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At The Jewish Museum’s High School Film Festival, students view documentaries examining such issues as identity, culture, and tolerance. Each day of the free three-day festival features screenings and post-film discussions. The High School Film Festival is an annual event and each year different films are chosen for their unique cinematic perspective and their ability to educate, and inspire students.
MONDAY, APRIL 26, 10:00 AM – NOON
Pizza in Auschwitz (2008)
Moshe Zimmerman, Director
Danny Chanoch survived five concentration camps and finally convinces his grown children to visit the camps with him. His goal is to spend a night in Auschwitz in the same barracks in which he once slept. Instead of focusing on past horrors, filmmaker Moshe Zimmerman concentrates on the chaotic trip that ensues and the family’s experiences while there. The result is a film about the Chanoch family as they attempt to reconcile their father’s tortured past with their own lives.
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 10:00 AM – NOON
Sisai (2005)
David Gavro, Director
Sisai tells the story of a 20-year-old Ethiopian man living in Israel who decides to journey to Ethiopia with his adoptive father and brother to meet his biological father. While ambivalent about the experience at first, Sisai ultimately finds a deeper connection to his forgotten homeland and his own identity.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 10:00 AM – NOON
Heart of Stone (2009)
Beth Toni Kruvant, Director/Producer
Before 1960, Weequahic High School was known as one of the top schools in America. By 2000, it was one of the most violent. Heart of Stone is the true story of Weequahic High School’s quest to return to its former glory. The film follows principal Ron Stone as he devises an unconventional plan to turn the school around. He begins by working with gangs and establishing the school as a “non-violence” zone. He then partners with the committed alumni association—comprised of mostly older Jewish and younger African American alums—to raise funds for programs and college scholarships. Stone effectively transforms the gang culture of the school to one of discipline and performance.
Fee is $1 per participant. Please contact the Scheduling Coordinator at schedulingcoordinator@thejm.org or 212.423.3225 to make a reservation or for more information.
