Recent Guests
We welcome over 150 special guests to our theater every year, ranging from filmmakers to screenwriters, actors to activists. See our most recent special guests below, and visit our Youtube channel for videos of guests from years past.
Q&A actress Lois Smith and filmmaker Michael Almereyda with JBFC Board President Janet Maslin
Opening night of Focus on Nature 2017. Q&A Mary Berry, executive director of The Berry Center and Fred Kirschenmann, board president of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.
Q&A filmmaker Simon Curtis and JBFC Board President Janet Maslin
Q&A producer Brad Becker-Parton with JBFC Creative Culture Director Sean Weiner
Q&A Clive Davis with JBFC Board President Janet Maslin
Actor Eddie Izzard, JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas, writer Shrabani Basu, and filmmaker Stepher Frears before a Q&A for the film Victoria and Abdul.
Steve Apkon and Joe Berlinger
Robert Niosi and Dr. Roland Mallet
Q&A filmmaker Danny Strong with JBFC Board President Janet Maslin
Cinematographer Fred Elmes stopped by our late-night screening of Eraserhead for an introduction and surprise Q&A.
JBFC Board President Janet Maslin and actress/author Anna Kendrick discussed Kendrick’s memoir, SCRAPPY LITTLE NOBODY. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Moderator Nancy Vann speaks with Karenna Gore, Riverkeeper President Paul Gallay, Michael Shank, head of communications for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network in New York City, and Manna Jo Greene, environmental action director for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, speak following AN INCONENIENT SEQUAL, part of Global Watch. Photo: Ed Cody.
Co-writer/director Matt Spicer, JBFC Board President Janet Maslin, and co-writer David Branson Smith following a screening of INGRID GOES WEST.
New York Times Book Editor Pamela Paul and JBFC Board President Janet Maslin discussed Paul’s new book, MY LIFE WITH BOB.
JBFC Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman and WFUV radio host Rita Houston following a screening of DONT LOOK BACK, part of Sounds of Summer.
JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas and Broadway actor Christian Borle following a screening of WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, part of Life on the Stage.
Wendy Whelan signs a poster following a screening of the film RESTLESS CREATURE: WENDY WHELAN.
The Terell Stafford Quintet performed following a screening of I CALLED HIM MORGAN, part of Jazz Sessions: The Greats on Camera.
Composer/pianist Mike Holober with film subject Fred Hersch following a screening of THE BALLAD OF FRED HERSCH, part of Jazz Sessions: The Greats on Camera.
Westchester Community Foundation Executive Director Laura Rossi, Shepard Verbas, program manager at The LOFT Community Center, and writer/advocate Jamie Bruesehoff speak following a screening of REAL BOY, part of Community Matters.
JBFC Board Member John Nonna and JBFC Board Chair Emeritus Hugh Price at the This African-American Life event in celebration of Price’s memoir. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Chef Alvin Clayton spoke and catered a reception at opening night of Film to Table. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
The Alphonso Horne Quartet performed at Celebrating Satchmo, part of Jazz Sessions: The Greats on Camera. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Baird Hersey and Prana performed live at the opening night screening for The Meditative Life.
Children’s author and illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds, gave a live drawing demonstration, part of JBFC Kids. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
JBFC Board President Janet Maslin and writer/executive producer Stephen Schiff
Filmmaker/actor Demetri Martin and JBFC Board President Janet Maslin.
JBFC Board President Janet Maslin, Diane Lane, and filmmaker Eleanor Coppola. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis
Filmmaker Shimon Dotan and series programmer Bruni Burres following a screening of THE SETTLERS, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
(L to R) Director of AJC Westchester Scott Richman, Rabbi Harry Pell, and filmmaker Lawrence Loewinger following a screening of BOGDAN'S JOURNEY, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
Actors Peter Riegert and Amy Irving following a screening of CROSSING DELANCEY, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
Theater producer Michael Rabinowitz and series programmer Bruni Burres at a Q&A for HESTER STREET, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
Honorable Ferenc Kumin (L) and AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs Rabbi Andrew Baker at a screening of KEEP QUIET, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
Writer Robert Edwards and filmmaker Ferne Pearlstein at a screening of THE LAST LAUGH, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
Filmmaker Lowell Handler and series programmer Bruni Burres at a Q&A for STARTING OVER AGAIN with TEREFU AND HER CHILDREN, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
(L to R) Series programmer Bruni Burres and filmmaker Nancy Buirski following a screening of BY SIDNEY LUMET, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
Filmmaker Joan Micklin Silver with co-writers John Silverstein and David Chudnovsky following A FISH IN THE BATHTUB, part of Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
JBFC Founder Stephen Apkon, producer Peter Kunhardt, and Peter Buffett hold a Q&A following a screening of BECOMING WARREN BUFFET.
JBFC Board Member and journalist Mark Harris and JBFC Board President Janet Maslin at OSCAR TALK.
Musician Marshall Crenshaw performs following a screening of A GESTURE AND A WORD and Q&A with filmmaker Dave Davidson and JBFC Programming Director Brian Ackerman.
Saddle Up Saturdays host Jonathan Demme and filmmaker Kelly Reichardt following a screening of MEEK'S CUTOFF.
JBFC Programming Director Brian Ackerman and filmmaker T.M. Rives following a screening of RARE BIRDS.
(L to R) Eran Polishuk, director of Film and Media, Consulate General of Israel, JBFC Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman, and choreographer/dancer Saar Harari following a screening of MR. GAGA.
REMIX Artist-in-Residence Ja'Tovia Gary at a screening of LOSING GROUND, part of REMIX: The Modern Black Experience in Film, Media, and Art. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Moderator Joe Berlinger and filmmaker/cinematographer Kirsten Johnson following a screening of CAMERAPERSON.
JBFC Board Chair Emeritus Hugh Price and actor Stephen McKinley Henderson at a screening of FENCES. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Filmmaker and JBFC Board member Ron Howard signs a poster at a screening of THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK—THE TOURING YEARS.
Series curator Mihai Chirilov and actor Vlad Ivanov at a screening of DOGS, part of Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema.
Screenwriter Noah Oppenheim signs a poster following a screening of JACKIE.
Filmmaker David Frankel with JBFC Board President Janet Maslin following a screening of COLLATERAL BEAUTY.
Series curator Mihai Chirilov, actors Alina Grigore and Robi Urs, and Oana Radu following a screening of ILLEGITIMATE, part of Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema.
JBFC Board President Janet Maslin, filmmaker Damien Chazelle, and JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas following a screening of LA LA LAND. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Series curator Mihai Chirilov and actress Julia Kijowska following a screening of UNITED STATES OF LOVE, part of Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema.
JBFC Founder Stephen Apkon and Senior Counsel for Human Rights Watch Sara Dareshori following a screening of THE UNCONDEMNED, part of Global Watch.
JBFC Programming Director Brian Ackerman, series curator Mihai Chirilov, actress Maria Drăguș, and Oana Radu following a screening of GRADUATION, part of Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema.
JBFC Board President Janet Maslin, actor Matthew Broderick, and JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas following a screening of RULES DON'T APPLY at the Silver Screen Circle Dinner.
Filmmaker Andrew Young, members of Combatants for Peace, and filmmaker Stephen Apkon following a screening of DISTURBING THE PEACE, part of Global Watch.
Chef Mario Hernandez prepares a hand-crafted, original reception for JBFC audiences following a screening of BUGS, part of Focus on Nature. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Choreographer Tamar Rogoff, moderator Peter Pucci, dancer Kathleen Fitzgerald, and film subject Gregg Mozgala following a screening of ENTER THE FAUN, part of Dance on Film.
Moderator Peter Pucci with choreographer Pat Catterson following FEELINGS ARE FACTS, part of Dance on Film.
Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Roger Osori, producer Dan Hendrick, conservation scientist Nava Tabak, and JBFC Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman following a screening of SAVING JAMAICA BAY, part of Focus on Nature.
Playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas, filmmaker Barry Jenkins, and moderator Darnell Moore following a screening of MOONLIGHT, part of REMIX: The Modern Black Experience in Film, Media, and Art. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
Producer Don Granger and author Lee Child following a screening of JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK.
Peter Pucci with dancers and filmmakers including, Chisa Hidaka, Mike Kirsch, and Miki Orihara following STEPPING OUT ON SCREEN, part of Dance on Film.
Deborah Lipstadt at a screening of DENIAL.
JBFC Programming Director Brian Ackerman with author David Biello at a screening of ANTHROPOCENE, part of Focus on Nature.
Laura Rossi, executive director, Westchester Community Foundation, filmmaker Craig Atkinson, and Cathleen Price, attorney for Equal Justice Initiative, following a screening of DO NOT RESIST, part of Community Matters.
Filmmaker Otto Bell following a screening of THE EAGLE HUNTRESS, part of Focus on Nature.
Filmmaker Joe Nick Patoski with New York Times writer Ben Ratliff following a screening of SIR DOUG AND THE GENUINE TEXAS COSMIC GROOVE.
Host Jonathan Demme and filmmaker/actor Linas Phillips at a screening of RAINBOW TIME.
JBFC Programming Director Brian Ackerman, filmmaker Taggart Siegel, and Jason Grauer, crop production manager at Stone Barns Center, following a screening of SEED: The Untold Story, part of Focus on Nature.
Filmmaker Jon Shenk and series programmer Gina Duncan following a screening of AUDRIE & DAISY, part of Global Watch.
JBFC Programmer Gina Duncan and filmmaker Jessie Deeter following a screening of A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS, part of Global Watch.
Contemporary Arab Cinema curator Lina Matta with actress Hana Chamoun following a screening of 3000 NIGHTS.
Filmmaker Joe Berlinger following a screening of his film TONY ROBBINS: I AM NOT YOUR GURU.
JBFC Managing Director Dominick Balletta, filmmaker Mark Osborne, and JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas at a screening of THE LITTLE PRINCE, part of the event Viewing & Doing: An Afternoon of Film and Family Fun. Photo: Lynda Shenkman Curtis.
