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January 16, 2004/Tevet 22 5764, Vol. 56, No.17
Jewish film festival begins eighth season
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
In 1996, Phoenix's first Jewish film festival began with two sponsoring synagogues and the determination of one local couple. Eight years later, the Phoenix Jewish Film Festival has grown to include a board of directors of 30 representatives from 13 local sponsors, including 10 synagogues and three major Jewish organizations.
Leading the pack are the festival's co-executive directors, Sheldon and Phyllis Pierson.
"We believe in and value the contribution this film festival makes to our entire community," the couple says in the festival's mission statement. "We do this because we believe in and value our Jewish heritage."
This year, the festival has expanded to eight international films representing Israel, France, Hungary, Romania and Canada, to be shown at various Valley locations Feb. 21-Feb. 26.
The 2004 festival will kick off with "The Burial Society," featuring an appearance by Rob LaBelle, the movie's starring actor and son of Natalie and Leonard LaBelle of Phoenix, 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. The movie follows a Jewish accountant who concocts an elaborate plan involving a Jewish burial society to cover up his secret life. The screening will be followed by a dessert reception.
Other films include:
- "A Trumpet in the Wadi," featuring guest speaker Eitan Ben-Ami, shaliach of Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22
- "Monsieur Batignole," with Cantor Marc Philippe of Beth El Congregation, 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22
- "Sherman in the Winter," with psychiatrist Dr. Judy Engleman, 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23
- "Rose's Song," with Professor Norbert Samuelson of Arizona State University, 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23
- "Motl the Operator," with Fred Linch and Maury Feller, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24
- "Kedma," with Jack Kugelmass, chairman of the Jewish Studies Program at ASU, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25
- "Amen," with Fred Linch and Bob Nielsen, film critic for the Arizona Republic, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26.
Two films, "The Burial Society" and "Amen," are in English; the rest are subtitled.
The films were carefully selected from more than 40 viewed by the committee, says Phyllis Pierson. The committee gets films from distributors around the country and by surfing the Internet for up-and-coming films shown at other festivals throughout the world. However, the committee must take their audience's preferences into account when selecting films.
"We find that if a film has an excessive amount of nudity or profanity, the audience doesn't like that," says Phyllis.
The committee also is trying to appeal to the younger generation with their film choices, says Sheldon.
"We have been weak in finding films for young adults, ages 20-40," he says. "We do have films that are appealing to young people, and we are trying our best to attract them."
In fact, the Pierson's main goal has always been to bring the Jewish community together - the catalyst for starting the festival eight years ago.
"We were in Los Angeles visiting our daughter, and we happened to go to a film that was part of the L.A. film festival," says Sheldon. "It was such a great film. We thought, why can't Phoenix have the same thing?"
But the desire to hold a film festival wasn't enough, the Piersons soon discovered. They needed expertise - and found it in with Rabbi Albert Plotkin's daughter, Janice.
"She was the head of the San Francisco film festival, which is the oldest and largest in the country," says Sheldon. "She had a big manual of sources and everything else."
The couple also approached Rabbi William Berk at their synagogue, Tempe Chai, for help in reaching the community.
"He said, 'Great, we'll back you,' " remembers Sheldon. "But he wanted to involve more synagogues."
The couple approached every local synagogue they could, but only Beth El Congregation participated with Temple Chai the first year.
But soon, organizations began approaching them - including a representative of Hadassah who this year made a proposal for the committee to underwrite an $1,800 cash award to a student majoring in film at Hadassah College in Jerusalem.
"There is a competition going on there in May or June," says Phyllis. "And hopefully we can get the winning film to show at our 2005 film festival."
Proceeds of the event are given in equal amounts to all sponsoring organizations for community programming. A small percentage is held by the committee for the following year's festival, says Sheldon.
Sponsoring organizations are Temple Chai, Har Zion Congregation, Temple Solel, Beth El Congregation, Temple Emanuel, The Sylvia Plotkin Judaica Museum of Temple Beth Israel, Ruach Hamidbar - Spirit of the Desert, Temple Beth Shalom of Sun City, The Israel Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, The Jewish Studies Program at Arizona State University, Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, Temple Kol Ami and Temple Beth Ami.
Details
- What: Phoenix Jewish Film Festival
- When: Feb. 21-Feb. 26
- Where: Temple Beth Israel, 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale; Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale; Harkins Camelview 5 Theater, 7001 E. Highland Ave., Scottsdale
- Cost: $5-$25
- Call: 480-451-1788
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