Summer Films and Film Festival Highlights Part 1

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi'a film: Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love, opened with much success July 31 in the San Francisco Bay Area and has been held over at United Artists Stonestown Twin and the Osio in Monterey, and expanded to other venues beginning August 7: The Roxie Cinema in San Francisco and The Cerrito in El Cerrito, as the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival comes to a close. I was able to speak to two directors whose films screen today, Thursday, August 6 and Saturday, August 8: Beth Toni Kruvant, dir, "Heart of Stone" (JCCSF 8/8, 4:45 PM) & Shai Carmelli Pollack, dir. "Refugees" (Berkeley Rep, Roda Theatre, 2:30 PM, 8/6). Part 2 of this series will feature directors: Simone Bitton, dir. Rachel, which is an investigative film about the death of American peace activist, Rachel Corrie, and Helmer Pablo Trapero, dir. "Lion's Den," which explores Argentine prisons where women are allowed to keep their babies. I am trying to secure an interview with Ada Ushpiz, dir. "Desert Brides." Another film I'd recommend from the SFJFF is "Zrubavel," dir. Shumuel Beru. Beru is Israel's first Ethiopian film director. It's final screening is at Smith Rafael Aug. 9, 4 PM.