Why a Jewish film festival in Athens?  As Mayor Heidi Davison said at our 2009 Gala opening, "Why Not Athens?"  Athens is the cultural center in Northeast Georgia.  It has an internationally known music scene.  It is a small town with a major University, a symphony orchestra, and a serious art museum.  Now, there is an art film theatre, Cine’, and a formal program at the University in Film Studies.  At the same time, Athens has a variety of Jewish institutions.  There are three congregations that meet regularly, the largest has approximately 150 families and is the oldest synagogue in Northeast Georgia.  UGA’s Hillel Foundation serves more than 1500 Jewish students.  Moreover, information about any ethnic culture is of interest to many outside the focal culture.  We are convinced that there is a receptive population for a Jewish film festival in Athens.

What is the Athens Jewish Film Festival?  The AthensJFF was formed to focus on Jewish cinema through year-round programming.  The goal is two-fold: to review, discuss, and celebrate American and international films of Jewish interest, and to encourage emerging filmmakers.  Our activities include the presentation of a major Jewish Film Festival event held in late February.  It also includes year-round events featuring emerging filmmakers and their films as well as classic Jewish cinema.

We began in September, 2008.  Happily, we have become a federal non-profit  501(c) (3)  corporation.  Our officers are Abraham Tesser (Professor Emeritus, UGA), President, Angela Meltzer (CPA) as Vice President, Elliot Gootman (Professor Emeritus, UGA), Treasurer, Carmen Tesser (Professor Emerita, UGA) Secretary.  We had a successful 2009 Opening Festival and gala on Feb 28, March 1 at Cine’.  Programming included film, discussion, and visiting film makers and academics as well as an unexpected snow.  Following the February main event, we presented a series of films in collaboration with Athens-Clarke County Public Library.  These films were presented free of charge and were open to the public.

Funds for launching the Athens Jewish Film Festival in 2009 came from grants awarded by the Athens Clarke County Mayor's Community Improvement Fund, from the  Georgia Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities and through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly,  and from the generous support of our 2009 sponsors, donors, and members. 

Our 2010 season started smoothly with a four-day event (February 20-24, 2010). We inaugurated a Shorts Contest thanks to a grant from the Saul O. Sidore Foundation.  We will continue the contest to encourage young filmmakers who are focusing on the Jewish Experience.  Thank-you to our 2010 Sponsors, Donors, and Members for their generous support! 

In April 2010, we received a Program Grant from the  Georgia Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities and through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly.  Funds from this grant will allow us to continue our Partnership with Athens-Clarke County Library in screening quality films free of charge and open to the public.  After each film screening, attendants will participate in discussion led by academics, filmmakers, and community members.

The AthensJFF is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit corporation governed by a Board of Directors  and Administrative Policies.  Participation is open to anyone interested in film in general and in Jewish film in particular.  

All donations to the Athens Jewish Film Festival are Tax-Deductible.