A SEPHARDIC PROGRAM OF FILM, MUSIC, FOOD…AND FUN

Dear Media Friends, Portland, ME, Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - The Maine Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) proudly announces a first for Maine: a two-day Sephardic Program of film, music, storytelling and more. The two-day festival takes place at The Hill Arts on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, and at the Jewish Community Alliance (JCA) on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. The Jewish Community Alliance of Portland is the presenting partner of the Sunday program.

About the Sephardic Festival MJFF's Sephardic Festival aims to advance MJFF's mission of bringing a wide view of Jewish culture to people throughout Maine. The Festival's Executive Director, David Andrusia, said, "It's exciting to acquaint people with this part of our culture, especially since many of the earliest Jews in New England were Sephardim who arrived in the 17th century." "The JCA is proud to support MJFF's Sephardic Festival, and to celebrate and spotlight Sephardic heritage and culture," said JCA Program Director Ilana Gilg. "We have always enjoyed partnering with MJFF on arts and culture programming, but we are particularly excited about this event, which will introduce children and their parents to the sights, sounds, and flavors emblematic of Sephardic culture in an interactive and engaging way." Deirdre Nice, Executive & Artistic Director of The Hill Arts, said, "We are thrilled to be hosting and partnering with MJFF again this year. We look forward to being part of the MJFF as our organizations endeavor to inspire understanding and dialogue in our communities."

Program Schedule

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 4:00 pm Film Screening: The United States of Elie Tahari 6:00 pm Film Screening: Seven Blessings 8:00 pm Performance: Sephardic Music by Cantor Sheila Nesis and instrumentalists Sheila Nesis learned to sing and pray at the same time, attending her shul in Buenos Aires, Argentina and under the wings of her sephardic Cantor. In this performance, she presents songs from the Sephardic tradition in Ladino, Spanish and Hebrew, woven with stories of her musical awakening in a Jewish and Latin American culture, and her coming to "America." Her performance, heavily influenced by the sounds of Tango and World Music genres, is a delightful, joyful and at times emotional journey through the topics of place, identity, and belonging. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 Sephardic Festival Family Program 11:00 am Musical Storytelling, Songs, and Dance with Lisa Mayer and Rabbi Sruli Dresdner 12:30 pm Luncheon featuring traditional Sephardic food 1:30 pm Songs of the Sephardim in Izmir, a documentary short, followed by a discussion with filmmaker Brooke Saias.

About the Films

THE UNITED STATES OF ELIE TAHARI

In this documentary, you'll discover the inspiring story of Israeli Elie Tahari and his fashion world and process, as rarely shown before. David Serero said about his film, "I want this film to be loved by fashion lovers, connoisseurs, and those unfamiliar with this important artistic environment. Elie Tahari is the definition of courage, determination, kindness, and…chutzpah!"

Before the film, director Serero will address the MJFF audience with pre-recorded remarks.

SEVEN BLESSINGS

"An unforgettable experience." - Shmulik Duvdevani, Ynet

Marie was just two years old when her mother gifted her to her infertile sister, a common Moroccan custom at the time. 40 years later, Marie travels from France to Israel, where her family now lives, to marry her one true love. Her warm and excited family is preparing for the custom of "Seven Blessings"- a week of festive meals in honor of the bride. But Marie has also come to open old wounds. Between intoxicating family meals, secrets and lies are revealed.

Before the film, director Ronen Ben Tal will share pre-recorded remarks with our audience.

SONGS OF THE SEPHARDIM IN IZMIR

In Izmir, a Turkish city rich with religious history and culture, Ceni is working to preserve Ladino-the endangered language of Sephardic Jews. Preparing for a musical performance organized by Nesim Bencoya, director of the Izmir Jewish Heritage Project, Ceni finds a deep connection with her Sephardic roots and hopes to save Ladino for future generations.

About Sephardic Jewry

Sephardic Jews (or Sephardim) are a diasporic population associated with the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). The term, which is derived from the Hebrew Sepharad (lit. 'Spain'), sometimes references the Jews of the Middle East and North Africa, who were also heavily influenced by Sephardic law and customs. Many Iberian Jewish exiled families also later sought refuge in those Jewish communities, resulting in ethnic and cultural integration with those communities over the span of many centuries.

While the majority of Sephardim live in Israel, Sephardim can be found throughout the world. Interestingly, the first Sephardic Jews reached America in the 1700s, settling especially in the Southern states. In New England, Portuguese Sephardim reached Newport, Rhode Island around 1658; the most notable of these is the Touro family, including the philanthropist Judah Touro.

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 The United States of Elie Tahari Seven Blessings and Musical Performance

Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 JCA Family Program

About MJFF

The Maine Jewish Film Festival celebrates filmmaking - inspiring conversation through the lens of global Jewish experience. Innovative programming invites a diverse statewide audience into the dialogue. As one of Maine's premier cultural organizations, we pursue partnerships and collaborations with other cultural and community organizations across the state.

For more information about MJFF and the Sephardic Festival, please visit www.mjff.org

Contact:

David Andrusia

Maine Jewish Film Festival

202 419 9952

[email protected]