Santa Fe Jewish Film Festival Double Feature!

by | Oct 5, 2015 | Rosenwald Screenings

On October 3rd, Aviva set out to New Mexico for the Santa Fe Jewish Film Festival. New Mexico is not unfamiliar territory for Aviva. She once lived there when working with VISTA as a volunteer.

The SOLD OUT screening of Rosenwald commenced on October 3rd and was followed by a discussion with Aviva. As an added bonus, Aviva returned the next day for a screening of her previous film, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg.

Rosenwald Meet-and-Greet inspires students at Booker T. Washington High School

by | Oct 2, 2015 | Rosenwald Screenings

Oct. 1st – Eager students discuss film on the day before it opens in Florida

Left to right: Students of Booker T. Washington Senior High, Alexis Moseley from Commissioner Sally Heyman’s office, City Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, Rosenwald filmmaker, Aviva Kempner holding the Visitor Certificate of Appreciation from the office of County Commissioner, Sally Heyman, Miami-Dade NAACP President, Dr. Shirley B. Johnson, and Pastor Williams, photo courtesy of The Ciesla Foundation

Left to right: Alexis Moseley from County Commissioner Sally Heyman’s office, Dr. Shirley B. Johnson, Miami-Dade NAACP President, Rabbi Marc Labowitz, Aviva Kempner, Director/Writer of Rosenwald, Principal William Aristide, City Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, Pastor Kenneth L. Washington

To celebrate the October 2nd theatrical release of the new film, ROSENWALD, the Historic Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Miami, Florida, hosted a student meet and greet with the film’s director, Aviva Kempner, the NAACP Miami President, Dr. Shirley Johnson, City Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, Pastor Williams, and Rabbi Labowitz. The event was initiated as a way to bridge the gap of diversity and bring awareness to the students about how philanthropist Julius Rosenwald was influenced by the writings of educator Booker T. Washington, the schools namesake. The students were able to participate in a discussion from very important community leaders as they talked about the themes in the film such as the meaning of charity, the importance of education, social responsibility, and how Rosenwald’s efforts helped educate many prominent African American figures such as Tony Award winning playwright George Wolfe, poet Maya Angelou, U.S. Representative John Lewis, Anita Hill and Pulitzer Prize winner Eugene Robinson.

The students were encouraged to dream big and take part in making a change within their community in the same spirit of Julius Rosenwald. The County Commissioner Sally Heyman’s office presented Aviva Kempner with a Distinguished Visitor Certificate of Appreciation for bringing this important film to South Florida. The students in attendance will be going as a school sponsored field trip to watch the film once it opens at the AMC Aventura 24 Theater.

Successful Screening in Atlanta!

by | Sep 18, 2015 | Rosenwald Screenings

We had a wonderful screening of Rosenwald on Wednesday night at Landmark Theaters Midtown Arts Cinema in Atlanta, Georgia. Andy Young’s daughter was in attendance and made a public statement about the importance of the film. Atlanta City Councilman Michael Bond, the son of Julius, was also there and spoke to Aviva about the film in a discussion moderated by M. Alexis Scott. Scott is the Publisher Emerita of the Atlanta Daily World and is also a member of Fox 5’s Georgia Gang.

This screening was presented with the help of the Atlanta American Jewish Committee, The Black-Jewish Coalition, and the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. We thank them for making this possible.

Regular showings in Atlanta begin on September 18 at the same theater. Aviva will also be making an appearance on the opening night.

New Maryland openings!

by | Sep 12, 2015 | Aviva Kempner, Rosenwald Screenings

On September 1st, Aviva Kempner made an appearance at the Old Greenbelt Theater in Greenbelt, Maryland. In attendance were members of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Aviva with some Delta Sigma Theta sisters

Ten days later, September 11th, Aviva headed to Baltimore, Maryland where Rosenwald was slated to begin screening at the Charles Theater. She was joined at the screening by a special guest:

It is unknown as to whether or not the penguin had, in fact, attended a Rosenwald school

In addition to a penguin, Aviva was joined by an even more special guest; The King Years trilogy author, Taylor Branch. After the screening, Branch joined Aviva in a discussion on Julius Rosenwald, Civil Rights Movement and Julian Bond.

Branch and Kempner answer questions form the audience