(http://www.sfjff.org) is set to launch the largest and most comprehensive online resource for Jewish film in the world. The New Media Initiative will be the ultimate destination for film lovers and filmmakers alike, replicating the same successful models of curation, exhibition, education and community-building that the Festival has successfully offered since 1980, now brought to life online through a media-rich web resource ? like an IMDB for Jewish film.

The SFJFF?s New Media Initiative website will offer easy access to hundreds of film titles, streaming media, viewer recommendations, educational and curriculum materials, social networking opportunities, and a showcase for new Jewish stories and films created specifically for emerging media platforms. The site was built using the most expandable available open source technology, enabling content and design sharing to support other nonprofits, Jewish film festivals, independent film and media nonprofits, or other Jewish educational/history web communities. In addition, the SFJFF is developing its educational resources on the Moodle platform, the open source solution for tens of thousands of educators serving millions of students. SFJFF will be the first film festival in the world to enable educators around the globe to take advantage of its curriculum and community.

SFJFF is also exploring innovative uses of handheld mobile technology in the film festival environment, some of which ? including text-to-screen interaction, mobile movie ratings, and last-minute notifications about film ticket discounts and deals, have never before been used in the context of a culturally-specific film festival experience.

With the advent of popular video sharing and social networking sites like Youtube and Facebook, audiences are increasingly turning to the internet for the latest in entertainment, media making and community building.
Film festivals are struggling to re-imagine how they might continue to unite audiences and filmmakers in meaningful celebrations of independent cinema. The SFJFF?s New Media Initiative will not only give viewers the chance to experience the film festival remotely, it will give users a place to search and connect, serving as a living archive and educational tool for Jewish history and film for future generations. And the June launch is just the beginning ? the site will evolve and grow in the months to come, adding new features, films and social media capabilities.