Patrons Walk the Red Carpet and See the World on Film
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Local NewsAJFF 2019

Patrons Walk the Red Carpet and See the World on Film

The opening night gala for the 19-year-old Atlanta Jewish Film Festival greeted in-crowders and movie aficionados at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

By Marcia Caller Jaffe February 13, 2019, 11:50 am Edit

After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.

  • Photos courtesy of Heidi Morton // Gala Chair Martha Jo Katz admires the color-laden room and throng of patrons. Pictured here with Kenny Blank, AJFF executive director.
    Photos courtesy of Heidi Morton // Gala Chair Martha Jo Katz admires the color-laden room and throng of patrons. Pictured here with Kenny Blank, AJFF executive director.
  • Gail and Louis Adler, parents of patron Marc Adler, came from Houston for opening night. Gail is in “head to toe” Givenchy.
    Gail and Louis Adler, parents of patron Marc Adler, came from Houston for opening night. Gail is in “head to toe” Givenchy.
  • David Hoffman and Josh Schaier talked about Gene Wilder’s “Blazing Saddles.”
    David Hoffman and Josh Schaier talked about Gene Wilder’s “Blazing Saddles.”
  • AJFF Community Engagement Co-chair Marcy Bass and Lauren Eisenman, both evaluators, have an extensive list of films to view.
    AJFF Community Engagement Co-chair Marcy Bass and Lauren Eisenman, both evaluators, have an extensive list of films to view.
  • Patron Barbara Mendel, right, chats with Catherine Solomon and Brad Cohen, who are interested in Young Professionals Night. Writing and directing “The Tale” with Laura Dern is Jennifer Fox, sister-in-law of Mendel’s daughter Jennifer Mendel Fox.
    Patron Barbara Mendel, right, chats with Catherine Solomon and Brad Cohen, who are interested in Young Professionals Night. Writing and directing “The Tale” with Laura Dern is Jennifer Fox, sister-in-law of Mendel’s daughter Jennifer Mendel Fox.
  • “Pretty in pink” Patron Barbara Kaplan, right, is leaving for Israel with JNF near the end of the festival. Sharon Seltman, left, is in a geometric jacket and will see a mix of documentaries and fiction-drama films.
    “Pretty in pink” Patron Barbara Kaplan, right, is leaving for Israel with JNF near the end of the festival. Sharon Seltman, left, is in a geometric jacket and will see a mix of documentaries and fiction-drama films.
  • Caterers Clive and Sandra Bank enjoys dining on “other chef’s” food. Sandra’ s coat jacket matched the room’s décor.
    Caterers Clive and Sandra Bank enjoys dining on “other chef’s” food. Sandra’ s coat jacket matched the room’s décor.
  • Fuego Mundo owner Udi Hershkovitz poses with Hannah Whitlock in black Balenciaga in front of the Watershed table.
    Fuego Mundo owner Udi Hershkovitz poses with Hannah Whitlock in black Balenciaga in front of the Watershed table.
  • Helen Oxman Kraus, in Olive Olivia print coat jacket has her eyes on “Alt-Right.” Sponsor Mark Rudel is betting on “Holy Lands” with veteran actor James Caan.
    Helen Oxman Kraus, in Olive Olivia print coat jacket has her eyes on “Alt-Right.” Sponsor Mark Rudel is betting on “Holy Lands” with veteran actor James Caan.

The opening night gala for the 19-year-old Atlanta Jewish Film Festival greeted in-crowders and movie aficionados Feb. 6 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Later a packed house attended the movie “Shoelaces,” an Atlanta premier about an exuberant special needs son in a tender family drama.

The star-themed gala reception – open only to patrons and sponsors – featured food tasting created by celebrity chefs and an open bar. Sponsor partners walked the red carpet to enter the patron reception for 900 guests. The lavish kaleidoscope ballroom was set in bold and elaborate, scrimped and gathered fabrics along with dramatic lighting.

“Look at this fabulous room elevating our theme ‘See the World on Film,’” said Martha Jo Katz, gala event chair and one of Atlanta’s most admired professional models and event site consultants. “Designer Jim White did a beautiful job executing it all. Each of the restaurant stations has this year’s poster and fabulous uplighting with the flowing warm and exciting colors of world cultures in tangerine, lemon, melon, royal blue and turquoise.”

Ever elegant, Katz donned a flowing print silk kimono-style floral by Johnny Was over a shimmering tangerine top. Her artistic jewelry by Reiss also reflected the carousel of all the world-themed hues.

Jim White lit up the room with melon and blue tones and themed posters for each vendor. The flowers were brought in from all over the world, including Israel.

Accepting accolades, White said, “We really went to great lengths to carry out the ‘windows to the world’ theme. I had flowers flown in from all over – the roses and lisianthus came from Israel.”

Sharon Seltman, in a geometric jacket, mused that she selected half documentaries and half fiction-drama films for the festival. Barbara Kaplan wore a soft pink jacket coat from a small store near Lake Oconee. She was excited to be heading to Israel on a Jewish National Fund tour during the last part of the film festival.

Josh Schaier, director of development for Jewish Educational Loan Fund, sported a crisp navy suit worn once “as a groomsman in somebody else’s wedding with the shoes that his wife got him for his own wedding.”

Of the film lineup, Assistant Regional ADL Director David Hoffman said, “I am obsessed with ‘Blazing Saddles,’ so I am looking forward to the Western slapstick ‘The Frisco Kid’ with Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford.”

Sponsor Barbara Mendel was anticipating “The Tale,” written and directed by Jennifer Fox, the sister-in-law of her daughter, Jennifer Mendel Fox. “The Tale” stars Laura Dern as a journalist who reckons with her own childhood sexual abuse as she unravels the truth.

Imperial Fez has been a vendor for the past six years.

Davis Academy teacher Catherine Solomon, accompanied by financial advisor Brad Cohen, was up for Young Professionals Night Feb. 16, “Leona,” about forbidden love between a young woman from Mexico City from a Syrian Jewish family and a non-Jewish suitor.

Sponsor Marc Adler, who loans his 75-person Macquarium building’s auditorium for AJFF film viewing throughout the year, accompanied his parents Gail and Louis, who flew in from Houston to attend the event. Gail wore a wavy print dress and pumps by Givenchy. Marc had contrasting film choices. “I want to see ‘Gilda,’ but also the horror story “The Golem,” a supernatural suspense tale from reimagined Jewish folklore as the plague hits Eastern Europe and the blame falls on religious Jews.”

AJFF Community Engagement Co-chair Marcy Bass and Lauren Eisenman, both evaluators, were into opening night’s “Shoelaces” and the Joseph Pulitzer documentary. Eisenman was looking forward to “93 Queen” because she had screened it and found it to be empowering. “93 Queen” is a documentary about ultra- Orthodox women creating New York’s first all-female ambulance corps.

Helen Oxman Kraus, in Olive Olivia from Bloomingdale’s, had her eyes set on “Alt-Right.”  Sponsor Mark Rudel is betting on “Holy Lands” with veteran actor James Caan.

Il Giallo in Sandy Springs served short smoked salmon with pickled red beet puree and crimini mushrooms.

The 14 food vendors, in addition to the four dessert and coffee stations in the lobby, helped guests tour the culinary world: Persian Zafron Restaurant, Moroccan Imperial Fez, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, and Chai Yo Modern Thai. Others were C. Ellet’s steakhouse. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Kaiser’s Chophouse, Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar, South City Kitchen, and Watershed on Peachtree.

Photo by Marcia Caller Jaffe // Newcomer Sephardic Israeli chef Avi Yonatan, Baroque Culinary Service, served stuffed prunes with veal in sweet red wine sauce, carrot soufflé and raspberry marshmallows.

A new face on the chef horizon is Sephardic Israeli chef Avi Yonatan, Baroque Culinary Services. He served stuffed prunes with veal in sweet red wine sauce, carrot soufflé and raspberry marshmallows.

Il Giallo Osteria & Bar served short smoked salmon with pickled red beet puree and cremini mushrooms. Special props go to Cafe Sunflower, vegetarian Buffalo lollipops, soy chicken drumsticks (with a sugar cane rod subbing for the bone) and spring rolls.

The sole kosher vendor was For All Occasions and More Jodie Sturgeon serving Turkey Wellington and mushroom lentil salad.

The chefs interviewed acknowledged that their best customers mirror the AJFF avid year-round movie goers, and that they were happy to contribute to this community. Zafron’s smart and fortunate chef owner Peter Teimori, is positioned steps away from the new City Springs AJFF movie venue.

AJFF Executive Director Kenny Blank said, “With nearly 2,000 moviegoers at Cobb Energy Centre, we are humbled and delighted to welcome such a diverse cross section of the community to opening night. From the spectacular preshow gala, to the laughter and tears of the warmly received Atlanta premiere of ‘Shoelaces,’ we could not have hoped for a better kickoff to this 21-day extravaganza of culture and cinema. We look forward to sharing many more remarkable cinematic stories with our passionate and dedicated audience.”

Truly there is something for everyone at Atlanta’s nationally renowned film festival.

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