Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival
Schedules Special Screening of Israeli Oscar^® Nominee!

 

AJAMI Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.

Academy Awards^® on March 7; Special Screening is March 3

For the third year in a row, an Israeli film has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. The Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival, with our commitment to year-round programming, is pleased to bring Ajami to the Silicon Valley. This is your opportunity to enjoy an Oscar® nominee from Israel, three days before the Academy Awards® ceremony! We are also pleased to introduce you to yet another SVJFF venue. This film will be offered at The Retro Dome (in the old Century 25 Theater) at Westgate Mall, 1694 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose. AJAMI will be shown March 3, at 7:30 p.m. Click to get Tickets through Or call 1-800-838-3006 Tickets in advance: $11, general; $9.95, seniors and students At the door: $13, general; $11, seniors and students

Ajami is in Arabic and Hebrew. 120 minutes.

Ajami is one of only five nominees for Best Foreign Language film, and it's the third year in a row that an Israeli movie has been considered. "Ajami", is a mostly-Israeli Arab neighborhood of Jaffa (Yafo), and the story is a gripping look at life in the "'hood". The film portrays the crime, the loyalties, and the many challenges that exist between the people of the neighborhood, some in the context of the broader Middle East situation. It was written by Scandar Copti, an Israeli Arab, and Yaron Shani, an Israeli Jew. Seven years in the making, these two relative newcomers, have already garnered a "Golden Camera: Special Mention" at the prestigious 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival's Newest Additional Venue: The Retro Dome

SILICON VALLEY JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL IS EXCITED TO OFFER TWO DISCOUNTS TO
VISIT THE RETRO DOME, WHERE EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN!

The Retro Dome is San Jose's newest and grooviest performing arts center. The former Century 25 Theatre at Westgate Mall in San Jose, California has been completely "reimagined" and now sports a new name, a vintage vibe and a hip, retro-modern interior. With two theatres, the Dome serves as a home to live professional musical theatre, retro film, live music, and comedy.

Annual Survey Results

More than 210 of you completed the SVJFF filmgoer survey following the 18^th Annual Festival. The data we collected will help us to continually improve the Festival. The overall results were that 95% of you felt it was a positive (51%, excellent; 33%, good; 11%, satisfied) overall experience. Only five percent were either disappointed, or extremely disappointed.

In addition, you voted for "For My Father", followed by "Adam Resurrected" and "Beau Jest" as the Best Festival features. The Best Documentary honor goes to "Menachem and Fred", followed by "Blessed is the Match" and "Circumcise Me!". You also told us that you like the special events that followed many of the films, and that you are in favor of experiencing both movies and events throughout the year. The most common criticism had to do with the SVJFF seating policy as well as the tendency for many people in the audience to save seats for others. We'll be examining all of this and will implement improvements where possible.

SVJFF News

Volunteers Welcome! Meeting Planned in February

On February 8 at 7:30 p.m. a meeting will be held to welcome new volunteers to the SVJFF. If you would like to become a Film Festival volunteer, you are asked to attend this special meeting. You will hear about upcoming plans and the opportunities for volunteerism. The meeting will be held in Activity Room C, second floor of the Levy Family Campus (Addison Penzak Jewish Community Center, Los Gatos).
Please go to our Volunteer page to sign up.

New Film Festival Board President; CFO Enters Second Term

After serving for two consecutive years, Lorin Fink has stepped down as SVJFF president. Kudos go to him for his many accomplishments. In December, Board elections were held and Bruce Entin has succeeded Lorin. Bruce has been involved with the Festival as a board member and volunteer for four years and during this time he has been very involved in the Festival’s marketing and strategic planning. The Board also confirmed Yoram Rubin’s second term as Chief Financial Officer. Yoram began with the Festival as a member of the Preview Committee and, over the years, has taken on increasing responsibility. Most recently, he has updated the Festival’s entire Accounting process.

We at the Silicon Valley Film Festival are planning an exciting 19th season,
and we look forward to "seeing you at the movies."

The Film Festival is now an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley in Los Gatos is a major sponsor of the Film Festival. The Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto is also a major sponsor.