For the past 23 years, the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival (GPJFF) has celebrated Jewish culture through film, bringing an exciting lineup of films to Arizona honoring Jewish traditions and heritage. From February 10-24, 2019, the 23rd Annual Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival will screen films showcasing the best of Jewish traditions, at three Valley locations: Harkins Shea 14, Scottsdale; Harkins Park West 14, Peoria and Harkins Tempe Marketplace 16, Tempe.
Currently the longest-running film festival in the Valley, the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival celebrates its 23rd year by presenting more great films that make our festival even bigger and better – almost 2,000 magical minutes of Jewish cinema from 13 different countries! Rejoice in this annual crowd-pleasing two-week annual event with 20 new films and six short films ranging from defiance and struggle to fun and adventure to laughter and love, with something for everyone and stories that engage both mind and heart. Without leaving your movie theater seat, filmgoers can travel from a maternity ward in the South of France to the cramped living arrangements of the Warsaw Ghetto, from the back alleys of Budapest to the frozen Russian countryside; from the bright lights of Broadway to the harrowing ambulance runs in Brooklyn!
The opening night film, GOLDA’S BALCONY, THE FILM, will be the West coast premiere of the film of the award-winning Broadway play about Golda Meir, Israel’s only female prime minister. Producer/Director David Fishelson will appear at both the Scottsdale and Tempe showings.
Guest speakers with knowledge of specific topics applicable to the films moderate discussions following many of the screenings. A special Valentine’s Day screening of the film THE CAKEMAKER on Feb. 14 will surprise attendees with a great film and delicious dessert. A free screening of HAVA NAGILA: THE MOVIE will be shown on Sunday, February 24, for a mixed audience of Jewish teens from Valley congregations and over 100 members of Gesher Disability Resources (formerly Council for Jews with Special Needs) and their caretakers. This screening will raise awareness and highlight inclusion while providing an entertaining and educational cinematic experience. The screening will be shown with the lights up and the volume lowered, and audience members are free to move around, talk, or even dance in the aisles during the movie.
In addition to the website: gpjff.org, you can also follow the Festival on www.facebook.com/GreaterPhxJewishFilmFest or @GPJFF on Twitter.
