AJFF In Conversation: The Podcast

July may be coming to a close, but chances are, you are still catching up on all the Jewish content that came out this month on physical media and streaming platforms, because there was a lot. With that, Sara and Brad are back to chat about what to watch as of this month, from buzzworthy reality television, to suspenseful AJFF alums with star power, to classics and controversial commercial titles and more. There is something for ju...

Nora Ephron was a trailblazing female filmmaker, especially when it came to romantic comedies, with directorial efforts like Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. Even more prolific as a screenwriter, she penned those two films plus a dozen others, including the iconic When Harry Met Sally, the classic Jewish rom com that transcended stereotypes about the genre. Yet her name does not necessarily come up as often as male writer-...

Enjoy this exclusive Q&A with filmmaker Carl-Ludwig Rettinger, moderated by Holocaust historian Dr. Deborah Lipstadt. Rettinger’s docudrama film “The Red Orchestra” chronicles a network of activist spies within the Third Reich. Carefully excerpted film clips of the early 1970s, interspersed with archival footage and interviews with the descendants of the Red Orchestra, work together to create a fresh account of the courageous men a...

We talked about AJFF's upcoming programs, including Playback, last episode. But we want to talk more about Playback, especially since it's back in just a couple weeks. Launched last year as part of our 20th anniversary, this online competition invites you to rediscover films from the festival vault and vote for your favorites. Returning on July 12, Playback will feature eight films around the theme of "reunion", and tickets have ju...

Summer movie season is officially here, with big studio tentpoles finally hitting theaters – and many moviegoers finally willing to enter the hallowed ground of their local cineplex. Action franchises and family-friendly adventures do not typically boast Jewish themes, of course, which made us wonder whether there are, in fact, any Jewish blockbusters? What would that even look like? Perhaps a film from the blockbusters arguable in...

It's the beginning of another month, so it's time to figure out what to stream (or venture to theaters for) over the next few weeks. The theme for June? A month for reconnecting with classics, from 1980’s Best Picture to a modern remake of a Mel Brooks classic, with plenty of quintessentially Jewish filmmaking in between. Plus new indie gems hit theaters in the middle of the month. Listen along as Sara and Brad dissect what to watc...

AJFF's Selects series is more of what you love about the annual festival, and this past month, with our first Selects program of the season, our audience got to see Stand! in our Virtual Cinema: a stirring cross-cultural musical, in which a young immigrant couple finds romance on the streets of 1919 Winnipeg, as they battle for a better life amidst violent social upheaval. The Canadian film stars Marshall Williams from Glee, and At...

It's pop quiz time, with film terms and definitions. Listeners who tuned in to last week’s episode about what makes a film good – and who gets to determine that, anyway – got a mini crash course in film fundamentals. But with so many key questions to cover around classics, cult hits, quality and canon, Brad and Sara wanted to take another episode to dive even deeper into some of the terminology of cinema. So join your hosts as they...

Discriminating audiences know a great work of cinema when they see it. And festivalgoers have high expectations for the quality of film we present annually at AJFF and year-round programs. But what are the ingredients and traits that make for exceptional filmmaking? For audiences seeking to fine-tune and expand their palate, a deeper awareness and understanding of the creative building blocks of cinematic stories can greatly enhanc...

The pinnacle of the awards season has now come to a close, with the 93rd Academy Awards. Like every film industry event and awards show during the pandemic, this year’s Oscar telecast had its own unique spin on reinventing a traditional format for COVID times. It’s been a particularly exciting time for Jewish-themed film and television programming, with a number of such titles being recognized and honored. Among them: an Israeli sh...

As the pandemic continues to reshape the ways we experience arts and entertainment, the worldwide circuit of film festivals is among those reimaging how to connect with and best serve audiences under highly unique circumstances. Even as vaccinations increase and cinemas slowly reopen, film festival programmers are channeling new levels of ingenuity and agility in presenting their lineups in the age of COVID. For an insider look at ...

Welcome back to a new season of AJFF In Conversation: The Jewish Film Podcast. Hosts Sara and Brad are back from the 2021 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and brief post-festival hiatus feeling rested and ready to bring you more interviews, deep-dive discussions, and much more, beginning this week with some recommendations of what Jewish movies and media to watch. From Hollywood historical dramas to classic sitcoms and past AJFF docume...

Each year, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival bestows special recognition to outstanding films and filmmakers participating in its annual international celebration of the cinema arts. In Competition titles vie for honors across six Jury Prize categories, including Best Narrative, Documentary, and Short, as well as Building Bridges, Human Rights, and Emerging Filmmaker. These prestigious prizes are deliberated by an esteemed panel of ...

One of the biggest silver linings of a hybrid edition of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is the ability to bring film talent together from all around the world in an even more robust way than in a typical year. There is perhaps no better example of that than our opening night. We kicked off the 2021 AJFF with the North American premiere of boundary-crossing (and bridge building) romantic comedy, Kiss Me Kosher, and were able to vi...

Though audiences will experience most of this year’s Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in the Virtual Cinema, organizers were also committed to finding fun and innovative ways to safely bring the community together. Thus, plans for a night at the drive-in were born! Three nights, actually. Thanks to an exclusive partnership with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 2021 AJFF will feature screenings at the 11-acre greenspace, The Home Depot Backya...

We’re counting down to the start of this year’s Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and here to help you get ready for our hybrid 21st edition. By now, you may have perused the film lineup in the AJFF program guide or website. With such a diverse array of international and independent movies to pick from, it’s not always easy to choose. Our latest podcast turns to two trusted voices: Emory Film Studies Chair Dr. Matthew Bernstein and AJF...

Our hybrid 21st edition of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is nearly here! The movie lineup has been unveiled online, program guides are arriving in mailboxes…and now, it’s time for you to get ready to fest! With so much to explore and anticipate, there is no better way to usher in the annual festival than to hear directly from our very own festival leadership. Join podcast host Sara for a conversation with AJFF Board president an...