Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival Returns For Silver Celebration

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival returns for the 25th year to feature its most ambitious event to date.

Since its inception in 1997, the TBJFF has showcased Jewish films that touch on themes such as life, love, tradition, family, history and current affairs.

“This year the Tampa JCCs and Federation and The Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast are proud to present a simply outstanding display of the finest film making with a Jewish lens that we have seen yet,” said Brandy Gold, TBJFF director.

The 2021 TBJFF committee, which is made up of 20 film aficionados led by screening committee co-chairs Stewart Donnell and Roxana Levin, was tasked with screening nearly 75 films since the fall, choosing a lineup of 25 feature films for the festival’s silver anniversary. Two bonus mid-length features are also included in the festival lineup.

“We were determined to carry out our plans for a unique celebration for the 25th anniversary and we were all in with careful and creative planning in light of COVID-19,” said Sara Golding who co-chairs the TBJFF executive committee with Loni Shelef.

The venues this year are predominantly virtual cinemas, however, opening and closing night events will be offered in person and virtually. Space is limited at the opening and closing in-person events. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

The silver screen celebration will open in the virtual cinema and in person with the first TBJFF drive-in movie experience on April 11. The STARR Award recipient will be honored. Attendees will be able to purchase concessions from on-site food trucks to enhance the movie-going experience.

The festival will run through April 25. Those attending in person can enjoy a champagne toast to 25 years of festivals and a movie on the lawn experience at outdoor venue at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC, 505 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa.

Due to the pandemic, last year’s festival was delayed until June and was entirely virtual. Some of the films that were intended to premier during the planned festival were not available during the new timeframe. Four of those films are now available and have joined the 21 new award-winning feature and mid-length films that will highlight the art of telling stories with a Jewish lens.

“Stories of Jewish life presented in a variety of genres are sure to engage and inspire filmgoers,” said Gold.

“It has been quite a year for film, and all of the arts. I’m grateful to our committee for their efforts during the selection process. It wasn’t easy, however, we have an exceptional festival that we are quite proud of,” said Shelef. “Our screening committee did a superb job in difficult conditions.”

Due to coronavirus guidelines, the committee members screened nearly 75 films at home.

"The films selected this year are exceptionally moving and afford the opportunity for viewers to come to together to celebrate, think deeper and have motivating discussions about the realities of Jewish life," Gold said.

The Committee Choice Award went to the opening night film, "Golden Voices," which tells the story of two Soviet film industry voice actors who must rebuild their lives after immigrating to Israel. In this bittersweet dramedy, Victor and Raya Frenkel, legends in the Soviet Union, dubbed major international movie stars’ voices for audiences behind the Iron Curtain. But after the USSR’s collapse, they joined the wave of Soviet Jews who moved to Israel. As strangers in a strange land, an absurd new reality tempers their dreams of a better life. With no need for Russian-speaking voiceover artists in Israel, the couple applied their talents in creatively bizarre and unexpected ways. Nominated for four Israeli Academy Awards including Best Actress (Maria Belkin), this film reflects the hopes and fears of immigrants the world over.

To expand the festival experience, TJBFF is bringing back Conversation Cafés in conjunction with several of the films, which enhances the movie-watching experience. Conversation Cafés take place during the virtual cinema run of a film. This allows audience members the opportunity to watch the movie prior to or after the film club-styled talks. These casual discussions are free for participants and will be led by film screening committee members. The Conversation Cafés are open to all who have watched the movie, are planning to watch the movie or simply want great conversation.

Also enhancing the film festival this year are 10 Signature Engagement Programs, which feature guest filmmakers, directors, film talent and topic experts. SEPs are free of charge and the community is invited to participate. Registration is required to receive the personal and private links. Guests will be joining the webinar-styled programs via Zoom and will have the opportunity, in some cases, to ask the speaker questions.

The initial SEP will feature a Q & A with "‘Til Kingdom Comes" director Abie Touren and Emmy-winning Israeli filmmaker Maya Zinshtein. The film examines the dubious alliance between Trump-supporting evangelicals and Israel’s right-wing factions. Fervent in their messianic beliefs, American evangelicals give huge sums to the Holy Land while exerting outsized influence on Mideast policy. Faith, money and power prove a toxic brew that flows from an impoverished Kentucky church’s pulpit through the halls of Washington to outcomes in Israel.

Another SEP features Shari Rogers, director of the compelling and powerful new documentary, "Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance," who will join a panel discussion with members of the Black and Jewish Community Cooperative (BJCC). Established in October, BJCC is a 12-member committee that includes leadership from Tampa’s Black and Jewish communities with a focus on addressing issues related to diversity, equity and inclusiveness.

The film transports the viewer to the Civil Rights era of the 1960s. During a time divided by deeply embedded racial segregation, Jewish leaders worked very closely with Dr. Martin Luther King on his mission for national hope and healing.

"History almost forgets that bigotry and discrimination brought together the African and Jewish American communities," Rogers said. "We have previously heard the tragic horrors of the Jewish experience during the Holocaust. But this may be one of the first times that we have heard how their experience ties in with the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. The African American community were supported by Jewish leaders. And accordingly, the Jewish community was held up by Martin Luther King Jr. and his people."

Rogers’ film reveals the connections between the two movements. It highlights the similarities between the experiences of those affected by slavery and the Holocaust and the scars that these tragedies left on their souls. As it unpacks history from a new perspective, "Shared Legacies" serves as a reminder that there are specificities within the Black or Jewish experience. But suffering unites people and strength and healing can begin by supporting one another.

“People supporting each other, pulling for one another, inspiring one another seems to be a common theme in the 25th anniversary year lineup,” said Gold. “I find it fascinating that each film has its own hidden heroes in it. Sometimes the hero is blatantly noticeable, and sometimes it may take days before you suddenly realize which character you took the most away from - who in the story was the most memorable. It is the power of great cinematography.”

The powerhouse lineup continues with stories of real abilities, love, relationships, discoveries, movements, the Holocaust, art, dance and sports found in the festival’s films.

The full lineup being presented is made possible with support by the following sponsors: Film Tampa Bay, Herman Forbes Charitable Trust, Hillsborough County, Sara and David Scher, as well as many individual donors.

Each day, two films will upload onto the virtual cinema platform. Once purchased and set to play, the movie guest will have 48 hours (two full days) to watch the film. Movies will upload at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day except during Shabbat. The time of the film upload will vary for Friday and Saturday. Guests may purchase individual movies for viewing at a cost of $12 plus a streaming fee or purchase mini- or all-access passes. SEPs and Conversation Café are free to attend.

The opening night drive-in movie ticket is $25 per car, and the closing night movie on the lawn film is $25 for a pod of two chairs together and a champagne split to toast the STARR Award recipient.

Once tickets or passes are purchased, guests will be able to see the entire festival menu on their streaming device. The box office will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the festival except during Shabbat.

Click here for ticket and program information.