Opening the curtain on its 34th year, the Tucson J International Film Festival starts on January 8, with in-person screenings and special events for select films through January 19, with most films streaming virtually from January 17 through January 31 for the Greater Tucson area.
This year screenings will take place at various locations around Southern Arizona, including at the Tucson J, Unscrewed Theater, and the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust History Center.
The multi-access model continues to provide a “Festival your-way” experience, showcasing 24 films including feature length films and shorts that explore the Jewish experience, past and present, across a variety of genres. The festival includes films from countries across the globe and in multiple languages.
Highlights of this year’s festival include:
- a farce about an awful Shabbat dinner gone hilariously wrong (Bad Shabbos)
- a documentary that corrects the myth about Jewish passivity during the Holocaust (Resistance: They Fought Back)
- intimate portraits of war and terrorism and their impact on Israeli youth (Arugam Bay, Listen, We Will Dance Again)
- …and an array of short films from all over the world.
The film committee has gone above and beyond to bring you a variety of programs and special guests such as: a talkback with acclaimed Hollywood actor Mark Fuererstein (Guns & Moses), an interpretive dance performance (Call Me Dancer), a hat contest (Bella!), and a chance to learn and play “the Blackjack of the Jewish people” (Yaniv).
The festival is one of the country’s longest-running Jewish film festivals, one of Arizona’s longest running film fests, and one of Tucson’s premier cultural events. Through a nearly yearlong screening process, the film festival committee, a dedicated group of Tucson J volunteers, selects the highest-quality films to share these magnificent stories with the Southern Arizona community.
While the film selection is distinctly Jewish, many of the messages and values presented resonate with people of all identities and offer relevant perspective. It is our hope that all members of the Southern Arizona community find the subject matter relatable, educational, and meaningful.
“Each year, the film festival committee seeks to build a festival that tells the diverse story of the Jewish People, and this year is no different. Rounding out the festival experience are several special events that engage all of the senses – there will be an opportunity to create poppies in honor of the hostages, taste a sampling of Indian cuisine, learn a new card game played around the world, and hear from actors and film makers. This year’s festival is meant to evoke pride and joy, and also teach the audience something new,” said Jennifer Selco, Senior Director of Jewish Living + Engagement at the Tucson J.
Information about individual film-screenings and post-film programs, and ticketing can be found on Eventive. Please note that this year there are some films that are restricted to in-person viewing only, and all Eventive films may be viewed only by those watching in the Greater Tucson area.
