By Maria Esteves - March 1, 2009

The 13th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) 2009, Closing Night Premiere of WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MOSHE? (FINEMACHIYAMOSHE?), directed by Hassan Benjelloun was held at the Center For Jewish History, Thursday, February 12, 7:00 PM.  A special Q&A session with board member Carlos Benaim, American Sephardi Federation, preceded the Closing Night Reception. Presented by the American Sephardi Federation/Sephardic House and Yeshiva University Museum, sponsored by New York State Council for the Arts, NYSJFF09 Closing Night attendees included artists, directors, celebrity guests, members and patrons.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MOSHE? is a passionate story about the exodus of Moroccan Jews to Israel after Morocco's independence from France in the 1960s. In the village of Bejjad, according to the Islamic law a drinking establishment may only exist if a non-Muslim resident exist.  As the Jews in Bejjad secretly prepare for departure (sojourners with only the clothes on their back and a piece of luggage) assisted by their rabbi, Bejjad Bar owner Mustapha, hopes for a miracle. This touching heartfelt comedy drama with a strong plot from beginning to end by a splendid cast is magnificent!

WHERE ARE YOU GOING, MOSHE? (FINEMACHIYAMOSHE?), directed by Hassan Benjelloun | Morocco | 2007 | 87 mins. | comedy drama | Arabic and French with English subtitles | Closing Night Premiere, 2009 New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival. 

2009 NYSJFF Closing Night Reception, festival program director Ravit
Turjeman, Dragoman Films, (right), with director of programming,
Lynne Winters, American Sephardi Federation/Sephardic House.

2009 NYSJFF Closing Night Reception, (from left-right), Israeli filmmaker
Haim Shiran, “Natziv Hamelech (Pillar of Salt),” with artist Ofrit Shiran
(filmmaker’s daughter), and director of programming, Lynne Winters,
American Sephardi Federation/Sephardic House.

2009 NYSJFF Closing Night Reception, festival program director Ravit
Turjeman, Dragoman Films.

Programming director Lynne Winters, American
Sephardi Federation/Sephardic House introducing
the 2009 NYSJFF Closing Night Premiere of WHERE
ARE YOU GOING MOSHE?, directed by Hassan
Benjelloun.

2009 NYSJFF Closing Night Premiere film WHERE ARE
YOU GOING MOSHE?, Q&A session with board member
Carlos Benaim, American Sephardi Federation.

2009 NYSJFF Closing Night Reception, Israeli filmmaker
Haim Shiran, “Natziv Hamelech (Pillar of Salt).”