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PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. (January 27, 2014)
--- More than 1,000 film enthusiasts attended the opening
night of the 24th Annual Donald
M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival on January
16, 2014, at
the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm
Beach, Fla. The evening featured the documentary “When
Comedy Went To School,” a nostalgic look at the birth of
stand-up comedy. Donald Ephraim, for whom the festival was
recently renamed, was honored prior to the screening. Special
guests included Dick Capri, a well-known comedian, and
Arnold Graham, a talent agent and producer for shows on and
off Broadway.
“There was a palpable excitement in the air
at the opening night. I became more involved in the festival
to expand the love of film and Jewish culture in our
community. My hope is that more people are exposed to the
magic of film through this 11-day festival,” said Donald
Ephraim, the new namesake of the largest Jewish film
festival in Florida.
Prior to the film, there was a private reception for members
of The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Society and
the film’s sponsors in the Cohen Pavilion of the Kravis
Center. Opening night of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival
was sponsored by U.S. Bank. The festival was renamed this
year following a $1 million dollar legacy gift from TheDonald
M. Ephraim Family Foundation.
The film festival, the largest Jewish Film
Festival in Florida, runs Jan. 16 to 26, 2014, and features
58 screenings of 39 films at four theatres from Delray Beach
to Palm Beach Gardens. Sandra and Bernie Meyer serve as the
festival chairs.
About the Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival
The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival is the
longest-running festival of its kind in Florida. The
festival examines Jewish culture, history, and religious,
social, political issues through features, documentaries and
short films. Films this year hail from countries as wide
ranging as the Czech Republic, Poland, Republic of
Macedonia, Israel, The Netherlands and the United States.
Stylistically films run the gamut from musicals to
thrillers, dramas to romantic comedy and cover topics such
as the arts, entertainment, literacy, family relations,
finding Mr. Right, Arab –Jewish friendships, race
relations, and Jewish life today.
Through the festival, the Mandel JCC builds bridges between
divergent community groups by bringing film lovers together
and offers a welcoming gateway to understanding and
embracing Judaism and Jewish heritage. For more information
about The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival,
contact
561-736-7527 or visit .
www.pbjff.org
For more
information about the Mandel JCC, please visit
www.JCConline.com/Mandel
The mission of the Mandel JCC of the Palm Beaches is to help
create a strong Jewish community by providing high quality
programs close to where people live that connect people to
Jewish Life. The JCC is a partner agency of the Jewish
Federation of Palm Beach County.
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