Dr. Fred Pollock, president of the WV Jewish Film Festival, and Rabbi Urecki had a previous film event, also held at the Park Place Stadium Theaters

Dr. Fred Pollock, president of the West Virginia Jewish Film Festival, introduced the two films being shown at the 2009 edition of the annual film festival, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” and “The Secrets.” Almost every seat was taken in the 300 + auditorium at the Park Place Stadium Theaters in downtown Charleston for the 5 PM showing. The program is sponsored by Federated Jewish Charities of Charleston.

 This is the first time the WVJFF has shown a film that is also showing commercially at The Park Place Stadium Theaters. In the past, WVJFF has rented both films they have shown. Thanks to the cooperation of Derek Hyman, president of The Greater Huntington Theater Corporation, which donates the theater and labor for the event each year, the two groups have worked together to promote Jewish-related cinema.

More than 100 people stayed for the second film at 7 PM, “The Secrets.” This new film just opened in NYC to rave reviews. Dr. Pollock and others previewed many new Jewish-themed films starting in September including “Sixty Six,” a new film about an English boy’s bar mitzvah in 1966, London, when England played for the world cup; “Stranger,” the film that opened the 2008 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival; “Children of the Sun” about the early kibbitzum in Israel, and others. Pollock likes to program two different kinds of films each year - one that has general audience appeal and another one that shows more contemporary themes related to Jewish life.

“The Secrets” was chosen because it showed life in contemporary Israel as well as people who live a non-traditional lifestyle. Last year the festival presented “Jellyfish,” an award-winning film also about contemporary realities in Israel not often shown on American television.

Dr. Pollock and friends have already previewed other films that may be shown at the annual non-35 mm spring or summer Jewish film night. This event has been held at the B’Nai Jacob Synagogue located on Charleston’s East End, downtown at the WVSU Capitol Center, WV Capitol Cultural Center or other locations. Every year there is a tidal wave of new films about Jewish culture that are now being shown at similar Jewish film festivals held around the world.

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