Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival

10/23/2024

Lucky us. participated in a special pre-release film screening ahead of the November 1st release from for the Jesse Eisenberg fueled road trip film,"A Real Pain." This film was brilliant on many levels. Pure talent is brought together when these mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through as they reconnect to each other in honor of their shared beloved grandmother and family ties.

Fas and supporters at the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival are the lucky ones to have these invites granted for such pre-release screenings. The brilliant writer/director/star Jesse Eisenberg assembled a cast blessed by amazing performances and especially from Mr. Emmy winner from "Succession" himself, who BTW, should win every acting honor he is ever nominated for now and forever.

This film really highlights Kieran Culkin's talent because he
dominates every scene he is in. And ... we also get another great screne performance from the one an only Jennifer Grey ... "baby was certainly not put in a corner." If you can catch this film when it opens, you'll be amazed. Truly a worthy film to see. Here is more about this film so you can read up and then see it in theaters beginning in November: https://ew.com/jesse-eisenberg-kieran-culkin-a-real-pain-found-funny-in-sadness-exclusive-8712620

“One of the best films of the year.” A REAL PAIN, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Only in theaters this ...

08/23/2024

Check it out. Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival is in the news. Hilary Helstein brings the most wonderful film events to our community and this recent advanced screening for Between the Temples starring Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane with Director was one of the best events held after the week of LAJFF ended. Surprises like this happen all the time. You must sign up for email blasts at LAJFilmFest.org if you want to get early notice on the next big screening event. Here's this week's shout out to that event in Jewish Journal https://jewishjournal.com/events/movers-shakers/374158/l-a-jewish-film-fest-screening-l-a-jewish-health-appoints-chair-nova-exhibit/. Thanks Todd Felderstein for the photo.

Notable people and events in the Jewish LA community.

08/13/2024

I had the honor of interviewing the amazing Carol Kane and director Nathan Silver at a sneak preview of “Between the Temples” with Mark Katrikh, Deputy Dir of Museum of Tolerance in LA. It opens on Aug 23.

08/12/2024

Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival had another amazing event in association with Museum of Tolerance and Sony Pictures Classics. We had the advanced screening for a new release hitting 600 theaters nationwide on 8-23 for "Between the Temples"
starring Carol Kane and Jason Schwartzman. The best part was the Q&A with Director Nathan Silver and star Carol Kane
following the screening. What a charming film. You have to see it in a theater next week and you'll love it. The story focuses on a cantor played by Jason Schwartzman who faces a crisis of faith then finds his world turned upside down when his former grade school music teacher (Carol Kane) re-enters his life as his new adult bat mitzvah student. It's a take on Harold & Maude with a Shabbat dinner and many twists! Cast includes: Jason Schwartzman, Carol Kane, Dolly de Leon, Caroline Aaron, and Robert Smigel. Everyone enjoyed the film and so will you.


Comedy-drama/2024/USA/1 hr 51 mins Check out this photo with LAJFF founder and Executive Director, Hilary Helstein, star of the film, Carole Carol Kane and film's director, Nathan Silver. What a great event.

06/27/2024

"Colleyville" is in the news. Check out this great news article from our friend Nurit Greenger via on the important documentary film from Dani Menkin when Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (LAJFF) held the North American Premiere event. The article mentions LAJFF and includes a photo of Hilary Helstein at the Museum of Tolerance podium when she introduced the Regional Director of the ADL (Anti-Defimation League), Jeffrey Abrams, ahead of the screening. is a new documentary with news clips and never before seen FBI footage from the 2022 lone gunman, hostage take over of four men attending Shabbat services, including the Rabbi, at the Beth Israel Congregation in Colleyville, Texas. The film reminded us that "Never Again" is actually "Never is Now."

Colleyville is another one of those "never again" events that has slipped under the radar of most people. There have been too many.

06/25/2024

Closing Night of the LA Jewish Film Festival was a victory for the community with the World Premiere of pop culture sensation, MATISYAHU's documentary, "Song of Ascent". Thank you to Jeremy Broekman for adding "Powerful to have our LA Jewish community come together in solidarity. The arts give us a vehicle of creative expression and unify us through film+music+talent for good. Sharing messages of hope & love - we need that to combat the paradigm shift. Matisyahu, we thank you for this gift. Comedian Elon Gold, as always we adore you for making us laugh and heal." Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival Jewish Federation Los Angeles Matisyahu - Official Fan Club Elon Gold

06/22/2024

"Guns & Moses" world premiere at Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival with Salvador Litvak, Juju & Mila, Shirly Brener, Mark Feuerstein, Jake Busey, Aimee Schoofe, Lee Broda, so many others... I've never done such a big Q&A before! It was a blast. Thanks to Sal and his great cast and crew!

06/22/2024

ADL is partnering with LAJFF to bring this powerful documentary premiere event to you on Sunday, at the Museum of Tolerance, 7:30pm with the Director, Dani Menkin and hostages from the events of 2022 when a Jewish congregation at Beth Israel in Colleyville, Tx was terrorized by a gunman - The film includes never before seen footage from the FBI. Fighting antisemitism, one film at a time, is the theme for the LAJFF this year and this film fits perfectly. LAJFilmFest.org has all your details.

Join us on Sunday, June 23 for & Museum of Tolerance premiere of "COLLEYVILLE"! Special introductory remarks by ADL Los Angeles Regional Director Jeffrey Abrams, followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Dani Menkin, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker & film subjects, moderated by Richard Hirschhaut of AJC. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-american-premiere-of-colleyville-by-dani-menkin-tickets-919586346517

06/21/2024

The articles, reviews all positive, are flowing in today. https://forward.com/culture/625387/colleyville-documentary-dani-menkin-synagogue-rabbi-charlie/
This is from The Forward telling everyone what a great film we have with "Colleyville" from Award winning Director Dani Menkin - Screening on Sunday, June 23rd for the North American Premiere with tickets at lajfilmfest dot org. Check it out: "Colleyville benefits from footage of the actual event. Add to that phone recordings made that day — from congregants, the attacker, and the FBI — plus appearances by President Biden and then-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and the film plays like an episode of 24, with multiple real-time views from inside the premises as the hostage crisis unfolded. Tense music and a literal clock ticking in the background provide the soundtrack for much of the film."

The result is nothing short of a high-octane thriller.

The documentary Colleyville is making its North American debut June 23 at the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival. In partnership with The , and AJC - American Jewish Committee and the

06/21/2024

Great review from Karen Salkin about the opening for LAJFF including photos. Everyone loves this festival. So happy Karen could enjoy it all. Read her column here -https://itsnotaboutme.tv/news/karens-thoughtsr-i-p-basketballmovieseventdining-events-that-are-on-my-mind-right-now-a-celebrity-death-pro-basketball-news-the-los-angeles-jewish-film-festival-and-finally-a-resta/.

The story about the festival is after the sports story:

I hope you all read my preview of this local annual film festival the other day, (here’s the link, in case you missed it: itsnotaboutme.tv/news/upcomingmovies-los-angeles-jewish-film-festival-2024-preview,) and that many of you were at the Opening Night Gala the other night. I wasn’t planning on also doing a review of it, but the event was so excellent, that I just have to tell you a little bit about it. And remind you that the festival is happening right now, and advise that, if you’re in SoCal, you should check out all their other offerings.
My friend Nina and I were overwhelmed by the number of people who turned out for the opening night. It was at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, which has a massive auditorium, and it was absolutely packed! We got there a little bit before 7PM, when it was due to start, and the line of well-dressed ticket holders was already around the block.

The reception came first; I really didn’t know what to expect in the way of food, but it was all delicious! And plentiful. The buffets featured several kinds of finger foods, and Nina and I loved it all. There were mini knishes, (of course,) hotdogs in “blankets,” chicken fingers, beef “cigars,” and vegetables on one table, and on another was Chinese food, (also of course.)
In addition to cut-up fruits, the desserts were marble cake and some mini pastries, such as cheese Danishes.

And then, we made the most incredible discovery at the other end of the spacious lobby-–a whole table full of all kinds of packaged treats! It was a snack bonanza. There were tiny chocolates, crunchy quinoa chocolates in several different flavors, and Hawaiian sea salt macadamia nuts. That was my favorite area, of course.
There were also different alcoholic beverages. I don’t drink, but I believe I saw bottles of wine and vodka.
And the movie itself, Guns and Moses, was very good. Even though I knew it was a crime drama, it had me jumping several times. There were fun surprises and even a bit of humor. I’m going to try to attend some of the other films in the festival, and I hope to see many of you there.
I was glad to see a serious security force all over the venue. And we had to go through metal detectors, which, in this day and age, I really appreciated.

06/21/2024

Checkout this great article from Nurit Greenger on how much she enjoyed the film "Guns & Moses" at the opening night gala. You can catch this film on Sunday in Encino at Laemmle Town Center 5 via lajfilmfest.org - Tickets going fast. Check it out.

On June 19, 2024, the film 'Guns & Moses', directed by Salvador Litvak, premiered to a full house at the Saban Theatre, in Beverly Hills California.