The Kansas City Jewish Film Series (KCJFS) will wrap up the 2023-24 season with “Welcoming The Stranger,” a feature film doubleheader.
The season’s finale will take place on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 1 p.m. at The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre at The J.
Tickets to view the double feature, or to view just one of the films, are on sale now at kcjfs.org.
The theme of this summer’s event, “Welcoming The Stranger,” ties into The J’s values of “Hachnasat Orchim,” meaning The J strives to create a welcoming, inclusive and nurturing environment, and “V’ahavta,” treating everyone with respect, dignity and loving-kindness.
Showing first, “Running on Sand” received four nominations at the 2023 Israeli Academy Awards and was winner of Best Film at the 2024 Israeli Film Festival in Paris; Best of Fest Audience Award at the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival; Audience Award at the 2024 Boca International Jewish Film Festival; and Best Debut Film and Best Screenplay at the 2023 Haifa International Film Festival.
When Aumari, a young Eritrean refugee living in Israel is about to be deported back to his home country, he is mistakenly identified as the new key acquisition for the soccer team Maccabi Netanya. Despite the absence of any soccer talent, Aumari’s survival depends on his ability to heal the divisions of his struggling team and lead them to success.
“In addition to its many accolades and awards, the Jewish Film Series committee unanimously selected ‘Running on Sand,’” said Stacey Belzer, executive director of the Kansas City Jewish Film Series. “With its blend of comedy, drama and optimism, the film’s message of treating all people with respect, no matter where they are from, is always pertinent.”
Following “Running on Sand,” attendees will watch “The Way to Happiness (Le Chemin du Bonheur).” The French film tells the story of Saül Birnbaum, a “hidden child” who was separated from his parents at the age of six to escape the upcoming Holocaust. Forty years later, Saül, along with his protégé, Joakin, a young Chilean director who fled dictator Augusto Pinochet, decides to write the story of Saül’s childhood and make a film of it. But love comes knocking on his door and confronts him with his past.
“These two extraordinary films share a common theme: welcoming the stranger,” Belzer said. “Like the protagonists in both films, we have all been strangers in one way or another. It is essential for us to view these films through a Jewish lens, as they are so closely aligned with The J’s core values of ‘Hachnasat Orchim’ and ‘V’ahavta.’ These values connect us, no matter who we are or where we are from.”
A brief intermission will take place between the two films.
KCJFS will launch the upcoming 2024-25 season later this winter.
