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Talking at TIFF

originally published: 10/24/2023 

(TEANECK, NJ) -- It's Lights!  Camera! Activism! at the live portion of the 18th Teaneck International Film Festival, Thursday – Sunday, November 9-12, in three Teaneck venues: Teaneck Cinemas, Puffin Cultural Forum, and Temple Emeth. Talkbacks are included at many of the films, with people whose backgrounds and experience provide insight into the subjects of the features, shorts, and documentaries that are on the program. Find the subjects that interest you and buy tickets in advance for $10. For details about the films, talkbacks, and venues, go to the TIFF website: www.teaneckfilmfestival.org

The little-known issue of hunger on college campuses and the choices students are forced to make between books and food are addressed in the film Hungry to Learn, at Teaneck Cinemas, 503 Cedar Lane, 2:00pm, Saturday, November 11.  Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Anita Rivers, Executive Director of Community Relations; Adjunct Professor, CORE Curriculum @ FDU; and On Air Host, WFDU 89.1 FM; will moderate the discussion following the screening.  On the panel will be Rashard Mills, FDU Campus Engagement and Center for Food Action board member; Lisa Pitz, CFA Hunger Free NJ; and Sara Goldrick-Rab, featured in the film, and author of Paying the Price:  College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream.

Sharing their stories about the Academy Award nominated documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed – the personal fight of renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin to hold the Sackler pharmaceutical company responsible for the opioid crisis - are film editor (and Teaneck native son) Brian Kates and producer Howard Gertler.  David Bland, a frequent TIFF moderator, will lead the discussion. The film will be shown at the Puffin Cultural Forum, 20 Puffin Way, at 3:00pm, on Saturday, November 11.

Sandee Brawarsky, Teaneck resident, frequent TIFF moderator, and well-known interviewer of famous folks, will talk with Linda Levi, Joint Distribution Committee’s Archives Global Director, following the screening of Vishniac, at Temple Emeth, 1666 Windsor Rd., 11:00am, Sunday, November 12.  The JDC had sent Roman Vishniac to photograph Jewish life in Eastern Europe from 1935-1938 to increase awareness and raise funds for impoverished communities, little knowing that less than a decade later these communities would be wiped out.  The photographer, acclaimed for this series, was also an avid scientist whose microscopic photography, Living Biology, funded by the US National Science Foundation, was responsible for many medical advances.  All aspects of his life and work are covered in the film and will be discussed.  

Whether or not you have seen the art of world-renowned artist, and Englewood resident, Faith Ringgold, you will want to see the film about her:  Faith Ringgold: Tell It Like It Is, and possibly even meet her at the Puffin, Sunday, November 12, at 12 noon.  Appearing at the post-screening talkback will be her daughters, Dr. Michele Faith Wallace and Barbara Wallace, and Dorian Bergen of ACA Galleries, which represents her. They will be interviewed by Tim Blunk, Art History Professor at Bergen Community College, Director of Gallery Bergen, and curator of the recent Ringgold exhibit there – Coming to Jones Road. 

 

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And there is so much more:  poets Jeannette Curtis-Rideau and Teaneck poet laureate, Scott Pleasants will read their own poetry after the film, Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, about the Black artist and commentator whose poetry has influenced so many.  Daniel Rynhold will talk with Dennis Klein, director of Genocide/Holocaust Studies at Kean University, following the documentary The Devil’s Confession: The Lost Eichmann Tapes.  The overturn of Roe vs. Wade is addressed in the short documentary, Under G-d, by Teaneck filmmaker Paula Eiselt, who will appear on a panel with Dr. Michal Raucher, Director of Jewish Studies, Rutgers.  The film will be paired with another short, Hollywood’s Orthodox Jew Problem - including a talkback, moderated by Barry Lichtenberg, with director Allison Joseph, founder of Jew in the City and Mendy Pellin, a Chasidic comedian.

Again, check the TIFF website, www.teaneckfestival.org, for complete information about these, and all the films – both virtual (on demand, November 5-12) and live.  Join them at the Saturday night gala and come to the movies!

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