A logo I created but never used for the WV Jewish Film Festival
While arranging my many computers files related to the West Virginia Jewish Film Festival, I realized that for ten years I have been working with Dr. Fred Pollock, Dr. Steven Jubelirer and other members of the Jewish Cultural Series to present some great films, both at the Park Place Stadium Cinemas and at other venues in the valley.
Rabbi Urecki and Dr. Pollock introducing a film at the Park Place Stadium Theaters, provided courtesy of Derek Hyman of the Greater Huntington Theater Corp.
Around November, December 1997 Dr. Pollock called me, notifying me that he and Jubelirer were going to be programming the Jewish film events, and that the films would be shown at The Park Place Cinemas. Would I be able to suggest any films? I quickly rounded up 10 of the latest Jewish themed films and loaned them all of the films. After a while I called Pollock and he told me that “none of the films are suitable.” I was very frustrated since all of them were first rate, from the best film distributors in NYC, etc. Somehow as the deadline approached, Pollock and Jubelirer told me that they would go with the first two films I loaned them, “Tickle in the Heart” and “A Life Apart- Hasidism.” It was the first time since I came to WV in 1978 that I was able to program a 35 mm Jewish film night since previously I had projected 16 mm films at either Temple Israel or B’Nai Jacob Synagogue with Peter and Rebecca Godfrey. The rest is history. We have been able to program US premieres, like for “Amen,” a new film by Costa-Gavre, show other brand-new films like “My Architect,” ( with minimal attendees since an ice storm hit the area), and in 2008, present the new documentary about Simon Wiesenthal and a hit new Israeli film, “Jellyfish.” This last summer Pollock and Jubelirer programmed a great program at The Cultural Center, bringing California filmmaker Joel Blasberg to show his new film, “Withdrawal from
Gaza.” (It turned out by sheer accident that Jubelirer cousin is married to a relative of Blasberg’s.)
Pollock, Ohio-raised filmmaker Jeremiah Newman, and Pollock’s son Gabriel
in front of the WVSU Capitol Center show showing of “Jews in Shorts”
Besides showing new commercial grade, 35 mm films at the Park Place Stadium Theaters for ten years, each year there has also been a second event in the late spring or early summer. One year Jeremy Newman, a relative of the local Newman family who grew up in Ohio, returned to WV to introduce his film, “Children of Jacob” about the B’Nai Jacob Synagogue. More recently, “West Bank Story” was shown in the new media room at B’Nai Jacob and then a second time at The WVSU Capitol Plaza Theater as part of “Jewish Comedy Night” along with a hilarious film, “When Do We Eat?” Of special note have been showings of films from The Simon Wiesenthal Center – “In Search of Peace Part One, 1948 – 67” “The Long Way Home, “ and “Unlikely Heroes.”Soon the fourth film from the Center will be shown, “ I Have Never Fogotten You – The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal.” As an unpaid volunteer helping the Godfreys, and now Pollock and Jubelirer, for almost 30 years, the Jewish film night is my oldest film festival. I have since co-founded the West Virginia International Film Festival in 1984, the West Virginia Filmmakers Film Festival in Sutton in 2000, and since 2004, programmed the WV Film Series at The South Charleston Museum.
I have found the Jewish film events the most rewarding since I almost always have attended each of the programs, and have been able to learn about one of mankind’s greatest negative obsessions, something my own German Catholic ancestors probably were linked to in various ways. Hopefully there will be others to continue the Jewish film series after both Pollock and I am gone just as the Godfrey’s finally left the scene after more than half a century. As a librarian working at the state library now for almost 30 years, I know that libraries are almost worthless without librarians who understand the objects in their collections. Hopefully new generations of Jews and new generations of film experts in West Virginia will continue what has been a Golden Decade in our little part of the universe.
A group of worshippers, a “minion”, taking place before a film showing at The Park Place Stadium Theaters
On a personal note – recently I was diagnosed with a serious illness. I asked Dr. Pollock what he would do in my condition. He said he would consult with Dr. Jubelirer. I finally got in to see him, and thanks to him I learned about the CAMC Tumor Board, and my diagnosis was reversed. Last December he gave me my greatest Christmas present ever….so movies can help save lives…at least, in my own case.
Movies shown during the last ten years
Title Year
Tickle in the Heart 1998
A Life Apart – Hasidism 1998
The Long Way Home Oct. 1998
Raw Images from the Optic CrossOct. 1998
Trailers Smailers Oct. 1998
XXXXXX 1999
Love at Second Sight 2000
Under the Domin Tree 2000
Into the Arms of Strangers 2001
Aimee and Jaguar 2001
In Search of Peace Part One 1948-1967 2002
Almonds and Wine 2002
Invincible 2003
Amen 2003
My Architect 2004
Komediant 2004
Watermarks 2005
The Ninth Day 2005
Protocols of Zion 2006
The Last Mogul 2006
Uzphizin 2007
Keeping up with the Steins 2007
Simon Wiesenthal – I Have never Fogotten You 2008
Jellyfish 2008
Non-35 mm films – DVD or VHS
Title Year
Children of Jacob 2002
Obsessed with Jews 2002
King of the Jews 2002
Let’s Fall in Love 2002
L.A. Mohel 2002
Me and My Matchmaker 2002
United Against Terrorism 2002
Relentless 2003
Unlikely Heroes 2004
Al Jazerra – Voice of Arabia 2004
Life and Times of Hank Greenberg 2004
Paper Clips 2005
West Bank Story 2005
When Do We Eat? 2006
West Bank Story 2006
Withdrawl from Gaza 2007
Subscribe to WV Film