Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Special Opening Night Celebration

Special Opening Night Marks
18th Annual Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival
and the Grand Opening Celebration
of the New Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto

The Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival and the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto are co-sponsoring the Saturday, October 17 Opening Night Event on the new Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life. This special program marks both the opening of the 18th Annual Film Festival, and the grand opening weekend of the new Oshman Family Jewish Community Center. It begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Albert and Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall. Enter the campus at 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto.

The Festival is offering the Argentinean movie,"Letters for Jenny." It will be preceded by a short talk by Monique Balbuena, Assistant Professor of Literature at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Dr. Balbuena is an expert on the Latin Jewish experience, including Jewish contributions to literature and to the Tango Dance.

The evening continues with a colorful and entertaining demonstration of Tango.

Tango
The Opening Night event
includes a Tango dance presentation

Tickets are available from Brown Paper Tickets. Ticket prices in advance for this movie and special program are $25, general; $20 for Oshman Family JCC members. At the door, ticket prices will be $30, all admissions. Proceeds benefit both the SVJFF and the OFJCC.

Brown Paper Tickets


Letters for Jenny (Cartas para Jenny)

Letters for JennyThis sensitively directed film depicts a young woman in love who must make life choices after learning of an unexpected pregnancy. Jenny's decisions cannot be made alone and it is only when she discovers three letters written by her mother before her death that Jenny is able to decide how to move forward. After reading her mother's first letter, Jenny decides to travel to Israel from Argentina and begin a new life. The journey to Jerusalem helps Jenny soften her personal pain, and discover new opportunities-including a new love-so that she can put her life in perspective. The story is moving, and the cinematography is stunning, with scenes of Argentina, Spain and Israel.

Argentina/2007, Spanish (with subtitles), 96 min. Feature

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

This Year's News

The Film Festival is now an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley in Los Gatos is a major sponsor of the Film Festival. The Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto is also a major sponsor.

The SVJFF is co-sponsoring the opening of the Festival and the Grand Opening of the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center Taube Campus for Jewish Life on Saturday night, October 17 with special movie and entertainment. This is the start of the grand opening weekend for the new campus off of San Antonio Road, Palo Alto The Festival schedule will be officially released by late August/early September. Special events, special speakers and great films from around the world are planned.

All Wednesday night screenings will now be at the Camera 7 Theater, Pruneyard Shopping Center, Campbell. So now you can avoid the freeway backups and choose from many great restaurants before coming to the movies. Sunday movies in San Jose will continue at the Camera 12 Theater, downtown San Jose.

NEW THIS YEAR

In response to audience requests, all Wednesday night Festival movies will now be shown at the Camera 7 Theater, Pruneyard Shopping Center, Campbell. Sunday movies will continue at the Camera 12 Theaters, 201 S. Second Street, San Jose. Additional films are being offered in Palo Alto.