By Maria Esteves - February 24, 2010

The 14th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) 2010, Opening Night Gala Reception, presented by the American Sephardi Federation (ASF)/Sephardic House (SH), and Yeshiva University Museum (YUM) immediately followed the Opening Night New York Premiere of COCO, directed by Gad Elmaleh at the Center for Jewish History, Thursday, February 4, 7:30 PM.

The 14th NYSJFF marked the festivals 20th anniversary from its founding in 1990 (International Sephardic Film Festival). 2010 NYSJFF Awards Inauguration in celebration of the festival's 20th Anniversary preceded the Opening Night Gala. This year's Pomegranate award recipients were festival founders Dr. Janice Ovadiah, Israeli filmmaker Haim Shiran, PILLAR OF SALT and ASF board member Morrie Yohai. NYSJFF Opening Night Gala attendees included UN & Israeli diplomats, dignitaries, sponsors, filmmakers, producers, special guests, members and patrons.

2010 NYSJFF Opening Night Gala: President David E. R. Dangoor,
ASF, introducing the festival’s history.

2010 NYSJFF Opening Night Gala: director of programming Lynne
Winters, ASF, introducing the 2010 NYSJFF.

2010 NYSJFF Opening Night Gala: Institutional Advancement
Director Rachel Lazin, Yeshiva University Museum, introducing
the festival’s history.

2010 NYSJFF Opening Night Gala Reception: (from left-right), special
projects Shelomo Alfassa, ASF, with Orthodox Rabbi Myron Rakowitz,
Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie, and festival guest Yael Stuefen.

2010 NYSJFF Opening Night Gala Reception: Orthodox Rabbi Myron
and wife Sarah Rakowitz, Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie.

2010 NYSJFF Opening Night Gala Reception: President
Batya Badanowski, Concourse International Travel, Inc.