AJFF In Conversation: The Podcast

What do Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain, Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac all have in common? For over 50 years, Israeli-born Julliard drama teacher Moni Yakim has trained Hollywood's most celebrated actors. This affectionate portrait takes us inside America's greatest performing arts school, while Moni's famous former students share reflections of the revered movement instructor. Watch the new documentary Creating a Character: The Moni Yakim Legacy, then listen to this conversation with Moni Yakim himself and his son, filmmaker Boaz Yakin. Moderated by Atlanta Opera Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun. This month's In Conversation webinar is presented in partnership with Actor's Express, Alliance Theatre, The Atlanta Opera, Aurora Theatre, Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company, and Rialto Center for the Arts.

As we prepare to cast ballots in perhaps the most consequential election in U.S. history, what can cinematic profiles in leadership tell us about picking our future elected officials? From a big city mayor to British and Israeli Prime Ministers, political biographies are a hallmark of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. For our latest election-themed podcast, join host Brad Pilcher for a conversation with two of Atlanta's best political journalists: Bill Nigut of Georgia Public Broadcasting and Denis O'Hayer of 90.1 FM WABE. We'll go beyond ideology and policy to examine what the movies can reveal about the indispensable qualities of successful leaders, and lessons we can learn from these historical figures as we prepare to vote in the 2020 elections.

The fall festival season is already in full swing right here in Atlanta, including Out on Film, one of the oldest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the United States. In our latest podcast, we'll get a preview of the 33rd annual edition of Out on Film with festival director Jim Farmer and board chair Craig Hardesty, including a couple of Jewish-themed titles our AJFF audiences won't want to miss. Join host Sara Glassberg and her guests for a discussion of the current state and future of LGBTQ+ cinema, the intersection between LGBTQ+ and Jewish cinematic storytelling, and the role of festivals in bringing those stories to audiences.

The seasons are changing. And with the arrival of fall comes the most exciting and consequential time of year in the cinema industry: the major fall film festivals and the unofficial kickoff to awards season. For film critics, it's a paradise of prestige movie releases and buzzy speculation as to which titles will go on to claim Oscar gold and a slot at next year's Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. There's one person who has an insider perspective as both a critic and a programmer: our 2021 AJFF Film Evaluation Committee Co-Chair, Jason Evans, who's also a longtime film critic/journalist. In our latest edition of the podcast, hosts Sara and Brad chat with Jason for a peek inside the selection process for the 21st edition of AJFF, as well as the larger landscape of film exhibition, festivals, and other aspects of the industry that may surprise you, especially in this most unusual year.

As AJFF continues to examine Black-Jewish relations through film stories, our latest podcast celebrates the creative intersection of these communities in the realm of American music. Collaborative yet sometimes complicated, the relationship between Black artists and Jewish producers in the middle of the 20th century helped to shepherd the rise of jazz, blues, and rock & roll. Joining us for a historical perspective are musicians Joe Alterman of the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival and Rev. Dwight Andrews, a professor of African American music at Emory University. Hosts Sara and Brad, and their guests, reveal the true story behind such labels as Blue Note Records and Chess Records, and discuss how these stories have been portrayed on the silver screen.

Every art form has its classics. Cinema is no different. But when it comes to classic Jewish film, does everyone agree on the presumed greats? As you might imagine, when it comes to movies (and especially Jewish movies), no two opinions are the same. For our latest podcast episode, hosts Sara and Brad engage in the sometimes messy but always lively debate on Jewish "greats": which Jewish stories from Hollywood may not actually hold up under scrutiny as canonical screen masterpieces. It's deeply personal. It's highly subjective. And, it's a source of cathartic fun to surface all-time favorite Jewish films and filmmakers, while also venting over those that might be considered overrated.

An audience favorite of the 2020 AJFF, Flawless is the coming-of-age dramedy about a trio of teenage girls who seek to remake themselves before their high school prom. Watch the film online through a special offer for AJFF subscribers and then join us for a Q&A with lead actress Stav Strashko, the first transgender woman nominated for Israel's top acting prize, as well as stars Netsanet Mekonen, and Noam Lugasy.

There's a new Golden Age of Television upon us, with the lines between the small screen and the big screen increasingly blurred. Today, some of the most compelling stories and characters, and top-notch talent, can be found on television. It's no wonder our quarantine entertainment includes both catching up on movies while also binge-watching our favorite shows. And for AJFF fans, this year's Emmy nominations are proof of the awesome assortment of Jewish television that has gone mainstream, from Unorthodox to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. For our latest In Conversation podcast, hosts Sara and Brad go through their personal picks for the greatest Jewish TV shows of all time, from contemporary critical darlings to classics and hidden gems.

Read the detailed show notes here.

We often don't think about the way Jewish culture and values have shaped comic book characters and the superhero stories we tend to see in our summer blockbusters, but they certainly have. This episode seeks to unpack the influence of Stan Lee's Jewish identity on some of our most cherished superhero movies, but also to consider the way Jewish actors like Gal Gadot and Paul Rudd uniquely portray and embody the beloved superhero characters they play. So join hosts Sara and Brad and special guest Matt Goldberg, Senior Editor for Collider, as they absolutely geek out over comic book and superhero movies through a specifically Jewish lens.

View the show notes here.

By now, listeners of AJFF In Conversation: The Podcast know that, while far from experts on everything, Sara and Brad love movies. But, what many may not know is, they also love books: books about Jewish film, Jewish books that should be films, and books about film by Jews. For this episode, Sara and Brad have combed their overflowing bookshelves and picked some of their favorite books across those categories, discussing everything from fascinating factoids to dream casts for hypothetical adaptations.