Guardian of Jerusalem
$1,000,000
Our Opening Night Gala Honorees
Sephardic Legacy Award
Michael Morhaime
As cofounder and CEO of Dreamhaven and cofounder and former CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Morhaime’s video game career spans more than three decades. Under Mike’s leadership, Blizzard produced more than twenty #1 games, including World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo and Overwatch. Mike is the oldest of three children to Victor and Beverly Morhaime. Victor’s parents immigrated from Istanbul, Turkey to Los Angeles, and Victor grew up speaking Ladino at home. Mike is happily married to Amy, and they are the proud parents of Olivia. Mike is the SEC’s first-ever Israel trip alumnus (Summer 1984) to be honored at our Sephardic Film Festival. We proudly present him with the Sephardic Legacy Award.
Maimonides Leadership Award
Nira Sayegh
Nira (Iny) Sayegh was born in Israel to parents who immigrated from Baghdad, Iraq. In 1975, her family moved to Los Angeles. She is married to Pinny, and they are the proud parents of Hadar, Sharone, Doreen and Leetal, as well as the proud grandparents of four beautiful grandchildren. Nira has been a lifelong community activist in many Jewish and Israeli organizations, and serves with devotion on the SEC’s USA and Israel Executive Boards. For her dedicated work in Jewish education, Sephardic culture and connecting people to Israel, the SEC proudly awards Nira the Maimonides Leadership Award.
Cinema Sepharad Award
Shaun Toub
and “Tehran” for Outstanding Drama Series
Master of Ceremonies
David Suissa
Jewish Journal
Editor-in-Chief
Sponsorship Opportunities
Pay online below, or mail a check payable to “SEC” to:
6505 Wilshire Blvd #320 Los Angeles, CA 90048
Producer Sponsorship
$10,000
- 10 Opening Night Gala Tickets
- 10 Festival Passes
- On-Screen Credit at Gala & Festival
- Full Page Ad in Honoree Tribute Book
Director Sponsorship
$5,000
- Director Sponsorship
- 6 Opening Night Gala Tickets
- 6 Festival Passes
- On-Screen Credit at Gala & Festival
- Full Page Ad in Honoree Tribute Book
Cinematographer Sponsorship
$3,600
- 4 Festival Passes
- On-Screen Credit at Gala & Festival
- Full Page Ad in Honoree Tribute Book
Mogul Sponsorship
$1,800
- 2 Opening Night Gala Tickets
- 2 Festival Passes
- On-Screen Credit at Gala & Festival
- Half-Page Ad in Honoree Tribute Book
Premiere Sponsorships
Premiere Sponsorship includes:
Naming Opportunities at our Campus in Jerusalem
Individual Customized Gala Package
Please contact our International Director Rabbi Daniel Bouskila.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising is available for families or businesses for On-screen & Honoree Tribute Book
Pay online below, or mail a check payable to “SEC” to:
6505 Wilshire Blvd #320 Los Angeles, CA 90048
Full Page
Gala and Festival On-Screen Ad and in Honoree Tribute Book
Half Page
Gala and Festival On-Screen Ad and in Honoree Tribute Book
Greeting
Printed in
Honoree Tribute Book
Gala Opening Night Feature
PARAMOUNT STUDIOS
5555 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
God’s Neighbors (“Hamashgichim”)
Israel (102 min.) Hebrew, Ladino & Arabic with English Subtitles
When Avi Bahar and his 2 friends, living in the largely Sephardic Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam, become immersed in the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and their Jewish identities become more radicalized, they take on the role of “God’s supervisors” who judge and enforce how their neighbors are allowed to practice their Judaism, which eventually spills over into the treatment of their Arab neighbors as well. It takes love and the harsh reality that violence will never bring peace to return Avi to his father’s model of tolerance and moderation and gives us a great lesson in the timeless axiom of “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”.
Individual Screening Tickets
$20 per ticket
LUMIÈRE MUSIC HALL
9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills
BOTTARGA ATLANTA
USA, 2021 (13 min.) English (Short)
As a child Dan Maslia used to watch his mother who immigrated to Atlanta from Turkey in 1920 make “abudahu” (Bottarga). Dan has now been making bottarga for over 50 years and selling it to fans around the country. At 89, he’s “trying” to retire.
TUESDAYS ARE FOR BUREKAS
USA, 2021 (13 min.) English (Short)
The Ladies of Congregation Or VeShalom in Atlanta, founded in 1914 by Jews from Rhodes, meet every Tuesday to bake “burekas”. It’s a way to keep alive the traditions of this unique Sephardic community of the South.
THE KING OF BOREK
Israel, 2018 (74 min.) Hebrew and Ladino with English Subtitles
The Alkolombri’s, a proud family of Bulgarian bakers that immigrated to the newborn state of Israel, opened the first bakery selling “Burekas” and soon became the first franchised food chain in Israel, “Sami Burekas”. This is the story of the rise and fall of the family empire.
Saving the Iraqi Jewish Archives: A Journey of Identity”
USA, 2020 (56 min.)
In 2003, a few courageous individuals ventured into the basement of Saddam Hussein’s secret police headquarters in Baghdad. There they found, and rescued, nearly 20,000 artifacts from Iraq’s 2700-year-old Jewish community. This is a story for all those determined to preserve their heritage. Featuring many members of the LA Iraqi-Jewish community.
Q&A following screening with Pro-ducer/Director Carole Basri.
A MATTER OF TIME – The story of the Jewish communities ofNorth Africa during WWII
USA/ISRAEL, 2005 (52 min.),
Hebrew, French with English Subtitles
The untold story of the Jewish communities of Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco during World War II reveals how they were spared the same fate of their co-religionists in Europe.
Q&A with Dr. Aomar Boum, Author of “Wartime North Africa: A Documentary His- tory, 1934–1950”; Amado Chair in Sephardic Studies, UCLA
THE UNORTHODOX
ISRAEL, 2018 (93 min)
Hebrew with English Subtitles
The year is 1983 and Yaakov Cohen, the owner of a Jerusalem printing press, is tired of being pushed around especially when he knows it’s because he’s Sephardic. He decides to establish a Sephardic-ultra- Orthodox political party to run in the Jerusalem municipal elections on a wing and a prayer and earn some respect for his people. Based on the founding of the Sephardic SHAS party in Israel.
DWELLING IN TRAVELLING
INDIA 2019 (67 min), English
The story of the Baghdadi Jews of Calcutta who prospered in the capital city of British India. They spoke in Arabic, prayed in Hebrew and led a kosher life. From the height of 4000 members in the 1940’s the community started to disperse after WWII and today their descendants have found new homes all over the globe, including here in Los Angeles.
THESE WOODS – U.S. Premiere
ISRAEL, 2022 (84 min.) Hebrew, Maghrebi Arabic, French with English Subtitles
In 1961 Israel, the country was still develop- ing and forests were being planted all over, including the Galilee Mountains. There, im-migrants from North Africa were sent to do hard labor jobs. This touching feature/documentary describes the harsh realities common to immigrant stories everywhere.
Screening Sponsorships are available
$5,0000
Pay online below, or mail a check payable to “SEC” to:
6505 Wilshire Blvd #320 Los Angeles, CA 90048
About The Festival
The Los Angeles Sephardic Jewish Film Festival brings the unique stories and culture of Sephardic Jewry to the big screen. Established in 1997 by the Sephardic Educational Center (SEC), the festival’s diverse array of films promote a deeper understanding of Sephardic Judaism’s rich heritage. The festival’s Cinema Sepharad Award recognizes leading celebrities and artists for their unique achievements in the entertainment industry, while the Maimonides Leadership Award and Sephardic Legacy Award honor outstanding leaders and philanthropists for their contributions to society.
The Film Festival proceeds support the Sephardic Educational Center (SEC) which is dedicated to strengthening Jewish identity for youth and young adults, and to building a new generation of spiritual and community leaders.
From our historic campus in the Old City of Jerusalem to our various diaspora branches, the SEC’s philosophy of Classic Sephardic Judaism offers Jews an opportunity to connect with their roots in a warm, friendly and positive environment. At the SEC, tradition meets modernity, and the timeless values of intellect, unity, compassion and tolerance blend to create a meaningful connection to Judaism, Israel and the Jewish people.
Festival Screenings
November 14- 20, 2022