Applause for Gene Wilder, strikes at SFJFF opening night By J. Staff Jul 21, 2023 The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival kicked off its 43rd year Thursday night at a packed Castro Theater, its longtime home base, with messages of solidarity for striking screenwriters and actors. Oh, there was a film screening, too. As attendees found their seats, schmoozed and listened to dramatic music played on the Castro’s famed organ,… Read More
Film In ‘Rabbi on the Block,’ meet the first female Hebrew Israelite rabbi Updated July 18 “If the Jewish community ever wanted to have a relationship with the Black community, I am the bridge that they would want to cross to get… By Andrew Esensten Jul 17, 2023
From the Archives How we covered S.F. Jewish Film Fest headliners over the years Full coverage of the 43rd San Francisco Jewish Film Festival In the past hundred or so years, Jewish notables quite often have passed through San… By Maya Mirsky Jul 14, 2023
Film SFJFF: Were young Jews lied to about Israel? 'Israelism' says yes. This story was originally published in the Forward. I was not raised attending a Jewish day school, or Hebrew school on the weekends, or even a Jewish… By Mira Fox Jul 12, 2023
Film In ‘I Like It Here,’ an aging filmmaker reflects on mortality Full coverage of the 43rd San Francisco Jewish Film Festival While making a documentary about aging, filmmaker Ralph Arlyck takes a bad turn on his bike… By Leslie Katz Jul 11, 2023
Film 'Red Herring': a son's terminal diagnosis and a father's conversion Full coverage of the 43rd San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Lawrence Vincent was in the room four years ago when his son got the life-shattering news.… By Leslie Katz Jul 10, 2023
Film 'The Catskills' reveals a marvelous lost world Updated July 17 The resorts are gone now, either demolished or rotting in the humid air of upstate New York. But for nearly a century, the Catskill… By Dan Pine Jul 7, 2023
Film Unflinching doc exposes photography legend Roman Vishniac For much of her life, Mara Vishniac Kohn felt conflicted about her father, the legendary Russian Jewish photographer Roman Vishniac. She deeply respected… By Leslie Katz Jul 6, 2023
Film 'Remembering Gene Wilder' on S.F. Jewish Film Festival opening night Just days before my father died, I put a laptop on his hospital tray and pressed play on “Blazing Saddles,” one of Dad’s all-time favorite films.… By Leslie Katz Jul 5, 2023