San Diego International Jewish Film Festival Aims To Connect, Celebrate Culture

By Hoa Quach, Times of San Diego

February 9, 2022

The 32nd annual San Diego International Jewish Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with the goal of connecting communities to Jewish culture and heritage.

The annual event, which runs through Sunday, Feb. 20, features 25 films, eight short films and three television series. Festival-goers can choose to see films in-person at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre at the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture or online.

“The goal of the festival is to bring the community together to connect with Jewish heritage and culture through film,” Ryan Issac, director of cultural arts for the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, said. “As a hybrid festival for the first time in its history, the SDIJFF strives to build community both in person and virtually.”

Organizers said all of the films and television series that will be screened at the festival were carefully selected to represent the Jewish experience, including highlights such as “The Conductor,” which tells the story of Marin Alsop, the first female conductor of a major symphony orchestra, and “Greener Pastures,” which tells the story of residents at a nursing home.

“The Film Selection Committee did an outstanding job of identifying films that were both compelling and entertaining – a mix of interesting documentaries and beautiful narratives,” Isaac said. “The Jewish experience comes in a variety of packages, and it’s important to us that we tell as many different Jewish stories as possible.”

Isaac said he hopes the festival serves as the starting point for conversations about Jewish culture and heritage.

“We hope that audiences are enlightened and entertained by the films, and that they continue the conversations that are begun on screen,” he said. “We don’t want an audience’s curiosity to end once the film is over. The SDIJFF can be a wonderful springboard for further exploration of key issues in Jewish life.”

Tickets are on sale now. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit lfjcc.org/film.

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