The Boston Jewish Film Festival announces “Luminaries and Legends,” its major fall fundraiser. Three Luminaries will be honored for their leadership in film in New England on Oct. 22 – Judy Ganz, Lisa Gossels and Kaj Wilson.
 
Judy Ganz, Festival architect and visionary. Judy has been at the heart of the Festival since its inception, serving as Board Chair from 2002 - 2009. During her tenure, the Festival enjoyed exponential growth in attendance and stature. Judy is an indefatigable leader of the arts and Jewish communities. She has served on numerous corporate and philanthropic boards. Judy lives in Belmont.
 
Lisa Gossels, a documentarian who believes in the power of film to affect social change. Lisa is President of Good Egg Productions in Manhattan. Her films include Emmy award-winning The Children of Chabannes and award-winning My So-Called Enemy. Lisa’s movies reflect Jewish history and offer profound messages about building bridges of understanding during times of great conflict. Lisa is a native of Wayland.
 
Kaj Wilson, Festival artistic director for over a decade. Kaj brought creative vision and acumen to the Festival and broader Jewish community. The winner of honors from the Boston Society of Film Critics and Women in Film and Video/New England, she acted as artistic liaison for the Boston-Haifa Connection, curated film series for Jewish Women’s Archive and the New Center for Arts and Culture, taught courses and served on film juries and panels. Kaj lives in Newton.
 
The work of a film legend will be shown at “Luminaries and Legends” with scenes from the work-in-progress documentary, Sidney Lumet: The Moral Lens. The late Sidney Lumet directed more than 40 films, including Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, The Pawnbroker, 12 Angry Men, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Murder on the Orient Express, and Equus. Director Daniel Anker will share insights on Lumet, the moral questions he raised, and the impact of Lumet’s Jewish upbringing on his films. Daniel will share clips from his documentary Sidney Lumet: The Moral Lens.
 
The event takes place Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at WGBH, One Guest St., Boston. Co-chairs are Maya Katz of Lexington and Adam Riemer, of Boston. The evening features both silent and live auctions. A list of items will be available on the Festival website. Cocktails, supper and dessert will be offered. Complimentary parking is available. Tickets are $250 each, available through the Festival website www.bjff.org.
 
The fundraiser kicks off this year’s 23rd Annual Festival, Nov. 2 – 13. “Our Fall Festival is our central event, attracting almost 10,000 attendees annually,” says Joyce Pastor of Weston, chair of the board of The Boston Jewish Film Festival. “This ‘Luminaries and Legends’ kick-off fundraiser helps cement our strength. Less than 20 percent of our funding comes from Festival ticket sales. The support of attendees and donors allows us to bring groundbreaking films, events and guests to New England.”

About The Boston Jewish Film Festival
The Boston Jewish Film Festival presents the best contemporary films from around the world on Jewish themes at its annual November Festival and throughout the year. Through features, shorts, documentaries, and conversations with visiting artists, the Festival explores Jewish identity, the current Jewish experience, and the richness of Jewish culture in relation to a diverse modern world. The Boston Jewish Film Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit arts organization.