Celebrating the San Diego Jewish Film Festival’s 25^th Silver Anniversary, presented by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, will run February 5-15, 2015.  Sponsored by the Leichtag Foundation.

The San Diego Jewish Film Festival showcases 96 films of the best contemporary Jewish themed films from around the world celebrating life, human rights, and freedom of expression.  The mission of the Film Festival is to offer outstanding world cinema that promotes awareness, appreciation and pride in the diversity of the Jewish people to attendees of the community at large.  Festival programs aim to educate and illuminate through evocative, independent fiction and documentary films that portray the Jewish experience from current to historic global perspectives.

On February 9^th, 45 short films beginning at 10:00am to 7:30pm at the ArcLight Theatres (UTC) and the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre (JCC, La Jolla) will be devoted to short films (THE JOYCE FORUM), which is a juried competitive program of short films with awards being presented Tuesday, February 10th at the David and Dorothea Garfield Theatre by a film industry group of jury members. Tuesday’s program will begin at 9 am with Bagels and Cream Cheese, coffee and tea followed by the announcement of this year’s jury of the winning films.  After the announcement and presentation to the winning filmmakers, the audience will be able to see the winning short films.

In celebration of the SDJFF’s 25^th Silver Anniversary, the Joyce Forum has increased their short film selection to a total of 10 programs that include dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation…something for everyone. 

A total of 45 short films are a part of this year’s collection with Program #10 at the Garfield being a special program featuring a short film RAQUEL: A MARKED WOMAN who was the mother of 2 boys, moved to Argentina and whose place in history did not exist until the release of this short film by director Gabriella Bohm.  Ms. Bohm will be present to talk about her historic short film. Also, featuring in Program #4 a short film, SIMPLER TIMES, starring Jerry Stiller. “Simpler Times” follows Harry (Jerry Stiller), a recently widowed man in his golden years, who wants a cup of coffee and his daily newspaper. Instead, he finds himself on a bizarre search through town that leaves him newspaper-less and trapped in the world of modern technology. This heartwarming story features Stiller’s trademark comedy stylings as well as an unexpected dramatic performance, and a special guest appearance by Anne Meara, the other half of the legendary comedy duo Stiller & Meara. PHOTO ATTACHED

In addition to the carefully selected short-subject, documentary, and feature length films, the Film Festival features an international roster of visiting guest artists, including actors, filmmakers, and scholars, who introduce their work, participate in panel discussions, and meet and greet with the festival patrons.

Highlights for this year's event will include a private advance screening on February 4, 2015 at 7:00pm for the film festival underwriters to THEODORE BIKEL: IN THE SHOES OF SHOLEM ALEICHEM with a special appearance by Theodre Bikel who will conduct a Q&A session and then entertain the crowd with music at the Garfield Theatre (JCC). This year’s official opening night on February 5th at the Clairemont Reading Theatre will feature a San Diego Premiere of SERIAL (BAD) WEDDING. A French comedy directed by Philippe de Chauveron about the tribulations of a family with 4 daughters whose husbands include a Chinese business man, a Jew, a Muslim and an African-American.  The official closing night film at the Clairemont Reading Theatre will be LITTLE WHITE LIE, directed by Lacey Schwartz who questions her heritage.

In addition to the official opening, the festival will feature a Teen Screen on February 10^th of HAVANNA CURVEBALL, directed by Ken Schneider and Marcia Jarmel exclusively for teens.   

Another highlight on February 11^th is the centerpiece film ABOVE AND BEYOND, directed by Roberta Grossman about former military personnel who offer their expertise to another war.   Finally, a special tribute to the Kapoor Family of India and a discussion about Jewish actresses in India. Musical entertainment featuring The Rhythm Dance Studio with dances from classic film SHREE 420 on February 8, 2015 at the David and Dorothea Garfield Theater (LFJCC), JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS.

A total collection of over 96 films in this year's film line-up will be screened at the following theaters:

Clairemont Reading 14 / Joy F. Knapp Presentations

4665 Clairemont Drive, San Diego

The ArcLight Cinemas

4425 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego (west side of Westfield UTC mall)

The Carlsbad Village Theatre

2822 State St., Carlsbad

Edwards San Marcos Stadium 18

1180 West San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos (next to Restaurant Row)

 David and Dorothea Garfield Theater (LFJCC), JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS

4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla

Single ticket prices for most films are $13.75- $15.75, ($13.75 for JCC members and $15.75 for non-members); Teen Screen is FREE.  Festival passes, senior and student discounts, and group rate discounts are available. For tickets or information call 858-362-1348 or visit www.sdjff.com. 

 Directors, speakers and film industry experts are available for interviews by phone, in person, and in-studio.  For more information and to arrange interviews or press tickets, please contact Nancy Richards at nancylrichards@gmail.com, or 917-873-6389 cell.

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CRAIG PRATER – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – SAN DIEGO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

Craig Prater began his work in the film festival industry in 1989 when he worked for entertainer and then-mayor of Palm Springs Sonny Bono and The Palm Springs International Film Festival.  In 1993, Prater was contracted to serve as Executive Director of Bono’s film festival for 8 years.  It was during this period of time that Prater co-founded the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival and the Palm Springs Film Noir Festival with Film Noir Author, Art Lyons, which continue as major events today. 

Following Prater’s tenure in Palm Springs, he was contracted to serve as the Executive Director of The Bangkok International Film Festival for the Royal Thai government where over the next 5 years he supervised the programming and special events for the largest international film festival in Southeast Asia which hosted over 250 films each year with an Awards Gala honoring celebrities from around the world.

When Prater left the Bangkok event he produced and directed the following international film festivals:  The Women’s International Film & Television Showcase in 2007; The Film Forecast:  A Marketing Research Project in 2008-2009; The Coachella Valley Latino Film Festival in 2009 followed by the National Hispanic American Educational Foundation’s Congo Caliente Latino Film Festival in Tampa, Florida.  He also served as the Executive Director for the Museum of Tolerance International Film Festival in Los Angeles.  During this same time period, he developed new film festival projects in Mexico for the Mexican government and worked with Mira Panajotovic (Hollywood Foreign Press Association) on new film festival proposals for Belgrade, Serbia.

In 2010, immediately following his work with the Museum of Tolerance International Film Festival, he was hired as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival where he served for 2 years and for the past 2 years has served as the Director of the San Diego Jewish Film Festival.

About the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture

San Diego’s only Jewish institution dedicated solely to presenting high quality, nationally recognized arts, culture & Jewish education programs. The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, while a separate non-profit, is housed at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center and acts as the education and cultural arts arm of the Center. The mission of the CJC is to expand and enrich cultural life in San Diego by presenting the finest in Jewish artistic expression, encouraging the preservation of Jewish culture and heritage, and nurturing new creativity in the arts. The CJC offers a wide variety of multidisciplinary artistic programs that explore cultural identities and perspectives, promote cross cultural understanding, and highlight human themes of family, tolerance, compassion, and hope. Its facilities feature a 500-seat theatre, a Judaica library, an art gallery, and a community Holocaust Memorial Garden.

About the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS

The mission of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS is to provide social, cultural, educational, and recreational programs to individuals and families of all ages, religions, races, and financial, physical and mental abilities.  Likewise, the JCC provides equal opportunity employment to individuals of all religions and backgrounds.  The JCC welcomes San Diego’s diverse Jewish community and the community at large.  The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS is located at 4126 Executive Drive in La Jolla.

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Nancy Richards

Public Relations & Marketing

917-873-6389