The Austin Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) returns for the 20th year taking place in person two weekends and then with a virtual/online option November 14 — 20. The festival began November 3 (first weekend) and continues the 12th/13th in person at the Dell Jewish Community Campus, followed by an online option November 14 — 20.

The festival offers feature and short films, documentaries and animated, as well as receptions for certain films, and Q&A events with filmmakers from around the globe. This year’s lineup can be found online at https://austinjff.org/2022-festival/ and there are some films offered for free to the public and listed by film in the 2022 Events Grid page and under the tab to “buy now” which allows to reserve the tickets to the theater (or virtual viewing later). Among them is Reckonings that will have the Texas Premiere at this festival and is offered on Saturday, November 12th.

One film, The Replacement (El substituto) is from Spain and available to view virtually with a pass/ticket.

One of the films that I viewed so far is Who Are the Marcuses by Director/ Co-Writer: Matthew Mishory

“Who Are theMarcuses”? reconstructs the lives of Holocaust refugees Lottie and Howard Marcus, an unassuming couple from Great Neck, New York, who retired to a modest two-bedroom apartment in San Diego, California. Former dentist Howard passed away in 2014 at age 104. Lottie passed less than two years later. In 2016, Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev announced the Marcuses had given them over half a billion dollars: the largest single charitable donation to the State of Israel in its history. The film simultaneously traces the development of Israel’s vital water technology from pre-state to the present; how the Marcuses’ endowment to BGU has ensured its continued leading-edge development in this science for not only the Israeli people, but the world as a whole; sets the family’s gift in geopolitical context; and explores both its impact and implications for regional peace through technology exchange.

Ellen Marcus, an Austin resident and a Temple Beth Shalom member, is the daughter of Lottie and Howard Marcus. AJFF held a post film Q & with her, the director of the film, and the CEO of Americans for Ben Gurion University. The film not only covers the history of her parents and how they made the money they gave to Ben Gurion University, but also showcases the expertise Israel has in water technology and culture, and its implication for regional development and peace.

This is a very interesting documentary with an Austin connection. The information about the work on water for the area and the technology to have a huge impact on many lives is captivating, especially for those of us who are not aware of the research and work on this important element to human/other life. I look forward to hearing more details of a future release, theatrical or streaming, for others to view.

This year’s festival will be at AJFF’s new home, the Dell Jewish Community Campus, 7300 Hart Lane. If you do not have a badge, individual passes and tickets are available at https://austinjff.org/

Source: Austin Jewish Film Festival