Film and music courses for cinephiles and music lovers.
Film Classes
MASTERWORKS OF ISRAELI CINEMA (Pt. 2)
Registration deadline: March 12
Taught by George Robinson
Mondays, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
6 Sessions, March 15 – April 26
$169 ($149 for JxJ Donors of certain levels*)
George Robinson’s popular course Masterworks of Israeli Cinema just scratched the surface of the cinematic riches of Israel’s national cinema. Now, he’s back with a follow-up class, offering a deep dive into 6 standout productions from the 2010s. Participation in the earlier course is not a pre-requisite; all are welcome!
Teacher: George Robinson recently finished 26 years as the film critic at The Jewish Week (NYC). An adjunct assistant professor of media arts and technology at Borough of Manhattan Community College, he has been writing about film for almost 50 years. He is also the author of Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs and Rituals (Simon and Schuster/Atria) and Essential Torah: A Complete Guide to the Five Books of Moses (Schocken).
ROMANTIC COMEDIES: A TOOL FOR CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
Registration deadline: April 2
Taught by Faridah Gbadamosi
Tuesdays, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
6 Sessions, April 6 – May 11
$169 ($149 for JxJ Donors of certain levels*)
Romantic comedies are more than just meet-cutes and satisfying endings. Romcoms are actually blueprints for our society. The very things the genre is often derided for actually make these films blank canvases for cultural insights. Over the course of 6 sessions, we will look at the different ways one can look at romantic comedies and how they ultimately serve as a cultural roadmap.
Teacher: Faridah Gbadamosi is a pop culture-obsessed lover of film working toward making the space more inclusive. She works as a writer, producer, and film curator.
WATCHING FILM CRITICALLY: BEST OF FESTS
Registration deadline: March 12
Taught by Ilya Tovbis
Wednesdays, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
6 Sessions, March 17 – April 21
$169 ($149 for JxJ Donors of certain levels*)
Building off the terminology and insights of How Movies Are Made (participation in that class is a pre-requisite), we analyze and dissect award-winning films from major international festivals like Berlin, Venice, Cannes and Sundance.
Teacher: Ilya Tovbis is the Artistic and Managing Director of JxJ, and for 8 years the Director of the Washington Jewish Film Festival. He has been a guest programmer at the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) and the Virginia Film Festival (VAFF). His film reviews and industry breakdowns have been published in indieWire, Slant Magazine, and Flavorpill.
This class is only open to those who have taken the How Movies Are Made course.
HOW MOVIES ARE MADE
Registration deadline: March 12
Taught by Ilya Tovbis
Thursdays, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
5 Sessions, March 18 – April 15
$149 ($129 for JxJ Donors of certain levels*)
Ever wonder why your favorite filmmaker takes so long to come out with new work? Why Hollywood is obsessed with sequels? How a film is birthed from the kernel of an idea, nurtured in the screenwriting process, made tangible during shooting, refined through editing, and eventually brought to the silver screen?
Teacher: Ilya Tovbis is the Artistic and Managing Director of JxJ, and for 8 years the Director of the Washington Jewish Film Festival. He has been a guest programmer at the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) and the Virginia Film Festival (VAFF). His film reviews and industry breakdowns have been published in indieWire, Slant Magazine, and Flavorpill.
Previous Classes
18 Aliyot: Israeli Folklore and Music of the Diaspora
Behind the Screen: How Movies are Made
The Jews of American Jazz
Klezmer, American Music
Masterworks of the New Israeli Cinema
The Jews of Tin Pan Alley
What’s Not to Like? Hollywood’s Love Affair with Jewish Humor
Shoah on Screen: Through the Eyes of Children
Hidden Gems of Jewish Cinema
Slipping into Darkness: The Jewish Influence on Film Noir
Sephardic Musical Journey
How to Watch Film Critically
Discounts & Policies
*The following JxJ Donors are eligible for class discounts:
- JxJ 2020 Donors, Patron Level ($1,100) and Above
- Fan Level ($175) and above donors renewing their donations for the 2020/2021 Season (gifts received after July 1, 2020).
- New Donors at the Fan Level ($175) or Above
Use the email address attached to your JxJ account and your donor discount will automatically be taken in your cart. If you have questions, call 202.777.3210 and we will be happy to help you complete your transaction.
Policies
It is preferred that participants log in via computers (with microphones and speakers), but if need be they can call in by phone. Registrants will receive detailed instructions from JxJ within a few days of registering.
Each individual in a household must register separately.
All students MUST register for class. It is easiest to do this online, but can also be done over the phone if necessary.
JxJ reserves the right to cancel classes that do not have the minimum required number of students. Students may request a full refund for the cancelled class or apply the money toward future JxJ classes. JxJ can refund tuition up to 10 days prior to the class starting. Students may only apply one discount per class per registration period.
Please feel free to contact JxJ at 202.777.3210 or boxoffice@jxjdc.org with any questions or concerns.
JxJ is not responsible for providing make-ups or issuing credit or refunds for programs missed as a result of personal scheduling conflicts, illnesses, emergencies, or other circumstances beyond JxJ’s control. If you are unable to attend a program for any of these reasons, we encourage you to consider your registration fee a form of support, helping JxJ sustain our programs.