The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival seeks to enrich the moviegoer experience by presenting special guest speakers before and after select screenings. A variety of filmmakers, academics, authors, critics and other experts engage with the audience during introductory remarks and post-film Q&A sessions, at no additional cost.
Select highlights of the 2020 AJFF are below.
- Erik Anjou, filmmaker—A Cantor's Head • Q&A, 2/15, 2/16, 2/17 (all)
- Jack Mendelson, subject—A Cantor's Head • Q&A, 2/15, 2/16, 2/17 (all)
- Alyssa Fagien, food blogger—Abe • Introductory Speaker, 2/15 (1:00 PM)
- Todd Ginsberg, celebrity chef—Abe • Introductory Speaker, 2/17 (11:00 AM)
- Jeff Hullinger, sports journalist —Aulcie • Introductory Speaker, 2/23
- IJ Rosenberg,sports journalist —Aulcie • Q&A, 2/26
- Matthew Bernstein, Emory Film Studies Chair — Black Mercedes • Introductory Speaker, 2/27 (7:20 PM)
- Stephanie Guiloff, Deputy Director, Advocacy, American Jewish Committee — Born in Jerusalem and Still Alive • Introductory Speaker, 2/21 (4:20 PM)
- Ivy Meeropol, filmmaker and granddaughter of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg — Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn • Q&A, 2/24, 2/25 (all)
- Michèle Taylor, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council — The Glass Room • Introductory Speaker, 2/21
- Ben Mankiewicz, TCM host and televison personality, Hollywood's II. World War • Introductory Speaker, 2/13
- John Bailey, President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hollywood's II. World War • Introductory Speaker, 2/22
- Steven Pressman, filmmaker —Holy Silence • Q&A, 2/15, 2/16, 2/17 (all)
- Emily Soloff, Associate Director for Interreligious and Intergroup Relations, American Jewish Committee —Holy Silence • Q&A, 2/16, 2/17
- Dr. Nachman Shai, Israeli Journalist, Politician, and Deputy Speaker of the Knesset —Incitement • Introductory Speaker, 2/22
- Yaron Zilberman, filmmaker —Incitement • Q&A, 2/24, 2/25 (all)
- David Kross, actor —The Keeper • Q&A, 2/23, 2/24 (all)
- Lawrence Kasdan, filmmaker — Last Week at Ed's • Q&A, 2/23
- Meg Kasdan, filmmaker — Last Week at Ed's • Q&A, 2/23
- Jason Isaacson, Associate Executive Director for Policy and Managing Director, Government and International Affairs, American Jewish Committee — The Passengers • Q&A, 2/18
- Laura Turner Seydel, Chairperson, Captain Planet Foundation — Picture of His Life • Q&A, 2/24
- Amy Geller, filmmaker — The Rabbi Goes West • Q&A, 2/11, 2/12 (both)
- Gerald Perry, filmmaker — The Rabbi Goes West • Q&A, 2/11, 2/12 (both)
- Lois Reitzes, Host of City Lights on WABE — Saul & Ruby, To Life! (*AJFF's Closing Night Film) • Q&A, 2/27
- Tod Lending, filmmaker — Saul & Ruby, To Life! (*AJFF's Closing Night Film) • Q&A, 2/27 (both)
- Saul Dreier, subject of film — Saul & Ruby, To Life! (*AJFF's Closing Night Film) • Q&A, 2/27 (both)
- Ruby Sosnowicz, subject of film — Saul & Ruby, To Life! (*AJFF's Closing Night Film) • Q&A, 2/27 (both)
- Reverend, Dr. Gerald L. Durley, featured in film —Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance (*AJFF's Opening Night Film) • Q&A, 2/10
- Louis Gossett Jr., featured in film —Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance (*AJFF's Opening Night Film) • Q&A, 2/10
- Martin Luther King III, featured in film —Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance (*AJFF's Opening Night Film) • Q&A, 2/10
- Gennadi Nedvigin, Artistic Director, Atlanta Ballet —Underground Ballet • Introductory Speaker, 2/16
For these announcements and other late-breaking information, you can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or just check back here at AJFF.org.