Tag: Miami Jewish Film Festival

On June 6, Igor Shteyrenberg, the Executive Director of the Miami Jewish Film Festival, was presented with the Rabbi Solomon Schiff Jewish Communal Professional of Excellence Award by JPro Miami. This award recognizes a mid-career Jewish communal professional who has made an exceptional contribution to the field and community. In the 12 years since Igor Shteyrenberg took the helm of the Miami Jewish Film Festival, his transformative leadership has been nothing short of extraordinary. Under Igor’s guidance, the Miami Jewish Film Festival has evolved into a world-class Jewish cultural event.

The Miami Jewish Film Festival is now entering its second week with more exciting film premieres to come! Visit the Festival Page to search the roster of films and plot your itinerary for the week ahead: January 20-25... and don't forget to visit the VIRTUAL FESTIVAL where you can stream films wherever you are! Here are some highlights from the past week.

One of CAJE’s greatest strengths lies in our ability to connect. CAJE brings people together strategically, facilitating connections that lead to successful outcomes. Being a great connector is about creating a ripple effect of positive and impactful relationships. By bringing the right people together with intention and authenticity, CAJE contributes to successful outcomes, fosters innovation, and strengthens communities and networks.

In a vibrant landscape of cultural events, the Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) stands out as a beacon of cinematic excellence, not only for its captivating array of films but also for its dynamic educational component. Behind this synergy is CAJE’s Department of Adult Learning and Growth, responsible for curating these encounters and enhancing the movie-watching experience for audience members.

Recently, CAJE in partnership with Miami’s BeWell initiative invited a diverse group of professionals to participate in a program led by Dr. Norman Blumenthal, the Director of Trauma at Ohel’s Zachter Center for Family Trauma and Crisis Intervention. The workshop centered around the challenges of handling trauma resulting from the conflict in Israel as well as the local and global surge in antisemitism.

With a surge in antisemitism over past the several years, and now as a backlash to Israel’s defense against Hamas, there is a further intensification of anti-Zionism and a flood of hate and misinformation circulating across media platforms. During these very difficult times, the Miami Jewish Film Festival is a platform to amplify the stories of Israel, magnify Israeli voices and present information and insight to thousands of people.

In the midst of what is transpiring in our homeland of Israel, CAJE’s many departments are working diligently to help our schools and constituencies with resources to help support Israel, find comfort, talk with children and students, and take action.

Life is complicated, fractious, and ever more precious today. Film gives us a way to have conversations about difficult issues, without rancor. It gives us a way to appreciate what we may not have understood before.

Mazal Tov to Igor, Judith, Douglass and Daniel the amazing festival team, on another successful year full of incredible films! And thanks to all the supporters, YOU make it happen!

Announcing the 26th Miami Jewish Film Festival, running January 12-26, 2023! Experience movie magic and discover the best in world cinema with more than 100 film premieres presented on the big screen and virtually!

It’s no secret that antisemitism is on the rise, both nationally and worldwide. As Yair Rosenberg recently wrote in his blog Deep Shtetl, “Every single year since the FBI began recording hate-crime statistics, Jews have been the target of more anti-religious attacks in the U.S. than all other religious groups combined.”

Some people wonder what CAJE is doing running a film festival??? And we say that cinema is actually an intrinsic part of Jewish education. It is one of the most accessible and experiential educational devices that exist.

Telling Stories is at the heart of Pesach (Passover). We read from a book (more like a script) called a Haggadah (literally: telling) in which we reenact a distant dramatic experience (the Exodus from Egypt) by performing ritual activities in an orderly manner at a seder (literally: order) so as to remember the past and to link it to the present. Telling stories is also the essential purpose of cinema.

Congratulations to Igor Shteyrenberg & the Miami Jewish Film Festival Team—Judith Vigil, Douglass Gavilan, and Daniel Vasquez-- as well as Barbara Black Goldfarb & the MJFF Advisory Board for an extraordinary 25th Festival, which concluded yesterday with its most successful season to date!

Come celebrate icons with three very special screenings from the Miami Jewish Film Festival's 25th season! American fast-food of the Jazz Age, the automat. Explore the depth and musical genius of Leonard Bernstein, and be an insider for the production of Fiddler on the Roof.