Joan Mullens, left; Beth Byer
In the fall of 2016, Joan Mullens received a call from Jane Neff, on behalf of the programming committee of Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs. Neff was interested in starting a film festival as part of the Temple programming, and she asked Mullens if she would chair the series. Neff thought it would be a good idea to air Jewish films that had not yet been seen in Colorado Springs.
Thus was born the Temple Shalom Film Series.
Almost four years later, the film series in Colorado Springs is a success and has been well-received by the community. The 11-member committee chooses three films per year to show at the Temple.
Suggestions are solicited from various sources, including film festivals such as those in Palo Alto, Denver and San Francisco; online websites; word of mouth; and the film distributors from which the films come: Menemsha Films and Go2 Films.
A link to the candidate films is forwarded to members of the committee, who watch and review the films.
The group members rank them from a pool of eight to 10 films; a consensus of the committee members then decides which three selections will be part of Temple Shalom’s series that year.
Mullens reports that the film committee tries to select Jewish films of varying subjects and genres for any given year. They choose those films that are deemed most receptive for audiences. The films that are chosen must be less than two years old. In past years, films have included those about the Holocaust, famous Jewish people, documentaries, Israeli cuisine, pilots of the Israeli Defense Force and three funny shorts. Mullens states that the committee tries to “mix it up” for the audience.
Since Temple Shalom is not registered as an official film festival, it does not have a license for film showing and is prohibited from charging for viewing the film. Film festivals are charged a reduced rate, but the temple does not qualify as a “festival” and therefore does not receive the discount.
The temple’s programming budget allows the series some money; however, this line entry includes all programming for the temple, not just the film series.
Members can become a “maven” or “mensch” of the Temple Shalom Jewish Film Society; membership includes from one to three receptions.
Food served at the receptions has a connection to the films’ subjects. For example, the film shown about Israeli cuisine was followed by a reception reflecting the dishes of the region. The social hall is also decorated to follow the theme of the evening.
Beth Byer, co-chair of the film committee, reports that the attendance at the films’ showings has generally been between 50 and 60 people. The film about Joseph Pulitzer was a very popular choice and brought in approximately 90 people.
The events are open to the public. Byer says, “it’s a way to bring the community together.”
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