Kansas City Jewish Film Series Launches 2024 Season with Two Films from Local Director Sharon Liese

The Kansas City Jewish Film Series (KCJFS) is launching the 2024 season with a documentary doubleheader, featuring two diverse films on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. This event of the KCJFS is co-produced by The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Film fans will enjoy screenings of two short films by local, Emmy-Winning filmmaker Sharon Liese. Each film will be followed by a talkback and Q&A with Liese, and the event will conclude with a light dessert reception in The White Theatre Galleria.

“Parker” tells the story of three generations of a Kansas City family who are finally unified when they do something that countless other Black Americans could not – choose their own last name.

Following the film, Liese and the Parker family will participate in a talkback with the audience.

“The Flagmakers” is a meditation on the American dream that follows workers at the country’s largest maker of American flags and flagpoles, including the refugees and immigrants who have risked everything to come to the USA. The critically acclaimed film won an Emmy for Outstanding Short Documentary.

Jodi Goglio, the COO of Eder Flag, the company that the film focuses on, will also be in attendance.

“We are thrilled to kick off the 2024 Jewish Film Series with these two excellent short films, in partnership with The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah,” said Stacey Belzer, Executive Director of the Kansas City Jewish Film Series. “Both films, which celebrate diversity, freedom, justice, and equality, were chosen for this event in concurrence with Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the values for which King stood. What an honor it will be to have director Sharon Liese, the Parker Family, as well as Jodi Goglio, COO of Eder Flag, in our audience, and sharing their own experiences with all of us!”

Last year marked the first time that the film series – previously Kansas City Jewish Film Festival – offered larger, one-time film screenings, partnered with an event. After seeing success with spreading the festival out into three weekends rather than hosting the films at once, organizers decided to officially rebrand to KCJFS, keeping the new model.

Tickets are $18 and are on sale now at kcjfs.org.

“Parker” and “The Flagmakers” mark the first installment of this year’s KCJFS lineup. Two additional weekends will be announced later this year. To learn more about the KCJFS, including upcoming film opportunities, visit kcjfs.org.

The Kansas City Jewish Film Series provides the community an opportunity to encounter Jewish ideas and values by creating an open, inviting, and entertaining forum for films that explore issues of culture, identity, and history with a Jewish twist.

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