By Ethlie Ann Vare
Photos by Todd Felderstein
Beverly Hills, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/29/25 – The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival kicked off Thursday night with a screening of the Brian Epstein biopic Midas Man at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. There were piles of knishes and rugelach from Factors, a soundtrack from the Fab Four, and a crowd that included everyone from Barbra Streisand’s sister Roslyn Kind to Beatles historian Martin Lewis. It marked the 50th anniversary of World Beatles Day and the 20th anniversary of the film festival itself.
Of course, it also marked a fraught time for world Jewry, hence the armed Magen Am (“National Shield”) volunteers patrolling the Saban Theatre. Happily, for all, the most dramatic moment of the evening was when the Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.
“Cinema is a powerful tool for storytelling and promoting understanding,” said Hilary Helstein, founder and executive director of the LAJFF as she welcomed the bustling audience to opening night. But, as Beverly Hills mayor Sharona Nazarian noted in her remarks, “This festival is about more than great movies.” It is also, as Orna Wolens of the Jewish Federation added, a “celebration of Jewish joy.”
The head rabbi of the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts told us that the Jewish community is “unbowed and unafraid.” The Vice Mayor shared that his aunt and uncle, Charlie Brill and Mitzi McCall, were also on that Ed Sullivan show but no one remembers that part of it. Jay Leno, who plays Sullivan in the movie, remarked that he himself is “a shabbos goy from New Rochelle” and was awarded both a Legacy Award and a City Proclamation.
Yes, there were a lot of remarks before the screening, plus a panel discussion after with writer Brigit Grant and director Joe Stephenson, and an acoustic performance from Jonah Lees, who played John Lennon. It was a full and satisfying evening, kind of like dinner with your bubbe.
“I feel like we need to celebrate the fact that we are Jews, to honor what we do in the industry,” said Ido Samuel, one of the stars of Hulu’s Holocaust drama We Were the Lucky Ones, over kosher cookies. “It makes me happy to be among other Jews who are happy to be Jewish. To just be a man of our tribe.”
LAJFF goals have always been “to present films that preserve and celebrate Jewish heritage; to build a cohesive community by offering films that create awareness of important societal issues; and, to create programming that will educate its audience and promote the bright future of Jewish creativity.” In the area of social issues, Wolens invited people to support California bill AB715, which strengthens the state’s capacity to prevent and respond to antisemitism (antisemitic incidents in California’s K-12 schools have surged 623% in the last decade, she said), and Nazarian announced Beverly Hills’ intention to install a permanent October 7 memorial.
Screenings this year run through Tuesday, July 1 at various Laemmle theaters, with a closing ceremony at the Museum of Tolerance. Offerings include a bio of actor Charles Grodin, a documentary about a Nazi art thief, and a second screening of Midas Man.
“Without Brian Epstein, the Beatles would have been the fourth most popular bar band on the river Mersey,” said Martin Lewis, noting that he, too, is both British and Jewish. “As much as Brian spread the word about the Beatles, we should spread the word about Brian.” (Note: Midas Man reviews are embargoed until its official opening.)
Here’s how you can spread the word about the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival:
