A new tradition

The Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival celebrates six years at Circle Cinema

L'Chaim!

That customary Jewish toast (meaning “To life!”) is a fitting sentiment for the Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival (OKJFF), which kicks off its 6th annual event at Circle Cinema on Nov. 10 with Fiddler On The Roof, the beloved musical that turned that toast into song.

When the inaugural program launched in 2014, the OKJFF sought to “foster understanding between people of all backgrounds by providing insights into Jewish culture and history,” said Drew Diamond, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa.

The festival has done just that, continuing this year with a diverse lineup of films from all over the world.

“Foreign stories can be specific to a region or religion [and yet] once the story is underway, you see that we are more alike than different,” said Kerry Wiens, the Circle’s OKJFF curator.

Following the Fiddler on the Roof sing-along opener, this year’s program highlights contemporary films ranging in genre, nationality and perspective.

In addition, the free showcase panel event “Film Distribution: Stories & Strategies” brings in studio veterans from New Line Cinema and Tulsa’s VCI Entertainment to help filmmakers get their work distributed.

The 6th Annual Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival is produced in partnership with The Jewish Federation of Tulsa, the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, and Circle Cinema. The festival runs from Nov. 10 – Nov. 14. For tickets, visit: circlecinema.org or the OkJFF Facebook page.

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Festival schedule
All Seats $10, except where noted

Sunday, Nov. 10
Fiddler On The Roof : Sing-Along! (1971) — 1 p.m.
Directed by Norman Jewison | Musical
Redemption — 7 p.m.
Directed by Yossi Madmoni, Boaz Yehonatan Yaacov | Israel | Drama

Monday, Nov. 11
G.I. Jews — 3:20 p.m. — Free
Directed by  Lisa Ades | United States | Documentary
Film Distribution: Stories & Strategies — 5:30 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. panel
Fig Tree — 7 p.m.                                                   
Directed by Aalam-Warqe Davidian | Ethiopia | Drama

Tuesday, Nov. 12
93Queen — 2 p.m. — $5
Directed by Paula Eiselt | United States | Documentary
Love In Suspenders — 7 p.m.
Directed by Aalam-Warqe Davidian | Israel | Romantic Comedy

Wednesday, Nov. 13
93Queen — 7 p.m. — $5

Thursday, Nov. 14
The Last Band In Lebanon — 7 p.m.
Directed by Ben Bachar, Itzik Kricheli | Israel | Comedy