Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival highlights independent international film

Originally published in The J Weekly. Written by Maya Mirsky.

The Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival returns this year with both in-person and streaming films that run the gamut from comedic to heart-wrenching.

SVJFF executive director Tzvia Shelef is urging people to come especially for the Israeli and international selections — films that they might not otherwise get a chance to see in a typical movie theater or film festival.  She also emphasized the importance of supporting Jewish and Israeli content of all kinds in an atmosphere that has become increasingly inhospitable.

“It’s very upsetting,” she said. “That’s why I’m asking for people to really watch and enjoy because this may be the only place they’ll get to see it.”

The Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2, will offer five live screenings at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto plus 25 online options, some with additional content such as pre-recorded interviews with filmmakers.

Read more here.