ATL Jewish Film Heads Back to Camp with Grown-Up Comedies

Back to school for the kids. Back to camp for the grown-ups.

ATL Jewish Film invites adult audiences to revisit summer camp with a decidedly grown-up twist during ATL Jewish Film Goes to Camp!, a two-film series featuring the 25th anniversary of the cult comedy, “Wet Hot American Summer,” and the new, heartfelt Jewish camp comedy, “The Floaters.”

Presented at the Plaza Theatre and Tara Theatre, the series pairs summer nostalgia, camp misadventures and grown-up humor with two distinct takes on the Jewish summer camp experience.

“Summer camp occupies a special place in Jewish culture and memory, and it also provides endless material for comedy,” said Kenny Blank, executive and artistic director of ATL Jewish Film. “These films approach camp from two different generations, but capture the friendships, traditions, and glorious absurdity that make the experience so memorable. We’re looking forward to giving Atlanta audiences a chance to laugh and revisit a little of that camp spirit together.”

Wet Hot American Summer • 25th Anniversary

Sunday, Aug. 16 at 1:30 PM Plaza Theatre

ATL Jewish Film Goes to Camp! begins with the 25th anniversary of “Wet Hot American Summer,” writer-director David Wain’s beloved send-up of 1980s camp movies.

Set during the final day of summer at the fictional Camp Firewood, the film introduced one of the defining comedy ensembles of its generation, including Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Molly Shannon, Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce and Michael Showalter.

Over the past 25 years, the film has grown into an enduring cult favorite, affectionately capturing the spirit, nostalgia and complete absurdity of summer camp.

The camp fun begins before the screening. Audience members are encouraged to dress for camp and enjoy prizes, giveaways, favorite movie snacks and adults-only “Bug Juice” available from the Plaza’s concession stand.

The Floaters

Monday, Aug. 24 at 7:15 PM Tara Theatre

The series continues with “The Floaters,” a fresh and heartfelt twist on the summer camp movie.

The comedy follows a down-on-her-luck punk musician who returns to her childhood Jewish summer camp and is placed in charge of a group of misfit campers. Together, they gamble the future of Camp Daveed on an original musical no one sees coming.

Directed by Rachel Israel, “The Floaters” stars Jackie Tohn, Sarah Podemski, Aya Cash, Seth Green and Steve Guttenberg. The film was shot almost entirely at Camp Tel Yehudah, the Young Judaea summer camp in Barryville, N.Y., lending the fictional Camp Daveed an authentic Jewish camp setting and spirit.

Following the screening, audiences can enjoy a prerecorded conversation moderated by Atlanta journalist and media personality, Holly Firfer, and featuring director Rachel Israel and producer Shai Korman.

Tickets and complete event information are available at AJFF.org.

Programming note: Both films contain mature content intended for adult audiences.

ATL Jewish Film is the year-round home of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, one of the largest Jewish film festivals in the world and an essential part of Atlanta’s cultural landscape. Through year-round screenings, education programs, filmmaker support and community partnerships, ATL Jewish Film inspires diverse communities to new levels of social and cultural understanding by showcasing entertaining and thought-provoking Jewish film.