By Rachel Galvin
The Donald M. Ephraim Sun & Stars International Film Festival© (SASIFF), presented by MorseLife, is returning January 25 to Feb 6. The festival presents 28 films, including award-winning documentaries, gripping dramas, historical tales, LGBTQIA+ stories, comedies, thrillers and more. For many of the screenings, some of the people behind the making of the film will be in attendance.
The festival opens on January 25 with the funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story “Ethan Bloom,” about a Jewish boy who wants to become Catholic, much to the chagrin of his father. Director Herschel Faber and screenwriter Maylen Dominguez will host a discussion following the film.
The Opening Night takes place within the Kravis Center, located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. It will begin with a cinematic cocktail reception with light bites and beverages in the Cohen Pavilion at 6:30 pm, followed by the screening in the Rinker Playhouse there one hour later. The festival will also present the inaugural Donald M. Ephraim/Terri Sriberg Award for Cinematic Excellence to Film Commissioner Michelle Hillery, head of the Palm Beach County TV & Film Commission.
After a bevy of films showing through the January 31 at the Rinker Playhouse, the festival moves to Hooky Entertainment, at 14775 Lyons Road in Delray Beach Feb 1-5 with more great films.
Then the festival concludes on Feb. 6 with the movie ”A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole.” The documentary explores how the iconic designer fused fashion and activism over four decades to champion causes from AIDS awareness to LGBTQIA+ rights. Kenneth Cole and director Dori Berinstein will be present for an audience discussion. This event will take place at the luxurious Glazer Hall at 70 Royal Poinciana Way in Palm Beach. It will include a cocktail hour from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by the screening at 7:30 p.m.
For a full schedule of all the films that will be shown at the festival and for ticket information, visit www.sasiff.org.
SCHEDULE: (with screening times and locations)
Ethan Bloom — January 25, 7:30 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Dead Language — January 26, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Islands — January 26, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Pianist’s Choice — January 27, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Andy Kaufman is Me — January 27, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Frontier — January 28, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Marching Band — January 28, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Case 137 — January 29, 1:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Tasters — January 29, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Speak. — January 29, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Sultana’s Dream — January 30, 1:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Mohican — January 30, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Calle Málaga — January 30, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
The Stranger — January 31, 1:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Reading Lolita in Tehran — January 31, 4:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Steve Schapiro: Being Everywhere — January 31, 7:00 PM — Kravis Center (Rinker Playhouse)
Natchez — February 1, 1:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Drop Dead City — February 1, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Jimpa — February 1, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Checkpoint Zoo — February 2, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Young Mothers — February 2, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
A World Apart — February 3, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
The Little Sister — February 3, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
The Ties That Bind Us — February 4, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Late Shift — February 4, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Block Pass — February 5, 4:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
Mortician — February 5, 7:00 PM — Hooky Entertainment (Delray Beach)
A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole — February 6, 7:30 PM — Glazer Hall (Palm Beach)