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Monday, April 14, 2008
Dayton Jewish Film Festival … hoorah!
Alas, I was only able to get to one event for the 8th Dayton Jewish Film Festival, but I really enjoyed it.
It was Sunday’s afternoon panel discussion at the Neon Movies, at which filmmakers discussed works in progress … the local artist in question was none other than Aileen LeBlanc, who many of us remember as the host of “Sounds Local” and other news programs a few years back on WYSO-FM.
These days, she has turned her talents and attentions to filmmaking, and with the support of the Levin Foundation, is working on a documentary called “Take Us Home.” it tells the story of the Ethiopian Jews who are gradually being relocated to Israel, where they can live better lives economically and also practice their faith without the discrimination they experience in their homeland, where many had to become Christians against their will.
The Israeli government is letting them in a few families at a time in an effort that has lasted for several years, settling them in Tel Aviv … where, once they start new lives, these people find that there are things they lose as well — old culture, family ways and familiarity with a way of life that falls quickly away as modern trappings come their way.
It’s a compelling human tale that LeBlanc is telling magnificently, judging from the 15-minute work in progress excerpt she showed at the Neon. We can’t wait to see more as it happens. Stay tuned.
And hoorah, meanwhile, for the organizers of the Dayton Jewish Film Festival, which runs for two weeks and is an excellent, unique event.
