Atlanta, Georgia – The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) recently announced the winners of its Jury Awards, with “Seven Blessings” and “No Name Restaurant” among the recipients. The festival, which ran from February 13 to 26, concluded with a special screening of the documentary “Shari and Lamb Chop” at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. While the in-person screenings have ended, the festival will continue to offer a streaming encore from February 27 to March 7, providing audiences with the opportunity to watch 32 films online.
This year’s AJFF showcased a diverse selection of films, including 48 feature films and 15 shorts from 20 different countries. A panel of esteemed jurors, consisting of Dara Jaffe, Eric Warren Singer, Jeremy Kagan, and Alton Brown, had the difficult task of selecting the winners.
The Best Narrative Feature award went to “Seven Blessings,” directed by Ayelet Menahemi. This compelling film captivated audiences with its powerful storytelling. Another standout, “No Name Restaurant,” directed by Peter Keller and Stefan Sarazin, received the esteemed Building Bridges Award.
In the realm of documentaries, “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer,” directed by Jeff Zimbalist, took home the Best Documentary Feature award. Additionally, the short film “Girl No. 60427,” directed by Oriel Berkovits and Shulamit Lifshitz, was honored as the Best Short Film.
Recognizing emerging talent, the festival awarded the Emerging Filmmaker Award to “The Return from the Other Planet,” directed by Assaf Lapid. The Human Rights Award was presented to “The Future,” directed by Noam Kaplan, and “Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara,” directed by Marco Bellocchio.
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival continues to be a platform for filmmakers to share stories that celebrate Jewish culture and explore important social issues. With its eclectic lineup of films from around the world, the festival provides audiences with a captivating cinematic experience. The Jury Awards serve as recognition of outstanding achievements in storytelling and filmmaking, further solidifying AJFF’s role in promoting and honoring Jewish cinema.