San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is underway, with eight days of screenings in San Francisco (July 19 to 26), followed by festival showings in Berkeley (July 28 to August 4).

The Festival has a history of screening films across spectrum of topics not always given broad cultural attention. Experimental works, controversial subjects, humor . . . films addressing Sephardic life, the culture of Mizrahi Jews, gays and lesbians, have all been represented as part of the diverse discussion.

This year's festival presents a special focus on Jewish Boxers: Shtarkers and the Sweet Science. The West Coast premiere of Orthodox Stance -- about Dmitriy Salita, an up-and-coming welterweight -- screens on July 22, followed by a panel discussion on Jewish boxers and boxing films.

Additional features include a spotlight on Israeli documentaries, the U.S. festival premiere of A Touch Away (an Israeli dramatic television series), and several works by local filmmakers.

• Festival Films - A to Z
• Film Clips & Trailers
• Film Festival Tickets

The Castro Theatre is the city venue. The Roda Theatre at the Berkeley Rep is the Berkeley site. (Screenings also happen in Palo Alto, July 28 to August 2, at the Aquarius Theatre.)

^{Film Pictured: Gorgeous
Photo Courtesy of San Francisco Jewish Film Festival}