In our latest blog post, Reboot Network member Jeff Zimbalist directed and produced the documentary How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer, which explores the rollercoaster life of America’s most controversial and bestselling author of the 20th Century, Norman Mailer. Praised by critics, the film was nominated for best U.S. documentary at DOC NYC Film Festival, won at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and was nominated for best feature documentary at the IDA Documentary Awards.
How to Come Alive is currently playing at Film Forum in New York City, Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles, and being rolled out by Kino Lorber / Zeitgeist to art houses across North America. Watch the trailer & buy tickets here. Read the full blog from Zimbalist here.
Reboot is thrilled to introduce Jessy Tolkan as our new board chair, with Stacey Reiss serving as vice chair. Reflecting Reboot’s spirit of invention, during their four year term, Tolkan and Reiss will alternate in the board chair and vice chair positions each year. Jamie Kantrowitz and Brina Milikowsky are transitioning out of their roles as chair and vice-chair respectively after actively leading Reboot through the COVID-19 pandemic and steering the organization through a positive evolution in focus and strategy. They will both remain on the board. Learn more about Tolkan and Reiss on our blog here.
We are proud to be highlighting four projects created by Reboot Network members and supported by Reboot Studios that will be presented at the 44th annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival next month! The films, Sabbath Queen, We Should Eat, We’ve Been Here Before and Breaking Home Ties, explore diverse aspects of Jewish identity and history, charting new pathways into Jewish ideas for every audience with immersive spiritual experiences, live music, and more.
If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, use code: REBOOT44 for a 10% discount on all tickets and passes! Learn more below about the films and the opportunities to see them in your area. Learn more and get tickets here!
Marvel A. Rex, a Reboot Network member, reflects during Pride Month on how The Talmud, our ancient tome of rabbinic literature (where the rabbis of long ago agreed on – but mostly argued over– Halakha, or Jewish religious law), dates back as far as 500 CE and clocks trans and gender non-conforming individuals quite literally millenia before Jerry Springer audiences heard the phrase, “My Girlfriend is a Man” (Worth the watch, for posterity). Rex said it “warms my heart to know that certain rabbis long ago were considering our humanity and acknowledging something it seems even Adam knew: that we (gender-expanders) have always been here.” Read more from Rex here.
In our latest blog post, filmmaker Sandi DuBowski shares his experience filming Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie over 21 years for his new feature documentary, Sabbath Queen, executive produced by Adrian Salpeter (all Reboot Network members). Supported with funding from Reboot Studios, the cinematic quest captures Amichai’s efforts to creatively and radically reinvent religion, ritual, and love for a challenging, rapidly changing 21st century. Amichai, the dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis, rejected his traditional destiny and became a drag-queen rebel, a queer father, and the founder of an experimental congregation in New York. He is also Sandi’s dear friend – and rabbi. The film premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival and will be presented at the 44th annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival in July. Read more here.