26th NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival To Honor Cultural Icons And Showcase Global Talent

The American Sephardi Federation’s 26th New York Sephardic Film Festival will commence on Sunday, 2 June, with the Pomegranates Awards Ceremony. This year, the awards will honour Algerian-French Director Alexandre Arcady for Filmmaking, Rhodes-born 101-year-old Holocaust Survivor Stella Levi for Sephardic History & Culture, and award-winning American Actor/Director John Turturro for Stage & Screen. Each award is sculpted by Baghdad-born artist Oded Halahmy.

Past honorees include André Aciman, Ghiora Aharoni, Lisa Azuelos, André Azoulay, Neta Elkayam, Albert Memmi, Saïd Ben Saïd, Emma Shah, and Eli Tahari. The NYSJFF is dedicated to Ike, Molly, & Steven Elias. Opening Night, co-presented with Mimouna Association, will feature a performance by Constantine-born French-Sephardi star Enrico Macias.

"Enrico Macias is an international music sensation who plays to sold-out audiences from Paris to Casablanca to Dubai. Enrico also holds a special place in the hearts of all Sephardic Jews. His music expresses our sense of bittersweet loss and nostalgia for the countries from which we were persecuted and expelled," says David Dangoor, the ASF’s President.

Moroccan-Israeli star Reymonde Amsellem will receive the Ronit Elkabetz Pomegranate Award for Acting at a special ceremony on 8 June. This event will precede a screening of her hit film, SEVEN BLESSINGS (2023). NYSJFF audiences will experience exclusive screenings, including the international premieres of MAHJONG & MAHASHAS (2023) and KING OF SEPHARDIM (2024).

On 3 June, the NYSJFF will host the North American Premiere of Alexandre Arcady’s feature for StudioCanal, THE BLOND BOY FROM THE CASBAH (2024). "Above and beyond the colonial war that ripped apart entire populations, I want to talk about what united them," says Arcady. "The rue du Lézard where I come from is a microcosm of old Algeria with its diverse communities."

"The NY Sephardic Jewish Film Festival is an opportunity to explore the beauty, depth, diversity, and vitality of the Jewish people," says Jason Guberman, the ASF's Executive Director. Other highlights include "Songs & Stories," co-presented with Centro Primo Levi New York featuring Stella Levi. There will also be a 20th Anniversary screening of SECRET PASSAGE starring John Turturro and a 10th Anniversary screening of Turturro's FADING GIGOLO.

"In these troubled times torn by grief, fear, and anger we are holding stronger to the values of peace, coexistence, and mutual understanding among all people regardless of background," says Na'ama Keha, Artistic Director of the 26th NYSJFF. "This year more than ever, we wanted to highlight stories of the millions of Jews who lived in Muslim countries for thousands of years."

"Many still hold a deep love for their homelands. Can love and respect give a better chance to peace? In a world full of segregation and hatred, we want to keep the flame of hope. At this festival everyone is welcome," adds Keha.