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Welcome to the Mort Skirboll

2023 Jewish Film Festival
of Sarasota-Manatee!

 

As we enter the festival’s 14th year, we are especially proud to present a premier line-up of 18 remarkable and diverse films that will impact, provoke, and move you. They are documentaries, narratives, tragedies and comedies, mysteries and love stories. All have won awards and have special meaning to our community of viewers. 

The Jewish Film Festival is one of many programs sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. One tenet of our mission is to strengthen Jewish life and identity in our community. The yearly Film Festival that attracts so many movie-goers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, is all about strengthening Jewish life in Sarasota-Manatee. We hope you leave energized, thoughtful and moved by the rich traditions and culture of Judaism found in movies celebrated around the world.  See you at the movies!

 


Jewish Film Festival 2023 Chair
Marsha Eisenberg


Opening Event Committee
Edie Chaifetz and Fran Cohen

 

Closing Event Committee
Susan and Michael Albert

 

Volunteer Chair
Ronnie Riceberg

 

Jewish Film Festival Founder and Honorary Chair
Roz Goldberg

 

Jewish Film Festival Screening Committee
Karen Adler, Susan & Michael Albert, Linda Baker, Gail & Howie Banner,Karen & Tom Bernstein, Roberta Berson & Frank Tucciarone, Fran & Jack Braverman, Edie Chaifetz, Fran Cohen, Marsha Eisenberg, Esme & Eric Faerber, Helen Glaser, Roz Goldberg, Sandy Hayden, Paul Hollinger, Barbara Horowitz, Carole Kleinberg,  Susan Newmark, Ilene O'Connell, Bert Rapowitz & Lauri Pollack, Ronnie Riceberg, Nadia Ritter, Cheryl Shapiro, Dan Shugar, Bunny Skirboll, Sue Spector, Lois Stulberg, Evens Tilles, Janet Tolbert


 

FESTIVAL GUIDE

View the complete festival guide that was highlighted in the February edition of The Jewish News.

For information about sponsoring this program
please contact:

Jeremy Lisitza

Cultural Arts Manager

941.343.2113

jeremyl@jfedsrq.org

 

Click here for helpful tips when viewing movies

 

Important

Tickets for individual virtual films are listed beneath tickets for our in-person screenings. You will receive an emailed link to view virtual films the morning they become available.

 

In an effort to be eco-conscious, there are no physical tickets for in-person viewings. Your receipt is your ticket. When you enter a venue, please proceed to the Federation's registrations table to check in.

TRAILERS

Karaoke

March 19, 7pm, MOE Opening Event!

March 20,  VIRTUAL

A bittersweet comedy about a melancholy middle-class suburban couple in their 60s who are drawn to their new neighbor, a charismatic bachelor who holds karaoke evenings in his apartment. Joyous and poignant all at once, Karaoke is an optimistic portrait of midlife self-discovery, laced with both wisdom and barbed humor.

My Neighbor Adolph

March 20, 3pm, TEE

March 21 , VIRTUAL

South America, 1960. A lonely and grumpy Holocaust survivor convinces himself that his new neighbor is none other than Adolf Hitler. Not being taken seriously, he starts an independent investigation to prove his claim, but when the evidence still appears to be inconclusive, Polsky is forced to engage in a relationship with the enemy in order to obtain irrefutable proof.

The Levys of Monticello

March 20, 7pm, TEE

March 23,  VIRTUAL

When Thomas Jefferson died in 1826, he left behind a mountain of personal debt, forcing his heirs to sell his beloved Monticello home and all of its contents. The Levys of Monticello is a documentary film that tells the little-known story of a Jewish family, the Levys, who purchased and carefully preserved Monticello for nearly a century — far longer than Jefferson or his descendants. It is also a story of the ongoing strain of racism and antisemitism.

Reckonings

March 21, 3pm, TEE

April 4,VIRTUAL

After the war, many Holocaust survivors were in urgent need of help. A group of German and Jewish leaders meet to discuss compensation for the survivors. But how does one determine the cost of the destruction and suffering of these people? This film tells the true story of the negotiations which resulted in the 1952 Luxembourg Agreement. Knowing that any resolution will fall far short, Reckonings tells the untold true story of efforts to move towards acknowledgment and healing, even under the constant threat of violence.

You Will Not Play Wagner

March 21, 7pm, TEE

March 22,  VIRTUAL

This drama is an adaptation of a one-act play about a young Israeli prodigy who chooses to play a piece by Wagner in an important competition sponsored by a Holocaust survivor. The playing of Wagner, an antisemite and Hitler favorite, remains highly controversial to this day. Produced during Covid, this film tackles the topic head-on, while exploring art, censorship, and what might happen when the last generation of Holocaust survivors is gone.

More Than I Deserve

March 22, 3pm, RH-11

March 23, 7:30pm, RH-11

March 27, VIRTUAL

The film is a finely textured coming-of-age story of a newly arrived single immigrant and her son. When the son asks permission to join classmates in bar mitzvah studies, his mother, who resists religion, refuses. He then turns to a recent Chabad recruit, a bachelor, which changes all three lives in unforeseen ways. The film reflects a nuanced portrayal of the plight of immigrants to Israel. Nominated for seven Israeli Academy Awards and a Jerusalem Film Fest Best Screenplay.

One More Story

March 22, 3pm, RH-11

March 24, 3pm, RH-11

March 26,  VIRTUAL

Yarden is a brilliant young journalist with a dream of publishing a novel. To enlist her editor’s help in making her dream a reality, Yarden makes a bargain: she’ll convince her hopeless-romantic best friend to go out on a blind date with a different woman every day for a month in exchange for publising her work. Hoping to document the experience and prove her theory that true love doesn’t exist, Yarden’s plans go awry when he unexpectedly, and inconveniently, falls in love.

Farewell, Mr. Haffmann

March 22, 7:30pm, RH-11

March 24, noon, RH-11

March 28,VIRTUAL

When Nazis invade France, Mr. Haffmann, a Jewish jeweler, sends his family to safety, but finds himself unable to flee the city. He signs over his store to his employee in exchange for being allowed to move into the basement. As the couple moves into the Haffmann home, the agreement turns into a Faustian bargain which changes the fate of all involved.

Barren

March 22, 7:30pm, RH-11

March 24, noon, RH-11

April 2, VIRTUAL

A young ultra-Orthodox couple faces a crisis after unsuccessful treatments for infertility. When a charismatic rabbi comes to stay with the family claiming to have healing powers, he takes advantage of the wife’s desire to have a child. The line between good and evil becomes unclear and the family must deal with unresolved secrets that raise fundamental questions about religion and faith. Beautifully photographed and acted, this compelling Israeli drama presents the society in which the couple lives as complex and multifaceted, in contrast to the often-used approach that portrays this religious life.

Rose

March 22, 7pm, TB

March 24, 3pm, RH-11

April 3, VIRTUAL

When 78-year-old Rose loses her beloved husband, she is lost and alone amidst a family that seems to no longer need her. As her grief gives way to a desire to build a new life for herself, on her own terms, Rose must deal with the consequences of upsetting her family in the process.

Berenshtein

March 23, 3pm, RH-11

March 30,  VIRTUAL

In a subtle combination of fiction and documentary, Leonid Berenshtein recounts his life as the commander of a partisan battalion in World War II. From locating the secret facility where Germany was developing their V2 missiles, to the horrors of war, personal sacrifices, and his rebellious release of Jews sentenced to death, Berenshtein faces the decisions he made and shares how he struggled to maintain his humanity.

The Conference - Feature & Documentary

March 23, 3pm, RH-11

April 6,VIRTUAL

[FEATURE] 108 minutes
On January 20, 1942, leading representatives of the German Nazi regime gathered at a villa in Berlin-Wannsee for a meeting that went down in history as the Wannsee Conference, at which the systematic murder of 11 million Jews was decided.

[DOCUMENTARY] 45 minutes
Actual footage of the Nazi meeting of January 20, 1942, at a villa in Berlin- Wannsee. The documentary features current-day interviews. THURSDAY MARCH23 REGAL 11 • 3:00pm *Documentary is only available via streaming. FREE when you purchase the feature film.

The Man in the Basement

March 23, 7:30pm, RH-11

April 5,VIRTUAL

After a Jewish couple sells their basement to a former history teacher, they discover his secret life as an antisemitic conspiracy theorist and a Holocaust denier. It is a fascinating look at how such an individual can influence people, including the couple’s daughter. As the couple struggles to rescind the sale, the buyer befriends their naïve daughter and turns their lives upside down.

Paris Boutique

March 26, 3pm, MOE , Closing Event!

March 29,  VIRTUAL

Louise, a Jewish lawyer visiting from Paris, teams up with Neta, a taxi driver, to solve the mystery of a secret connection between an ultra-Orthodox woman and a Christian man who communicate through notes hidden in the Wailing Wall. It's a comedy of errors set amid the beautiful backdrop of the city that becomes a story of friendship between two women at a critical point in their lives.

EVENT AND TICKETING INFORMATION 

TICKETS VENUES

IN-PERSON SCREENINGS

  • Opening Night Ticket: $36.00 per ticket includes soft drinks and Poppycock (with Special Guest Moshe Rosenthal)
  • You Will Not Play Wagner: $25.00 (with Special Guest Annette Miller)
  • Closing Event Ticket: $54.00 per ticket (a Parisian and Israeli Nosh prior to start of film.)
  • Individual Tickets: $15.00 per person

 

VIRTUAL SCREENINGS

  • Individual Tickets: $15.00 per household
  • Virtual Pass (all 14 films): $180.00 ($210.00 value)
  • All films will be available for 72 hours online, on the day of screening.
  • Michael's On East (MOE): 1212 S East Ave, Sarasota, FL
  • Regal Hollywood (RH-11): 1993 Main St., Sarasota, FL
    • There is no assigned seating at Regal Hollywood only. Event sponsors will be allowed to enter screening 5 minutes prior to screening time; afterwards all patrons will be admitted
  • Temple Emanu-El (TEE): 151 McIntosh Rd, Sarasota, FL
  • Temple Beth Israel (TB): 567 Bay Isles Rd, Longboat Key, FL 

 

 

For information on this program,
please contact:

Jeremy Lisitza

Cultural Arts Manager

941.343.2113

jlisitza@jfedsrq.org

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

2023 Jewish Film Festival Sponsors

 

GOLD SPONSORS

Marsha Eisenberg
Bunny Skirboll

 

SILVER SPONSORS
Karen & Arthur Adler
Edie & David Chaifetz
Leon R. & Margaret M. Ellin
Debbie & Larry Haspel
Ann Jackson

Sharon Sexter & Howard Berman
Cheryl & Steve Shapiro
Hadassah Strobel
Lois Stulberg

 

BRONZE SPONSORS

Dr. Louis & Mrs. Milly Chaykin
Debby & Gerry Hamburg
Lori & David Liner
Marge & Irv Weiser

 

COPPER SPONSORS

Fran & Jack Braverman
Meredith & Al Ernst
Sandra & Ben Krause
Nessa & Richard Levine
Nadia Ritter
Irene Ross
Harriet & Jules Schaeffer
Dan Shugar
Cheri & David Spector
Judy & Alan Wertheimer

 

PEWTER SPONSORS

Susan & Michael Albert
Linda Baker
Gail & Howard Banner
Ronni Bernard
Karen & Tom Bernstein
Roberta Berson & Frank Tucciarone
Cookie Bloom
Kay Delaney & Murray Bring
Barbara Brizdle
Lynn Burton
Drs. Herbert & Anita Cohen
Fran & Jeff Cohen
Millie & Don Cole
Toby Deutsch
Esme & Eric Faerber
Gloria Feibus
Suely & Alberto Feilhaber
Jean & Michael Freed
Helen Glaser
Roz Goldberg
Faith & Michael Goldman
Debbie & Michael Gordon
Lew Hanan
Sandy & Terry Hayden
Barbara Horowitz
Barbara Jacob
Dr. Joseph & Nancy Jacobson
Eve & Marc Kanoff
Marcy & Michael Klein
Sandi Kligman
Fran Lambert & Dr. Seymour Ziegelman
Jacki Levin
Lisa & Bill Libman
Leslie D. & Mitch Marantz
Ellen & Henry Mason
Barbara & Philip Meltzer
Marian Moss
Jeff & Janice Newman
Susan & Kenneth Newmark
Bert Rapowitz & Lauri Pollack
Ronnie Riceberg & Dennis Zimmerman
Harriet & Ed Safran
Ruthie & Robert Salter
Karen Selwyn
Nancy & Barry Shapiro
Sue & Marty Spector
Jack & Adrea Sukin
Cheryl & Mel Taub
Evans Tilles & Terry Neis
Janet Tolbert
Marysue & Leon Wechsler
Hannah & Norm Weinberg
Patti & David Wertheimer
Brian & Joan Wides
Celeste & Len Wisotsky
Fremajane Wolfson

Society Members

The Federation would especially like to thank the donors of the King David and King Solomon Societies who make programs like this one possible as well as the ongoing mission work of the organization.

 

KING SOLOMON SOCIETY

Esther & Robert Heller
Marilyn & Ivan Kushen
Michelle & Jonathan Mitchell
Drs. Joel Morganroth and Gail Morrison Morganroth

Geri and Ronald Yonover
Gail Morrison Morganroth

 

KING DAVID SOCIETY

Sondra & Gerald Biller
Edie & David Chaifetz
Howard Cohodas
Adrienne Driben
Marsha Eisenberg
Leon R. & Margaret M. Ellin
Toby Etkin
Debbie & Larry Haspel
Ann Jackson

Lori & David Liner
Sharon Sexter &
Howard Berman
Bunny & Mortz"l Skirboll
Hadassah & Martinz"l Strobel
Lois Stulberg
Bruce & Janet Udell
Nancy Wolk & Michael Ritter

 

KEHILLAH SOCIETY

Bobbi & Don Bernstein
Eve & Richard Biller
Dr. Lynn & Randon Carvel
Meghan & Ned Davis
Larry Greenspon
Naomi & Bernie Gerbarg
Sy Goldblatt
Denise & Daniel Hamburger

Deb Kabinoff Fund
Simone & Robert Knego
Steven Koenig
Susi & Jack Steenbarger
Cheri & David Spector
Marysue & Leon Wechsler
Hannah & Norm Weinberg
Amy & Steve Weinberger

MEDIA SPONSORS

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