The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is set to showcase two world premieres and one international premiere during its 2024 edition, taking place from July 18 to August 4. The festival’s full lineup will be revealed on June 18, emphasizing the diverse Jewish experiences worldwide.
One of the world premieres at the SF Jewish Film Festival is “www.rachelormont.com,” directed by Peter Vack. The film follows Rachel, a woman who discovers she has grown up in captivity working at an advertising agency, assessing her favorite pop star, Mommy 6.0. This film will be part of the SFJFF Next Wave program at the Roxie Theater.
Another world premiere at the festival is “Torah Tropical,” a documentary directed by Jimmy Ferguson, Ezra Axelrod, and Gloria Nancy Monsalve. The film tells the story of a Colombian Orthodox Jewish family navigating the challenges of making aliyah to Israel amid the drug war.
Making its international premiere at SFJFF is “Nobody Wants To Talk About Jacob Applebaum,” directed by Jamie Kastner. This documentary follows Jacob Applebaum, known as “the most dangerous man in cyberspace,” who currently lives in exile.
Lexi Leban, the executive director of the Jewish Film Institute, shared excitement about the upcoming premieres, stating that these films offer unique representations of Jewish identity on screen, highlighting the diversity and complexity often overlooked in mainstream depictions.
Ash Hoyle, a Sundance features programmer, will serve as the guest festival director for this year, taking over from former program director Jay Rosenblatt. Early bird passes for the festival can be purchased on the festival’s website.