Jewish Film Festival

     The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival is a week of events celebrating the diversity of the Jewish experience in film.  They feature flicks that highlight Jewish culture, traditions and challenges.

 The Opening night Gala was the premiere of Jump, written and directed by Joshua Sinclair, and a special tribute to Patrick Swayze, who portrays a Jewish lawyer in the film.  Swayze, who is gravely ill with cancer, was unable to attend, but his presence was felt by all those in attendance – particularly Sinclair, who is a personal friend of the ailing actor.  Sinclair, is a medical doctor, specializing in tropical diseases, and has worked with Mother Teresa in India, and various parts of Africa.  He also is a best selling novelist and a film and TV actor, producer, and director.
He is best known as the creator and writer of the Shaka Zula Trilogy, and his work against Apartheid, for which he was honored by the  the U.S. Government.

Some of those attending the star-studded premiere, included Producer Lilly Berger, who wore an original dirndl dress from Austria (where the film was shot), Award winning actress Sally Kirkland, and veteran Casting Director Marvin Paige, who escorted another Academy Award nominated actress, Patty Mc McCormack  (The Bad Seed.)

Coincidently, a few weeks later, we attended the premiere of the international stage hit, Dirty Dancing at the Pantages Theatre – which Swayze was the original star.  When Josef Brown, who portrays John Castle in the stage version, jumped enthusiastically on stage – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  His style and dancing skill were reminiscent of Swayze, who made his first big hit in the film.  Never to be forgotten.