The 17th Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival (LVJFF), running January 13 to 28, 2018, will kick off with the Las Vegas premiere of “Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me,” the first major film documentary to examine Davis’ vast talent and his journey for identity through the shifting tides of civil rights and racial progress during 20th-century America.
Highlights of the 2018 LVJFF include “Ben-Gurion: Epilogue,” the winner of the Best Documentary Feature at the 2017 Ophir Awards (the Israeli Oscars), “1945” a new award winning Hungarian post-Holocaust drama, and “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” about the beautiful and brilliant Jewish actress, winner of Best Documentary of the 2017 New York Film Critics, Online and San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.
All LVJFF films will be accompanied by the filmmakers, or related experts in the subject matter, who will provide introductions and moderate post-screening discussions with the audience.
“LVJFF shares insight into Jewish identity, history, and culture, and promotes solidarity with Israel and remembrance of the Holocaust. Everyone is encouraged to attend,” said Joshua Abbey, the festival’s director.
“Our 2018 LVJFF is dedicated to Heather Heyer who was killed while protesting against anti-Semitism and hate in Charlottesville, Virginia. May her memory be a blessing for love over hate.”
2018 LVJFF PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
“Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me” 1/13/18 | 7:00 PM | Century Suncoast 16
Hosted by Vegas PBS and Neon Museum
Moderated by Claytee White, Director, Oral History Research Center at UNLV Libraries with with Obba Babatunde, Actor and Sam Pollard, Director (via Skype)
“One Night in Anzeria” 1/14/18 | 1:00 PM | Adelson Educational Campus
Hosted by Israeli American Council
Moderated by Nir Caspi, Former Israeli Navy Seal
“Ben-Gurion: Epilogue” 1/14/18 | 3:00 PM | Adelson Educational Campus
Hosted by Israeli American Council
Moderated by (TBA)
“Look About You” 1/18/18 | 7:00 PM | Brenden Theatres, Palms Casino Resort
Hosted by Jewish National Fund and Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries
Moderated by Janet Wellish, Board President JNF with Ty Perry, G’sherim Trainer FIGM
“A Place of Hope” | “Pista” 1/21/18 | 3:00 PM | Adelson Educational Campus
Hosted by Dam Short Film Festival
Moderated by Barbara Tabach, Project Manager, UNLV Oral History Research Center with Holocaust Survivors Henry Kronberg, Ben Lesser and Stephen “Pista” Nasser
“1945” 1/25/18 | 7:00 PM | Brenden Theatres Palms Casino Resort
Hosted by Jewish Community Center
Moderated by Mark Hall-Patton, Museum Administrator, Clark County Museum System,
“Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” 1/27/18 | 7:00 PM | Adelson Educational Campus
Hosted by Las Vegas Review-Journal
Moderated by Ed Cassidy, VP Marketing Las Vegas Review-Journal with Alexandra Dean, Director (via Skype)
“Wanderlust: Lesley Hazleton” 1/28/18 | 1:00 PM | Eclipse Theaters
Hosted by The Believer Magazine and Black Mountain Institute
Moderated by Kellen Braddock, Deputy Director, BMI and Publisher, The Believer Magazine with Lesley Hazleton
“Heather Booth: Changing the World” 1/28/18 | 3:00 PM | Eclipse Theaters
Hosted by Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada – Southern Nevada and Nevada Women’s Film Festival
Moderated by Heather Booth and Lilly Rivlin, Film Director
Image: Sammy Davis, Jr. takes aim in a backstage photo with his dancers in a scene from the documentary SAMMY DAVIS, JR.: I’VE GOTTA BE ME. Photo Credit: The Estate of Altovise Davis