46 | APRIL 25 • 2024 
J
N

A More Intimate 
Jewish Film Festival

ARTS&LIFE
FILM

T

his year, the 26th for 
the Lenore Marwil 
Detroit Jewish Film 
Festival, will introduce movie 
viewers to a new format. 
Planners have arranged 
for fewer films with more 
attention given to each one 
through guest discussions 
and performances. 
During the programming 
time frame, May 2-14, a 
variety of films will be shown 
at the Berman Center for 
the Performing Arts in The J 
(Jewish Community Center). 
The films represent a variety 
of countries and reach from 
comic moods to Holocaust 
experiences with visiting 
speakers to probe the making 
and impact of the films. 
The new format has new 
film committee co-chairs, 

Jerry Minkin and Mindy 
Greenberg.
“We will focus on a 
select number of films 
that we feel will resonate 
most significantly with the 
community, and we limited 
our films to nine with one 
shown twice,” said Stephen 
Kantrowitz, senior director of 
cultural arts at The J.
“We’re focusing on specific 
areas that our audiences 
have asked for and, by 
doing a select number of 
films, we can offer special 
accompanying programs for 
every single film,” he added.
“We’re focusing on the 
word ‘festival’ this year so it’s 
not just a screening of films 
but it’s a whole experience of 
film going with conversations 
and performances making for 

wonderful events to come out 
to experience.”
In past years, between 
25 and 30 films have been 
shown annually during the 

festivals. Viewers had to limit 
their film choices because of 
that scheduling. 
This year, it is believed 
viewers can watch higher- 
profile films — from comedy 
exchanges in Remembering 
Gene Wilder (May 2 and 
9) to Holocaust realities in 
999: The Forgotten Girls of 
the Holocaust (May 6) to the 
romantic comedy Our Story 
(May 13).

WOMEN HELPING 
WOMEN
Heather Dune Macadam, an 
author and filmmaker, will 
speak at two film programs 
— 999, a book she wrote and 
a film she made, and The 
Story of Annette Zelman (May 
7), a film made apart from 
her but connected to the 

This year’s festival at The J showcases nine 
films with more attention given to each.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

TAL FURMAN

Heather 
Dune 
Macadam

Oshi

