#AJFF20 Closes with Best Documentary, Saul & Ruby, To Life!

What an amazing blessing to experience such a profound film festival festival in celebration of its 20 year anniversary! This year’s celebratory festival lasted 18 days and drew over 38,000 film-goers from start to finish. Including shorts, documentaries, world premieres, international features, dramedies and more, the AJFF has earned a remarkable name for itself where it concerns the “cinematic exploration of the Jewish experience — Jewish culture and history, life in Israel, and the work of Jewish artists.” The closing night just topped it all off beautifully!

Last night’s closing film feature, Award-Winning Best Documentary, Saul & Ruby, To Life!, was an absolute genius of a film and heart-throbbing. Little did we know that Saul, Ruby And Saul’s daughter Hanna were there to perform musically following the close of the Q&A Session! This film is a remarkable visual journey of two determined holocaust survivors; Saul the drummer (95 years old) and his 90-year old beloved counterpart Ruby who plays accordion and keys. The two holocaust survivors wish to utilize their music to articulate their journey from horrific tragedy to ultimate triumph. Traveling from city to city, their biggest dream which eventually comes to pass is — “to bring their music back to where both men suffered painful loss, their birthplace of Poland, to honor their own families and the countess other mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who suffered and died there.”

Not only were us guests amazed by the impact of their story on the big screen, but we were even more grateful to have these great legends present to close out the festival with their band including Saul’s unwavering musical addition and daughter, Hanna. This film is a must-watch! For more, please visit www.ajff.org.

Photos Courtesy of Dominic Helton