‘LABOR OF LOVE’
Albuquerque (Virtual) Jewish Film Fest features movies from around the world
Film festivals continue to go virtual, and the Albuquerque (Virtual) Jewish Film Fest is following suit.
The local festival is presenting a slate of contemporary films from Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Argentina, France and Egypt.
According to Phyllis Wolf, director, Arts, Culture & Education at Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque, the festival began on Jan. 31 and runs through Feb. 28. Seven films have yet to be screened. Tickets are available at abqjewishfilmfest.com.
“Each year, the fest endeavors to weave a colorful fabric of uniquely Jewish stories that come to us through movies from around the world,” she says. “That mission is unchanged, and this lineup is particularly noteworthy for its diversity in content, themes and countries of origin. The only thing that’s different is that instead of the community gathering at theatrical venues, we will be watching the fest movies in the safety and comfort of our own homes. We will get together for follow-up conversations with the filmmakers, virtually, using the Zoom platform. After all, the show must go on.”
The curators research films showing at Jewish film fests worldwide to select a representative lineup of the finest films for Albuquerque audiences to enjoy.
Wolf said that was an arduous task this year because not only has the roster of Jewish films grown substantially, but the quality of the films has progressed equally.
“Even though the task was daunting, it was truly a labor of love,” Wolf says.
Each film has a 72-hour screening window, to watch from the comfort of your living room. Tickets include conversations with the filmmakers on Zoom, directly after the screening period.