ROLL FILM 2017 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival screens stories from around the globe

At 17 years old, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is already the biggest film fest in the state and boasts a friendly joust with the much-lauded 38-year old San Francisco Jewish Film Festival for the title of world’s largest.

A “millennial” in age, the fest packs a cinematic and cultural punch beyond its years and an international reach far beyond state lines of the South. It has grown by cinematic leaps and bounds from the first showings in 2000 when 1,900 film lovers attended.

This year will include 75 features, documentaries and short films originating from 24 countries. They will be presented in seven metro venues from midtown to Sandy Springs to east Cobb. Tens of thousands of culture curators and eager fans of film flock to the fest annually and screenings regularly sell out. In 2015, a record 38,600 people attended. More are expected this year, prompting organizers to expand venues and add extra screenings of some films.

Kenny Blank, 46, executive director of the festival since 2002, told why this festival connects to such a wide audience.

“It’s a Jewish film fest, but storytelling is universal. The stories speak to all audiences,” he said, explaining that AJFF specifically chooses films that highlight both the collective human experience and the intimate overlap where disparate communities meet. “We ask, how do we connect these cinematic stories with universal audiences? Where does Jewish film intersect with Muslim audiences, the LGBT community and African-American culture? We present films that speak to these communities.”

AJFF has grown to more than just an annual event showing worldwide films. The organization’s Icon award was introduced in 2016 and presented to screenwriter and producer Lawrence Kasdan. Thrice-nominated for an Academy Award, Kasdan is best known as co-writer of “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Return of the Jedi.”

“Kasdan is one of the most prominent Jewish film artists,” Blank explained. “It’s very important for us to recognize and appreciate Hollywood studios and these talents.”

Last year, AJFF also hosted a celebratory screening of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” in remembrance of actor, writer, director and film legend Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin), who died last year at the age of 83.

Opening this year’s fest is “Alone in Berlin,” screening Jan. 24 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The recently-released film, starring award-heavy actress Emma Thompson, centers on a reserved German couple who find their quiet but insistent resistance against Adolf Hitler bloom into a movement that places them at the center of a citywide manhunt.

“The film celebrates people who are willing to speak truth to power,” Blank said.

The festival menu features comedy, drama, history and family-fare feature full of special effects in addition to small and large cinematic statements. Guest speakers, film discussions and special events are also scheduled. Saturday afternoon screenings have been added for the first time.

“We’ve expanded access and repeated some screenings,” Blank said, as he further explained why AJFF remains a hot ticket year after year.

“It’s a rare opportunity for the Atlanta community to experience the best in international cinema and films that would not normally be available in this area to our audiences,” he continued.

“These are films that people will be talking about for years to come.”

Festival tickets range from $10 to $18 and go on sale today at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 678-701-6104 or at venue box offices. A service charge of $2.50 applies to phone orders. Festival programs, film descriptions, a list of guest speakers and venue maps can be found online at ajff.org.