By Maria Esteves – March 23, 2014
The 17th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival 2014 (NYSJFF 2014) Opening Night Gala commenced Thursday, March 13, 6:30pm at the Center for Jewish History, New York. Presented by the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) in association with Yeshiva University Museum (YUM), this year’s ASF Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award went to world-renowned musical artist ENRICO MACIAS. His extraordinary live performance in a packed theater with encores and standing ovations was par excellence!

The Opening Night Premiere music documentary ENRICO MACIAS: A Life in Song, directed by Antoine Casubolo Ferro and Post Screening Reception followed the Opening Night Gala & Award Ceremony. Attendees included Consulate General of France, Morocco, and Spain in New York, festival filmmakers, dignitaries, industry professionals, festival patrons and celebrity guests.

NYSJFF 2014 Opening Night Gala: (L-R), President Solomon Asser, American Friends of the Jewish Museum of Greece with director Lynne Winters, and president David E.R. Dangoor, American Sephardi Federation.

NYSJFF 2014 Opening Night Gala: Founder/benefit co-chair Bruce Slovin, the Center for Jewish History, center, with festival attendees Danya Pimental, left, and Jamie Haton.

NYSJFF 2014 Opening Night Gala: Board member Carlos Benaim,
American Sephardi Federation, right, with 2014 ASF Pomegranate
Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Enrico Macias.

NYSJFF 2014 Opening Night Gala: President David E.R. Dangoor,
American Sephardi Federation, left, and Hon. M. Levent Bilgen,
Consul General of Turkey in NY.

NYSJFF 2014 Opening Night Gala: renowned sculptor
Oded Halahmy, Pomegranate Gallery.

NYSJFF 2014 Opening Night Gala: Festival director Yolanda
Villaluenga, Stolen Documents? Franco and the Holocaust
(Documentos Robados? Franco y el Holocausto).