Joel and Emily Nied, Marcia Samuels and David Kamer.
The opening night of the 20th Anniversary of the Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, presented by Alma* and Howard Laderberg, took place at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Jan. 19.
Several speakers introduced the festival, including Scott Katz, Simon Family JCC director, who welcomed the crowd of nearly 400 to the celebration. He thanked The Sandler Center, Tidewater Community College for the use of the Roper Performing Arts Center for the remainder of the films, the Ashkenazi family for sponsoring Opening Night, and the Film Festival sponsors and supporters.
Gloria Siegel, vice president of cultural arts at the JCC, introduced the film Hava Nagila, before which a short clip and documentary about the area’s film festival was shown. Tom Lee of TCC produced the piece.
Guests enjoyed a reception catered by The Village Caterers after the movie.
*of blessed memory
Photographs by Sharon Schloss Photography.