After postponing the Kansas City Jewish Film Festival (KCJFF) in support of the Royals quest for the World Series Crown, the rescheduled dates and expanded line-up of critically acclaimed films have been announced.
The festival, presented by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, The J, opens Saturday, Jan. 23, and runs through Wednesday, Feb. 17. Films will be screened in the White Theatre at The J.
“The goal this year was to select movies that not only reflect the philosophy of the festival but also offer the festivalgoer an experience they can only get at The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, with a mix of local, national and international movies and short films by up-and-coming filmmakers,” says festival producer Shawn Edwards. “In today’s digital world, it is increasingly difficult to find unique content that isn’t readily available for public consumption. We feel we have done an exceptional job in finding films that have not been seen and can only be seen if you attend the festival.”
The festival officially opens with “A Blind Hero: The Love of Otto Weidt,” the story about the “unsung Schindler” Otto Weidt who saved Jews from Nazi death camps.
In addition, the festival is announcing a new partnership with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. The MCHE will host a screening of “The Eichmann Show” on Sunday, Jan. 24. Also, on Sunday, Jan. 24, the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom will host a screening of “Besa: The Promise.” The Jewish Federation will host a screening of “Above and Beyond” about a group of volunteer pilots who went to Israel in 1948 to fight in the War of Independence, on Sunday, Jan. 31.
For the second year, the festival will present its Celebration of Diversity screening. This year’s film is “Dough” which will be shown on Monday, Feb. 15. Jonathan Pryce stars as an old Jewish baker whose faltering business is inadvertently saved by his young Muslim apprentice in the British dramedy.
The festival will also present a short film showcase. The collection of shorts presented by Mini Cinema and the Kansas City Jewish Film Festival will be screened in Kansas City and Los Angeles, Wednesday, Feb. 17.
“The goal is to become the Sundance of Jewish film festivals,” says Edwards. “The Kansas City Jewish Film Festival has a special relationship with Hollywood and we plan to use that connection to create a hub where new filmmaker talent can come and flourish and get discovered first at the Kansas City Jewish Film Festival.”
There will be a special fundraising event on Sunday, Jan. 31, for filmmaker Leah Warshawski and her feature documentary “Big Sonia,” currently in production. The filmmaker will show excerpts from her documentary which profiles 89-year-old Sonia Warshawski, who has been described as a Holocaust survivor, national treasure and local celebrity. The filmmaker will speak about the journey she has been on to get her film financed and produced.
In a joint collaboration with Kansas City Women in Film, the festival will showcase the talents of local women filmmakers and screen their movies on Saturday, Jan. 30.
“The 2015 Kansas City Jewish Film Festival is set to provide festival goers with a fantastic experience as we continue to celebrate the uniqueness of Jewish heritage and culture,” says Edwards.
2016 Kansas City Jewish Film Festival screening schedule
All screening take place in the White Theatre at The J
Saturday, Jan. 23
Film: “A Blind Hero: The Love of Otto Weidt” 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 24
Film: “Besa: The Promise” 2 p.m.
Film: “The Eichmann Show” 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 30
KC Women in Film Night 7 p.m.
Film: “Just Like You” film talk presented by Jen Greenstreet
Film: “Some Days are Bug Days” by Mary C. Taylor
Film: “House Mother” by Anita Cordell
Film: “Glow,” a documentary made with a MAC grant by KCWIF
Sunday, Jan. 31
Film: “Above and Beyond” 5 p.m.
Film: “Big Sonia” 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 15
Film: “Dough” 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Film: “The Last Mentsch” 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Short Film Showcase Presented by Mini Cinema at 7 p.m.
Film: “On a Technicality”
Film: “Hannah Cohen’s Holy Communion”
Film: “German Shepherd”
Film: “What We Left Behind”
Film: “Reverence”
Film: “70 Hester Street”
Film: “Pur”
Film: “Demeter’s Spring”
The Kansas City Jewish Film Festival takes place Jan. 23 through Feb. 17 and includes six feature length films, a short film showcase, two special screenings and a preview screening. For tickets, visit: http://thejkc.org.
