SEPHARDIC SPOTLIGHT

[In-Person + Virtual]

In-Person Special Event: Film introduction by Professor Canan Bolel, UW Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. Includes reception of Sephardic coffee klatch (echar lashon) with coffee, tea, and biscochos.

Screens with short film SONGS OF THE SEPHARDIM OF IZMIR. This short film will play during the in-person showtime of Alegria. If you purchase virtual tickets to Alegria, enjoy a free ticket add-on to watch this short film as well.

A moving and layered, amusing drama about a woman breaking free from patriarchal tradition in a Sephardic Jewish diasporic community. Set in contemporary Melilla, an autonomous, multicultural Spanish city on Africa’s north coast where Jews, Muslims, and Christians converge, Alegría (Cecilia Suárez) is a single mother who has returned to her hometown from Mexico for her niece Yael’s Orthodox Jewish wedding. When she learns that her family is going to stay with her, life gets messy. Alegría doesn’t acknowledge her Jewish heritage. Luckily, the women in her orbit, including a Muslim Moroccan girl who works for her, are there to help. Violeta Salama’s feature film debut sensitively depicts Alegría coming to terms with her roots and the cultural past she rejected—including a daughter living in Israel—as she struggles to reconnect with family and friends. Suárez’s standout performance is as riveting as the gorgeous evocation of a fascinating and beautiful corner of the world not often seen onscreen. Alegría is a luminous and surprising story that draws from the director’s own experiences growing up in Melilla. It plays as an homage to a city whose vivid contrasts and blended culture perfectly reflect the contour of her characters’ interconnected dramas.

Additional Things to Know

• Read our Festival FAQ Page for frequently asked questions about attending in-person, streaming access links, or using the EleventTV app on your SmartTV, troubleshooting, and how to join Zooms online.
• Attending in-person? Advance purchase and ticket package redemption is highly recommended. Before coming to the theater, review our Venue Policies and the SJCC Welcome Back Page for up-to-date policies, protocols, and information.
• Watching virtually? Advance ticket purchasers will receive a Virtual Access Email one (1) hour before the film streaming window opens. If you purchase when a film is already streaming, your Virtual Access Email link is live. Once you hit "play," you have 48 hours to finish the film. All films expire on Sun. March 26, 11:59pm. There is no grace period. Plan accordingly.
• Tickets may be purchased up to two (2) hours before the festival ends.
• Theater admission requires one (1) tickets per person. Virtual: one (1) ticket/viewing per household/device.

Box Office + Venue Policies

• ALL SALES FINAL: NO REFUNDS, CREDITS OR EXCHANGES
• Ticket processing fees apply at checkout.
• Ticket purchasers must choose in-person or virtual tickets before checking out. For only $5, you can make any film hybrid. Select "add on" and enjoy hybrid flexibility.
• Buying a Full Pass or Ticket Package supports SJFF, gets you hybrid access, and more films to watch at a discount!
• Purchasing tickets for others? They will need the Virtual Access's voucher code to watch.
• Patrons agree to all terms and conditions outlined here and on our SJCC Box Office + Venue Policies Page. 
• Need Help? Email boxoffice@sjcc.org

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