Abraham Tesser grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in New York City. When he was offered a job at the University, he had to ask himself, “What is a Jewish guy going to do here?” 

His answer: start a film festival for the chosen people.

 “I was surprised to find that there was a Jewish community dating back more than 100 years,” he said. “I’ve never run into any anti-Semitism here. Whatever reservations I had have been done away with.”

Tesser decided that with a Jewish community present, he should bring that experience to the rest of town.  It would be a celebration for people who are Jewish in Athens as well as an opportunity for education.

“I think that Athens is a mecca here in Northeast Georgia,” he said. “Its got a dynamite school of music, the scene is fabulous and it attracts people from all over the region and the country for retirement.”

Thus, the Athens Jewish Film Festival was born last year with sold-out showings and a huge turnout despite the snowstorm on March 1. In addition to the primary event, the festival holds events every six weeks to two months.

“It’s an amazing effort,” Tesser said. “We have a committee of faculty and people with an interest in film who reviewed over 130 films. In the past week, they’ve started working on reviewing films for 2011’s festival.”

This year’s festival hosts domestic films as well as international pieces, and is sponsored by both the German and Israeli consulates in Atlanta. 

In addition to filmmakers, the festival will feature deputy consuls from Israel and the consul of Germany.

Although most of the films are set in Israel, Tesser believes the films chosen to be shown also have implications in the international arena.

“‘The Lemon Tree’ deals with the Israeli-Palestinian relationship, in a way in which people can understand both sides,” Tesser said. “It’s not a feel-good movie, but one where I think people will learn from it.”

The film “For My Father” deals with the same issues involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict but views it from a very unique and controversial perspective: someone who comes to Israel as a suicide bomber.

“It shows people the human relations at work on both sides,” he said.

When: Saturday–Wednesday

Where: Ciné

Price: $9 (adult evening), $8 (members), $6 (matinee, seniors), $5 (students) 

Weekend Highlights

Saturday

“The Beetle”

8:30 p.m., Rooms 1, 2

featuring special guest, Deputy Consul General of Israel to the Southeast, Sharon Kabalo

Sunday

“Praying with Lior”

Noon, Room 2

Tricia and Kevin Kardon will lead discussion at 1:30

“For My Father”

12:15 and 7:00 p.m., Room 1

Alexandra Moore, Athens JFF Screening Committee will introduce the first showing

“Max Minsky and Me”

2:30 p.m., Room 1

German Consul General Lutz Gorgens will introduce the film

“Lemon Tree”

4:45 and 9:15 p.m., Room 1

University Professor of Psychology Amos Zeichner will introduce the first showing

“The Little Traitor”

5 p.m., Room 2

Laura Mason, Max Kwass-Mason and Isabel Kwass-Mason will lead discussion