What to See at the 2016 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

The largest Jewish film festival in the world returns for its Sweet Sixteen. Here is a list of titles for you to check out during the 23-day event.

We love that each new year of the Georgia film festival circuit kicks off with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. The city's most widely attended film event stretches out over three weeks at eight different venues across Midtown Atlanta, Buckhead, Alpharetta, Marietta, Vinings and Sandy Springs. No film festival in the state packs the house as consistently as AJFF and we are looking forward to joining in the opening night ceremonies on Tuesday, January 26 at the Cobb Energy Centre.

This year's lineup is as strong as ever, with films pouring in from all over the world and covering all sorts of thematic ground. Whether you want academic documentaries, Israeli award-winners, Japanese biopics, romantic comedies, musicals or whatever else you can think of—AJFF '16 has it.

We've compiled a long list of films you must see this year! See our picks after the jump.

What to See at the 2015 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Six continents are represented across dozens of narratives, documentaries and short films in this diverse program from the 15th edition of the Southeast's largest film festival. Here are 23 films you need to see this year.

In its 15-year history, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has risen to the top of Georgia's and the Southeast's film festival circuits in terms of both attendees and expansive programming. Now spanning 25 days of film screenings at 7 venues—plus numerous parties—AJFF is one of the most well orchestrated and highly publicized events in the state each year.

This year's program offers the same great range in international Jewish or Jewish-interest films we've come to expect from the festival. You certainly don't have to be Jewish to attend or to enjoy these films; the festival's biggest hurdle being that of reaching beyond their obvious clientele. All that simply matters for you to enjoy AJFF is that you must like great films!

Whether you check out Israel's biggest hit films from the last year (Golden Globe nominee "Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" or "Zero Motivation") or you want to educate yourself through a variety of non-fiction films ("Above All Else," "Raise the Roof"), there is something for everyone. There are world premieres ("Dough") and special anniversary screenings ("Avalon," "The Shop on Main Street").

The 15th annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival kicks off next Wednesday, January 28th at the Cobb Energy Center and runs through February 19th at several different venues in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Marietta and Alpharetta.

Check out nearly two dozen of our picks for this year's festival!

What to see at the 2014 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Oscar-nominees, Israeli blockbusters, European documentaries and everything in between— Here are 27 films worth checking out at the Southeast's largest film festival.

At fourteen years old, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is in a great place. Now the largest film festival in the Southeastern United States, I fully expect it to be declared the largest Jewish film festival in world when ticket sales are finalized next month.

The sprawling three-week event has always been a source of excellent programming, with plenty of movies to appeal to people across the board. Estimates for the number of non-Jewish festival-goers hover at around 25% of total attendees, but there is definitely room for growth there. Good films abound at AJFF, and good films are good whether you are Jewish or not! I've been attending for half-a-decade and this year's lineup looks to be the strongest I've seen yet.

From opening night selection "Run Boy Run" to closing night documentary, "Next Year Jerusalem"—there is something for everyone to enjoy. Foreign Language Oscar submissions from Argentina, Czech Republic, Israel, Macedonia, Palestine (one of the nominees, "Omar") and The Philippines all feature in the lineup, as well as the Oscar-nominated documentary short film, "The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life." Ophir nominees and Israeli box office hits like "Bethlehem," "Big Bad Wolves," "Hunting Elephants," "Kidon," "Rock the Casbah" and "The Wonders" are highlights, as are films from across Europe and South America. This year's documentaries cover a variety of subjects, from famed filmmakers and political figures to the Holocaust and modern Israeli issues. Four films feature in special anniversary screenings, including a 25th anniversary presentation of the Georgia set-and-shot winner of the 1989 Academy Award for Best Picture, "Driving Miss Daisy."

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, January 29th and runs through February 20th. Check out our list of over two dozen films to see at this year's festival, after the jump.

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival poised to become the world's largest

The Southeast's largest film festival is getting ready to blanket the Metro Atlanta area with films for 23 days.

Last year's opening night event at the Cobb Energy Centre

While opening night doesn't take place until well over a month from now, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has released their 2014 lineup, kicking off the countdown for when tickets for the mega-fest go on sale. Last year—with no authority whatsoever—I declared the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival to be larger than the previous world's largest (and oldest) Jewish film fest, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Both organizations have claimed 30,000+ in attendance for two years running, but the AJFF has maintained a steady growth rate for years. Officially, the AJFF still claims to be the second largest in the world, albeit the largest film festival of any nature in the Southeastern United States.

Sure to put the numbers well over the 30,000 mark this year, the AJFF is expanding its programming by 25%—a move that could easily push the festival into the title-holding position. The 23-day event features dozens of screenings for the 65-film deep catalog across seven venues. The opening night gala and film presentation will once again take place at the Cobb Energy Centre in Vinings. Closing night festivities will take place at the Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown—a new venue for the festival. United Artists Tara Cinemas in Buckhead, Georgia Theatre Company at Merchant's Walk in Marietta, Regal Cinemas at North Point in Alpharetta, Lefont Theaters in Sandy Springs and Regal Cinemas at Atlantic Station in Midtown all return as the principle screening venues.

Review: "Still Mine" (****)

Campbell Scott and James Cromwell star in "Still Mine"

"Still Mine" has been on my radar since premiering in Toronto last fall—going so far as for me to incorrectly predict it as part of last year's Savannah Film Festival lineup. Writer-director Michael McGowan's latest film is notable for a number of reasons; the natural beauty of its New Brunswick setting, the articulate depiction of a saintly love story, but most of all for the dynamic leading performances by veterans Geneviève Bujold and James Cromwell—a perennial supporting actor.

What to see at the 2013 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Just over three weeks to go until the 2013 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival kicks off. Last year, 30,000 tickets were sold, matching the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival as the largest Jewish film festival in the United States and most certainly one of the largest in the world. With the exponential rate of the growth the fest has seen since its humble beginnings in 2000, I wouldn't be surprised if this year's AJFF sells thousands more tickets than last year's. In fact, three dozen screenings have already sold out.

This year's opening night gala takes place at the Cobb Energy Centre. All regular venues from last year are returning, so you'll be able to catch films at Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station, United Artists Tara Cinemas in Buckhead, Lefont Sandy Springs, Georgia Theatre Company at Merchant's Walk in Marietta and United Artists North Point Market in Alpharetta. You can see the schedule and purchase tickets at www.ajff.org.

I've highlighted 25 films from this year's festival, including the films from opening night, Gen-Y night and closing night as well as two anniversary screenings. Check out the list after the jump.

Encore screenings of AJFF Audience winners

As promised, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is hosting an encore screening for each of the three Audience Award winners from this year's festival. The event takes place Sunday, April 1st at Lefont Sandy Springs, one of the festival venues.

Buy your tickets here.

"Nicky's Family"

Best Documentary Feature
Screens at 4:15 PM
The true story of "Britain's Schindler" who saved Czech and Slovak children just before WWII and the humanitarian acts he inspired.

"Wunderkinder"

Best Narrative Feature
Screens at 7:00 PM
From the producers of Europa Europa comes a heartfelt drama about musical prodigies whose friendship overcomes barriers of religion and nationality.

"Not Your Time: A Musical"

Best Short Film
Screens at 9:00 PM

A long-suffering screenwriter threatens suicide in this darkly comic musical featuring Jason Alexander and Hollywood insider cameos.

11/15 Star spotting: Billy Crystal, Denzel Washington, Marisa Tomei

Billy Crystal, Marisa Tomei and Bette Midler have been seen all over Atlanta for a few weeks now, filming family comedy, "Parental Guidance." Filming has taken place at Piedmont Park, Perimeter Mall and Cobb Energy Centre as well as various sites throughout Atlanta, Dunwoody and Johns Creek. Tomei in particular has been seen shopping and dining around town when not shooting.

Denzel Washington is currently filming Robert Zemeckis' new project "Flight" throughout Buckhead and Sandy Springs. John Goodman has also been spotted around town, while we have yet to hear anything about co-stars Don Cheadle and Melissa Leo.

Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and Vince Vaughn have been filming "The Watch" on location in Marietta and Smyrna for several weeks and just moved the set to Midtown.

"The Walking Dead" is currently in production of season two and has been filming near Senoia and Hampton lately.

Spotted any celebrities around the state? Email us at reelga@gmail.com with the details and we'll post it here.