Since 1996, the Miami Jewish Film Festival has been successfully hosted, featuring numerous film premieres and the world’s largest Jewish film program. It has been named one of the 50 best film festivals in the world for the past four years.
The festival has introduced a diverse group of filmmakers, including renowned stars and directors such as Natalie Portman, Itzhak Perlman and Nancy Spielberg. This year, the festival took place from Jan. 14-29, marking 29 years since the festival’s creation.
Rabbi Jonathan Fisch has been a longtime attendee of the festival and looks forward to it every year. He has learned a great deal about film by attending and loves most of the works he has seen.
“One of the most important aspects of the Jewish Film Festival is that it brings every Jew from all over South Florida together. We have Jews who are practicing, not practicing, cultural, spiritual and even non-Jewish patrons who attend. It’s a gathering of people who love film, history, culture and connection,” Fisch said.
As a Rabbi, Fisch has gained many unique experiences through the Jewish Film Festival that many patrons have not. These special opportunities make the experience much more exciting for him.
“One of the great joys that I get to experience, and this may be unique to [Rabbis] only, is that I have an opportunity to watch a film early and then interview a director, actor or writer of the film. These are all recorded and on Zoom, or occasionally live, but I am able to interact, ask and learn more about the film,” Fisch said. “It’s a real joy.”
In light of the festival, anti-semitism can be present as a result of a large Jewish event taking place. However, Fisch has not seen or heard of any anti-semitism surrounding this year’s festival, which signals growing acceptance. Regardless of anti-semitic response, Fisch still attends the festival proudly.
“I started attending the festival with real excitement about four to five years ago. The Greater Miami Jewish Federation asked if I would interview the cast and director of a film; I was honored. That started my love of this festival,” Fisch said.
This year’s film festival was incredibly successful, with thousands of people in attendance. The festival hopes to attract more patrons as the festival progresses.
