February 9, 2016 March Film Talks to Focus on Jewish Themes

Press Contact: Audrey Fischer (202) 707-0022
Public Contact: Gail Shirazi (202) 707-9897

The Library of Congress will host two film talks on Jewish or Israeli themes during the week of March 2. Each will feature remarks by the directors and clips from their documentary films.

The talks are presented by the Library’s Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, in cooperation with the Library’s Hebrew Language Table and the Washington Jewish Film Festival. The series is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required. The presentations will be held at noon in venues located in the Library’s James Madison Building at 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, March 2, “Carvalho’s Journey” (2015), directed by Steve Rivo, who will be present to discuss the film and show clips. In 1853, at a time when photography was just starting to take root, Solomon Carvalho, an observant Sephardic Jew, was the first to photograph and capture the sweeping vistas and astounding raw beauty of the American West. Location: Law Library Multimedia Center LM 240, James Madison Building

Thursday, March 3, “The Hebrew Superhero” (2015), directed by Asaf Galay, who will be present to discuss and show clips from the film, which traces the evolution of Israeli comics from the cultural fringe to a mainstream reflection of Israeli society. Location: Mary Pickford Theater, Third Floor, James Madison Building

Steve Rivo has produced, directed or written projects for PBS, CNN, MTV, MSNBC, Discovery, Investigation Discovery, The Weather Channel, Court TV/TruTV and VH1. He has also collaborated with filmmakers Alex Gibney, Robert Redford and Ric Burns. Rivo was a producer of “New York: A Documentary Film,” “Eugene O’Neill” and “Ansel Adams” for PBS, senior producer of “The Vice Guide To Everything” and a writer/director for the CNN series “Death Row Stories.” His documentaries have garnered Emmy, DuPont-Columbia, Peabody, IDA, Telly and Cine Golden Eagle awards. Rivo also teaches in the Master of Fine Arts program at Hofstra University.

Asaf Galay has directed and written a number of award-winning documentaries for Israeli television. These include “In the Jewish Land,” a series on Israeli humor (2005); “Tel Aviv-Jaffa,” (2007); “When the Lion Asked Twice,” on the life and influence of Zionist hero Joseph Trumpeldor (2008); and “Sentimentality Allowed,” about the Israeli national poet Natan Alterman (2012).

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the first-established federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs, publications and exhibitions. Many of the Library’s rich resources can be accessed through its website at loc.gov.

###

PR 16-029
2016-02-10
ISSN 0731-3527