff.org.
Tickets purchases and directions are currently available at tbjff.org. For more information, contact the festival box office at brandy.gold@jewishtampa.com.
Tickets are $5 per film. Please pre-purchase your festival tickets at www.tbjff.org at least 24 hours prior to the film link opening. A full listing of all films, descriptions, and directions on how to participate virtually can be viewed at tbjff.org. The 2020 festival is generously sponsored by the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, Herman Forbes Charitable Trust, Film Tampa Bay, and Sara & David Scher. To become a corporate sponsor, patron of the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival, please contact (813) 769-4725 or donate on-line at tbjff.org.
Revised and edited by BG 5 /15/2020
