“Once Upon My Mother (Ma Mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan)” is the opening night feature film. (photo courtesy of the Sephardic Educational Center)
The Los Angeles Sephardic Film Festival Gala will take place on Sunday, Nov. 9, at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The evening will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Sephardic Educational Center and the 16th year of its film festival, which highlights Sephardic stories, culture and heritage from around the world.
The festivities begin at 5 p.m. with a red carpet reception followed by a gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions and a special program honoring Jason Rimokh, David Rimokh and the Rimokh family for their leadership and community impact. The opening night feature film “Once Upon My Mother (Ma Mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan)” will be presented in French with English subtitles. The evening continues with a dessert reception and live Moroccan band, creating a vibrant celebration of Sephardic music, film and culture.
Special guests from Israel include Major Liad Diamond, head of the IDF Public Diplomacy Office, and Yaniv and Lorit Ya’akov, honoring the memory of Yaniv’s brother Yair z”l, who was taken hostage and murdered on Oct. 7. The evening is chaired by Rachel Emquies Sheff and co-chaired by Eilat Benaron and Sandra Heffesse.
“This is always a fun evening that everyone loves to attend and we are often sold out. We encourage everyone to come and support a great cause and bring your teens, young adults, young professionals – we have special pricing for them all,” Rachel Sheff said.
Neil Sheff, Rachel’s husband and SEC president, has been involved with the center since its inception 45 years ago and followed in the footsteps of his mentor and founder, Dr. Jose Nessim, a renowned Beverly Hills physician.
“It’s a family that keeps growing and hundreds of us, Rachel and I included, met and married because of the SEC. Our children have all gone to the SEC programs in Israel, and have met all their friends through the SEC around the country and often times throughout the world,” Neil Sheff said. “And remember, the SEC campus is in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem where we have a beautiful space, 51 hotel style rooms which host groups, conferences, bar mitzvas and weddings, and we are literally steps from the Kotel.”
The Los Angeles Sephardic Film Festival Gala will be held at Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Ave. The festival continues with screenings at the Laemmle Royal Theater in Santa Monica, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd.
For gala tickets, sponsorships and program information, call (323) 272-4574, or email [email protected].