By Rebecca Lackman, Special to JTNews
The Seattle Jewish Film Festival returns for its seventh year this spring, but during a different week. The April 20—28 festival presented by the American Jewish Committee should once again be the cinematic celebration of arts, culture and history that the community looks forward to each year.
According to the Jewish Federation’s 2000 Jewish population study, connecting to Jewish culture through film is a favorite way the city’s under-30 crowd gathers.
“This will be one of the few opportunities for the entire Jewish community to come together, and we believe that the community is going to turn to the SJFF in greater numbers than ever before,” says Molly Sedlik, SJFF festival director. “We plan on providing an impeccable line-up of films, discussions and visiting artists to bring as much meaning as possible to the entire week of programming.”
The festival returns to Cinerama in downtown Seattle this year and continued support from Vulcan Northwest. Starbucks Coffee Company was also a key early supporter of SJFF and once again will be the lead sponsor.
Festival planners have already identified several themes for the SJFF 2002, including exploration of diverse communities within Israel, particularly the dichotomy between the secular and the religious. In addition, many current films out of Israel focus primarily on the country’s fragile grip on peace. This year, as in the past, SJFF will explore the varieties of Jewish vitality throughout history with an eye towards the Sephardic experience, particularly here in Seattle.
As a program of the American Jewish Committee, SJFF is more than just about a great line-up of films. The festival is infused with programs, education and events that enrich the community and serve the AJC’s human- rights agenda.
This year, SJFF celebrates the 5th anniversary of the ground-breaking FILMTalks! program where local teens receive an entire day of prejudice-reduction programming. FILMTalks! fosters respect and understanding among high school students of different backgrounds, using the popular medium of film to promote dialog about core American values.
Year after year, students come away moved and empowered to make a difference in their schools. This year FILMTalks! expands to include a “FILMTalks! for Adults” event modeled on the successful student program to take place one evening during the Film Festival. FILMTalks! will also target schools to participate in an expanded model of the FILMTalks! program to hold weeklong workshops in a limited number of schools in the Seattle area.
Community outreach is yet another signature of SJFF. Last year SJFF partnered with over 13 local agencies and organizations, representing the diverse Jewish community of the greater Seattle area, and will continue this program in 2002. SJFF also provides hundreds of free tickets to secular community agencies such as Lifelong AIDS Alliance and FareStart.
New this year, SJFF 2002 plans to extend its reach into Jewish communities outside the greater Seattle region. SJFF is putting together travel and ticket packages for Alaskans and Eastern Washingtonians.
(Rebecca Lackman works for the Seattle Jewish Film Festival. For more information, visit the American Jewish Committee’s web site, www.ajcseattle.org)