For those who enjoy Jewish films, Kansas City Jewish Film Festival Producer Shawn Edwards has three words for you: engaging, enlightening and entertaining. The festival, presented by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, The J, opens Saturday, Oct. 10, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 18.
“The goal this year was to select movies that not only reflect the philosophy of the festival but also offer the festival goer an experience they can only get at the festival with a mix of local, national and international movies and short films by up-and-coming filmmakers,” said Edwards. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}“In today’s digital world, it is increasingly difficult to find unique content that isn’t readily available for public consumption. We feel we have done an exceptional job in finding films for the festival that have not been seen and can only be seen unless you attend the festival.”
Even before the official festival begins, KCJFF will offer a free preview screening of locally produced documentary “Amazing Grace.” This 30-minute film, to be shown at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the White Theatre, explores the life, challenges and successes of Missouri attorney Grace Day. Day, the daughter of Polish immigrants, attended law school in 1948. She was the lone woman and endured torment from her male peers who believed women did not belong in the legal industry.
In the past KCJFF has drawn about 100 to 150 people to each screening. Edwards hopes to see full houses — the White Theatre seats 500 for the festival — at least a couple of times this year.
“We really want the community to come out and support the Kansas City Jewish Film Festival. It’s unique. It’s much different than all the other film festivals in Kansas City just because of its perspective and point of view of preserving the Jewish heritage and history,” said Edwards, who is in his second year producing KCJFF and works full-time at Fox 4 News. His is considered one of the country’s leading African-American film critics and has written and produced three documentaries.
“There are a lot of filmmakers out there producing a lot of good material about the Jewish experience and it’s only getting bigger.”
The J’s new CEO and President Jim Sluyter said Edwards is doing a tremendous job of building awareness about the film festival.
“Shawn has been working diligently to make it bigger and better than ever. The inclusion of short films this year will add a new aspect to the festival that we think will bring a new level of excitement,” Sluyter said.
As in the past, season passes are available for the festival. The $50 cost is lower than previous years.
“We want people to come and watch these great films. This saves you $30 if you were planning to attend all eight nights,” Edwards said. Season passes and single tickets are available at the White Theatre Box Office as well as thejkc.org.
Edwards said the main thing KCJFF is doing to drive up attendance is “we’ve chosen some really good movies.”
“That’s at the heart of the festival. I think a lot of people when they hear Jewish film festival think, ‘Oh, is it going to be a bunch of movies about the Holocaust?’ We’ve chosen a really diverse range of different types of movies that are really, really strong.”
A variety of things excite Edwards about the 2015 festival, including opening night.
“It will be fun. The film, “A Blind Hero: The Love of Otto Weidt,” is new. It hasn’t really hit the Jewish film festival circuit yet. Before the film, Karla Bauer is going to do a 30-minute jazz performance. She is singing the songs of famous jazz singer Nina Simone. It should be great,” Edwards said.
He continued to explain that the opening jazz set seems appropriate because “Nina Simone’s back story fits our back story.”
“She was an artist who struggled to be heard and struggled for audiences, the same things we’re doing. We’re struggling to be seen and struggling for an audience. Kansas City has a great jazz history and Karla is an exceptional vocalist.”
New to the KCJFF this year is the short film showcase on Wednesday, Oct. 14, which is also Kansas City Jewish Chronicle night. The collection of shorts presented by Mini Cinema and the Kansas City Jewish Film Festival will be screened in Kansas City and Los Angeles. Edwards said showing the same films in L.A. is a way to expand KCJFF’s brand on a national level.
“The goal is to become the Sundance of Jewish film festivals,” says Edwards. “The Kansas City Jewish Film Festival has a special relationship with Hollywood and we plan to use that connection to create a hub where new filmmaker talent can come and flourish and get discovered first at the Kansas City Jewish Film Festival.”
It’s the event Edwards is most proud of.
“I cannot hype that enough. These eight short films that we’ve found are all exceptional. They represent the future of filmmakers who are producing films about the Jewish experience.”
The next night, Thursday, Oct. 15, KCJFF will present a special VIP fundraising event for filmmaker Leah Warshawski and her feature documentary “Big Sonia” currently in production. The filmmaker will show excerpts from her documentary which profiles 89-year old Sonia Warshawski — Holocaust survivor, national treasure and local celebrity — and speak about the journey she has been on to get her film financed and produced.
Speaking as a fan of movies, Edwards said he’s excited to see the excerpts from the “Big Sonia” movie and actually meet Big Sonia.
“So many people talk about Big Sonia and Leah’s energy and enthusiasm is infectious. I love working with filmmakers and helping filmmakers and Leah’s trying to finish her documentary. That’s what the film festival is all about. I’m glad that we are able to help.”
Since the documentary is not complete, only snippets of the film will be shown that night.
“They are still fundraising. I understand that plight. Making movies is not easy and it’s not cheap. I understand the challenge and the struggle and I’m glad we can help. That’s something we want to do each year. We want to identify a filmmaker who has a work in progress and help them get to the finish line. If we can become a festival that’s known for that, that would be great,” Edwards said.
Above all, he is thrilled about showing the movie “Dough” on Monday, Oct. 12.
“I think it will really appeal to the hard-core base and to mainstream audiences. I’m excited to bring those two worlds together for that particular film. ”
“It’s a fun movie. It’s a great story line. It’s on our Celebration of Diversity night because it’s about a Jewish baker who befriends a Muslim boy who helps him with his bakery. I love the theme of the movie. It’s perfect for what’s going on in the world today and the fact that it’s in English is very helpful.”
Edwards said the various themes have been chosen so that the festival is not the same every night and by doing that, help grow attendance.
“You want to come multiple nights because you can come one night and watch a feature film and another night have a talk-back with a local filmmaker and another night watch a series of shorts and another night interact with the Kansas City Women in Film and another day watch a film that’s aimed at a student audience. They are all different types of nights. You’ll have a different experience each night of the festival. We’re trying to mix it up and make it different and give people a reason to come multiple times.”
Kansas City Jewish Film Festival 2015 Schedule
All films are at the White Theatre
Opening Night
Saturday, Oct. 10
Fox 4 News Night
Performance by Karla Bauer
Film: “A Blind Hero: The Love of Otto Weidt”
VIP Reception
7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 11
Heritage Screening and Midwest Center for Holocaust Education Night
Film: “The
Eichmann Show”
6 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 12
Celebration of Diversity Screening
Film: “Dough”
7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13
Community Screening
Film: “The Last Mensch”
7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Short Film Showcase presented by Mini Cinema
Kansas City Jewish Chronicle Night
Film: “On a Technicality”
Film: “Hannah Cohen’s Holy Communion”
Film: “70 Hester Street”
Film: “What We Left Behind”
Film: “Pur”
Film: “German Shepherd”
Film: “Demeter’s Spring”
Film: “Reverence”
7 p.m.
Note: All films will also be shown that evening at Regal Cinemas LA Live in Los Angeles, California
Thursday, Oct. 15
Student Screening presented by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education
Film: “Berlin Calling”
10 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15
Filmmaker’s Showcase
KC Film + Media Night
Film: “Big Sonia” Fundraiser
7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17
Director’s Choice Screenings
KC Women in Film Night
Film: “Just Like You” Film Talk presented by Jen Greenstreet
Film: “Some Days are Bug Days”
by Mary C. Taylor
Film: “House Mother” by Anita Cordell
Film: “Glow” A documentary made with
a MAC grant by KCWIF
7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 18
Closing Night
Jewish Federation Night
Film: “Above and Beyond”
7 p.m.
For tickets, visit thejkc.org.{/mprestriction}