Kansas City Jewish Film Festival at The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre

Kansas City Jewish Film Festival  starts with new long-weekend format

Offering a new twist, the 23rd Kansas City Jewish Film Festival (KCJFF) will be offering three different mini-festival weekends throughout the year beginning with its Winter Warm-Up beginning Thursday, Jan. 5 through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023.  Presented by The Jewish Community Center (The J), the film festival features extraordinary, award-winning films by international filmmakers.

The Kansas City Jewish Film Festival provides an opportunity to encounter Jewish ideas and values by creating an open, inviting, and entertaining forum for films that explore issues of universal importance including culture, identity, and history with a Jewish twist. Some films are in English while others feature subtitles. 

 “We are hopeful that this new format -- offering films at several times of the year rather than a three week ‘marathon’ -- will help make the Festival more accessible to our audiences, allowing them to take in these films in more manageable chunks,” said Keith Wiedenkeller, Director of Arts + Culture at The J.  “We also think our audiences will appreciate us grouping together films of similar genres and types.”

These unique movies in the KCJFF come from all over the world, featuring Jewish filmmakers, directors, actors, and meaningful stories. Many of these films would not be seen in our area if it weren’t for the KCJFF.

A 13- member committee led by Vicky Mayer selected all of the offerings for the three weekend festival. All films will be shown in the comfortable Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center, 5801 W. 115th St., in Overland Park. 

The initial KCJFF weekend features five exciting films:

• Thursday, Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m. - “Time to Say Goodbye” 

Description: Since the recent divorce of his parents, life for Simon in Hamburg has been like a ping pong ball, as he travels back and forth between his mom and dad. Complicating matters, the family is religiously divided. Meanwhile, Simon falls head over heels in love with the new rabbi Rebecca who is, unfortunately, 20 years his senior. A rivalry to win her heart fuels a family feud. (German with English Subtitles)

Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDpu-JgQx0

• Friday, Jan. 6, 1 p.m. - “Love in Suspenders”

Description: Tammy, a 64-year-old widow who constantly deals with the memory of her loving late husband, meets and falls in love with Beno, a 70-year-old sarcastic lone wolf widower. From their first unfortunate encounter, when Tammy hits Beno with her car until they unite in front of the altar, Tammy and Beno experience all sorts of emotional, funny struggles. 

(Hebrew with English subtitles.)

Link to trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lDNWFQ-6sc

• Saturday, Jan.7, 7:30 p.m. - “One More Story” 

Description: In this romantic comedy, Yarden Gat is a young and brilliant journalist, on a mission: to find true love for her best friend and for herself. She convinces him to go out on a daily date, for a month, each evening with a different woman, until he finds the right one. It’s like a reality show - but for her newspaper. Who will get there first? KCJFF will offer a fun cocktail for purchase at this film. (Hebrew with English subtitles.)

Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqVWwAPkgRA

• Sunday, Jan. 8,  2pm - “Marrying Myself”

Description: An unmarried 38 year old gives up on men, but lives the fantasy of being a bride at a wedding, and decides to marry herself. Her hilarious girlfriends support her and her selfish mother objects, but what will she do when suddenly the right man shows up? (Hebrew with English subtitles.)

In the spirit of an actual wedding, following this film, sparkling wine and wedding cake will be served; additional reception goodies will be available for purchase.

Trailer Link: https://vimeo.com/705763526?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=8086950

• Sunday, Jan. 8, 4:30 p.m. - “My First Wedding

Description: In this winning comedy, Jewish-born Adrián and Catholic-born Leonora have finally reached their wedding day. Instead of gracefully embracing matrimony, Adrián spends the hours leading up to the ceremony trying to postpone it, not because he's got cold feet (or does he?), but he's clumsily lost both his and his bride-to-be's sacred wedding rings. Disaster ensues in the politics of the proverbial "Big Day." (Spanish with English subtitles.)

Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVpCshzdUJE&t=19s

Individual film tickets for the Winter Warm-Up are $15; a Weekend Pass to see all five films is $60--a saving of $15! Tickets, film previews as well as full descriptions are available now at www.KCJFF.org , as well For more information, visit KCJFF.org.

Mark your calendars for the two additional KCJFF weekends:

• June 8-11-”Shorts in Shorts” with a focus on short films.

• Aug. 10-13: “Narrative Films”

About “The J”

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City opened in 1914 in midtown Kansas City, Missouri and has grown and adapted to serve the changing needs of Greater Kansas City’s Jewish and secular communities. Our mission is to build a strong, vibrant and inclusive community that enhances wellness, meaning, and joy, based on Jewish values, heritage, and culture. We are a welcoming community that embodies Jewish values in a safe and respectful environment. People of all ages and backgrounds learn and grow at our ‘home away from home.’ For more information, visit TheJKC.org.