JFI’s Mitzvah Series Visits the Frank Residences

This April, JFI staff brought 2022 JFI Completion Grantee I Like It Here (SFJFF43) to the Frank Residences San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living. The screening was part of JFI’s year-round Mitzvah Series, which brings Jewish-content films to senior living facilities and other communities that might not otherwise be able to access them. Directed by acclaimed documentarian Ralph Arlyck, I Like It Here, which screened at SFJFF, is a gratifying personal essay that shares his humorous and insightful personal reflections on the challenges of aging, and the pleasures of being alive.

Forty people attended the screening in person, and the film was also simulcast throughout the facility, making it available for all 600 residents to watch in their rooms. The film’s honest and moving portrayal of aging sparked conversations and stirred up warm memories for the older adult community. Following the screening, JFI Programmer Dominique Oneil led a Q&A with residents, providing time to pause and reflect on the film before asking them to share their feelings and answering questions about director Ralph Arlyck and his reflexive style of filmmaking.

The Jewish Film Institute’s Mitzvah Series was inaugurated in 2007 to take its Festival programming “on the road” to senior centers and residential communities for audiences that would otherwise not be able to view Festival films. Mitzvah Series programs are provided at no charge to residents and include post-screening discussions on issues in the films. JFI’s collaboration with senior agencies has included the Reutlinger Center for Jewish Living, Rhoda Goldman Plaza and the Oshman Family JCC of Palo Alto. The Mitzvah Series also includes free matinee screenings at the annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.