A LOOK BACK AT FALL FEST 2024
With over 1,670 attendees, 18 films, and countless tears shed and laughs shared, the 44th Jewish film and media festival is one for the books. The films selected to screen drew significant reactions from each attendee, and with so many to choose from, it’s exciting to finally share the Audience Award winners for Best Feature and Best Short.
A LOOK BACK AT FALL FEST 2024
This year’s festival brought an array of special guests and performers who captivated and entertained audiences. Among them were the incredibly funny Judy Gold and Liz Glazer, each delivering a hilarious exploration of life as queer Jewish women in 2024, leaving attendees roaring with laughter. At Penn Hillel, Tom Nesher delivered a brilliant and nuanced discussion on being an Israeli filmmaker, sharing valuable advice, tips, and insights for aspiring filmmakers eager to make a meaningful impact on cinema and the arts.
During JEWISH SHORTS, the audience was lucky to be joined by HOW TO MAKE CHALLAH director Sarah Rosen, who offered some words before the screening of her Audience Award-winning film, providing some background and context involving the making of the short that deeply enriched the audience’s viewing experience.
Each film was preceded by a selection of digital shorts from UNAPOLOGETICALLY JEWISH winner Erez Shek (aka @jewsical101). Audiences smiled, laughed, and gained insights from Erez’s whimsical reflections on the Jewish experience and fascinating facts about Jewish performers and entertainers.
Thank you to all PJFM Sponsors, Event Staff, Board of Directors, Screening Committee, venues, and attendees just like you who helped make such an unforgettable celebration of Jewish international cinema.
THERBRUTALIST evisiting INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
“This is the face of Jewish vengeance...” cries the floating head of Shoshana Dreyfus at the climax of Quentin Tarantino’s iconic 2009 opus INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. 15 years after its release, the film’s depictions of cruelty, trauma, and bloody justice remain every bit as poignant today as it did then. Following a group of Jewish nazi hunters, as well as a Jewish woman whose family was butchered, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS goes to great lengths to depict the grim barbarism of racism and antisemitism, as well as the lengths people must go through to survive. The film’s final line, “This just might be my masterpiece,” is often thought to be Tarantino referencing his own satisfaction with the film, and he just might be right.
THE BRUTALISTTHE BRUTALIST
Tuesday,December3 6PMatFilmSocietyEast
Directed by Brady Corbet
Directed by Brady Corbet
Narrative Feature | USA/UK/Hungary | 2024 | 215 min | English, Hungarian, Italian, Hebrew, Yiddish
Narrative Feature | USA/UK/Hungary | 2024 | 215 min | English, Hungarian, Italian, Hebrew, Yiddish
PJFM is proud to present a special screening of THE BRUTALIST.
Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife, Erzsébet, after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist, Harrison Lee Van Buren, recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost…
EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS
Thursday, December 19
7 PM at Khyber Pass Pub
It’s time to “latke and vodka” with Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah musical extravaganza! This Festival of Lights, join PJFM for drinks, latkes, and laughter galore with this animated classic. Sandler’s animated adult comedy from the early 2000s follows Davey Stone, a 33-year-old Jewish alcoholic living in a snowy, fictionalized town of New Hampshire. After getting arrested, he is ordered community service as the assistant referee for the town’s youth basketball league where he is forced to work alongside elderly, little Whitey Duvall (also voiced by Sandler), the head referee. Hilarity ensues, plus plenty of spontaneous, outrageous musical numbers. This holiday – or in this case, Chrismukkah – season, Davey will question his troublemaking lifestyle and learn the true meaning of kindness.
Enjoy a FREE drink and latkes on us while you laugh along with Davey Stone and his crazy crew! TICKETS ON SALE BLACK FRIDAY 2024
THIS IS A 21+ EVENT
THE RABBIS GO SOUTH
A New Podcast
A Little-Known Story of Civil Rights
From the acclaimed filmmakers behind THE RABBI GOES WEST comes a powerful narrative podcast. THE RABBIS GO SOUTH is a seven-part audio documentary that tells the story of 16 rabbis answering the call of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to help desegregate St. Augustine, Florida. While praying with Black clergy, the rabbis were arrested and jailed. It was the largest imprisonment of rabbis to that point in American history. An inspiring tale of hope and solidarity for a divided world. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, CastBox, Overcast, or PocketCasts or your favorite podcast platform.
Get into the Chanukah spirit with a visit from the renowned Challah Prince on Sunday, December 15, from 2-4 PM. Idan Chabasov, the Challah Prince, who is known for his mesmerizing challah braiding tutorials on social media, will be sharing his skills with a Challah Braiding workshop at the Kaiserman JCC. Tickets include ready-to-bake dough to braid, along with the prince himself. VIP tickets and tables are also available. Kids ages 5-10 can get in on the action too with Challah Junior, their own Challah & Channukah Workshop, happening at the same time as Challah Prince.
The award-winning Philly JCC Early Learning Center in King of Prussia has rolling admission and is still enrolling students ages 6 weeks-Pre K for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school year. Their new facility is located within Temple Brith Achim and has daily extended hours and weekly enrichment programs, like Sign Language, included.
The second round of fall programming for adults and older adults (Gems) are open for registration. Some highlights include belly dancing, zentangle art workshops, a trip to Theatre Ariel to see Amsterdam, weekly Canasta and Mah Jong club and more!
Kids of all backgrounds in grades 37 can participate in their Junior Color War with Philadelphia Maccabi happening on Saturday, December 7, from 7-10 PM. Come alone or bring a friend as you battle it out for your team with races, relays, tug of war and more.
Klezmer Jam, a JCC favorite, is back on Sunday, December 8, from 4-6 PM. Musicians can bring their instruments and join in on the group Jam Session or come and listen and dance to the Yiddish music.
Thank you for supporting the organization. Thank you for supporting the organization.