Saturday, November 22, 2014

5th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival March 7-22 presents Honored Movies, Speakers, Panel Discussions Nancy Spielberg to Participate in March 14th Q&A

The fifth annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring eight award-winning movies from six countries, as well as speakers and panel discussions, will be held March 7-22.

Carmel, CA, November 23, 2014 - The fifth annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring eight award-winning movies from six countries, as well as speakers and panel discussions, will be held March 7-22. Programs will be presented at Congregation Beth Israel, on Carmel Valley Road near the mouth of Carmel Valley, the Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel and the Monterey Institute of International Studies.


Tickets may be purchased through the CJFF website, carmeljff.org, or by calling 800-838-3006.

“Our mission is to celebrate the artistry of film and to educate viewers with film offerings conceived and created through a uniquely Jewish lens,” says Susan Greenbaum, event co-chair. “We hope that our festival will help bridge cultural and religious differences and contribute to solidarity and peace within our greater community.”

Films are from Macedonia, United States, France, Israel, Germany and Canada.

Among the highlight of the festival:
On Opening night, Saturday, March 7 at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, the Macedonian film, The Third Half will be shown at 7:30 p.m. A true story of love, football, and the Second World War, the daughter of a wealthy Jewish banker and a poor soccer player elope and ultimately elude the bitter destiny of her people. At the conclusion of the movie there will be a panel discussion featuring MIIS and CSUMB faculty members on the topic, “Identity: What Makes Us Who We Are?

A rare appearance by world-renown Israeli psychiatrist Ilan Kutz will follow the showing of Dolphin Boy on Sunday, March 8 at 5:00 p.m. at the Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel. Dr. Kutz, who appears in the film, treated the patient over a four-year period using dolphin therapy.

The showing of U.S. film Above and Beyond will precede a Q & A with film producer Nancy Spielberg, sister of Steven Spielberg. The film and discussion will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 at the Monterey Institute of International Studies Irvine Auditorium. The film portrays World War II veterans from the U.S. who volunteered to defend the new country of Israel, turning the tide of the War of Independence.

On Closing night, March 22, 7:30 pm at Congregation Beth Israel in Carmel, SFSU professor and Jewish historian, Marc Dollinger, will speak after the showing of American Jerusalem: Jews and the Making of San Francisco. This epic story portrays the role of the pioneering Jews who settled in San Francisco beginning with the Gold Rush.

Additional information about all films and events can be found on the Carmel Jewish Film Festival website: www.carmeljff.org

Contact:
Susan Greenbaum
Carmel Jewish Film Festival
Carmel, CA
(831) 626-6789
greenbaumcarmel@sbcglobal.net
http://www.carmeljff.org

Singer-Songwriter Duo Sabrina & Craig set to Release Moving Christmas Love Song Tree of Love with New Video November 11

"Don't be surprised if your audience is laughing, crying or both at the same time. Saying Sabrina & Craig are a folk act is like saying Babe Ruth was a good pitcher. It's true but it misses the whole picture." ~ Ron Maurer, the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts

Los Angeles, CA, November 23, 2014 - A special Christmas love song, “Tree of Love”, from the singer-songwriter duo Sabrina & Craig is set for this season's holiday release November 11th. This duo has been garnering national attention and loving fans with their heartfelt, soulful, and engaging music and stage presence. Their song “Mine All Mine” has been played on NPR radio and they have made regular appearances at many folk festivals.


“Tree of Love” is not just one more Holiday song; it’s a beautiful love anthem. The lyrics, instead of depicting the festive atmosphere as most Christmas songs do, tell the true story of the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and how their tradition with the Christmas tree became an enduring symbol of their everlasting love. With Sabrina’s tender, yet passionate vocal performance and Craig’s intricate finger-style guitar work, every detail of this lover’s tale is so vividly presented that we can feel Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s joy, pain, and their faith in love. The addition of sweeping orchestral instruments expands the dimension of the song, and adds warmth and sparkle, enveloping listeners like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night. This release includes not only the sound recording of this song but also a new music video, which features authentic paintings, drawings, and photographs of Albert and Victoria.

Sabrina has been a performing singer since the age of six, toured Europe with the prestigious Ohio Honor’s Chorale, was Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, and is a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild. Craig picked up the guitar at age 14 and has been playing ever since garnering numerous finger-style awards. Together they have been played on NPR radio, won the 50th Annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Singing Contest, and were main stage artists and songwriting finalists at the Tucson Folk Festival. They are currently recording their second full-length album, GREEN, which was funded by fans – the GREEN Team -- through a crowd funding campaign and is expected to release in March of 2015.

For more information on Sabrina & Craig:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
323-806-0400
chip@mileshighproductions.com

Sabrina & Craig is: Sabrina Schneppat on ukulele, bass, percussion and vocal, and Craig Lincoln on guitar, harmonica and vocal.

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P.O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323-806-0400
http://www.mileshighproductions.com/