Special Guests Archive
We welcome over 170 special guests to our theater every year, ranging from filmmakers to screenwriters, actors to activists. Explore our archive of special guests below, visit our YouTube channel for videos of guests from years past, or visit our Recent Guests page for the latest #JBFCLive news!
JBFC Board Member/series moderator Dori Berinstein led a conversation with the creative team behind new musical King Kong—director/choreographer Drew McOnie, set and projection designer Peter England, creature designer Sonny Tilders, and lead producer Carmen Pavlovi—following an Aug. 21, 2018 screening of the 1933 original.
Newly-minted Oscar nominee Bing Liu stopped by the JBFC back in August 2018 for a screening of his stunning debut documentary feature, MINDING THE GAP.
Filmmaker Jesse Peretz and actress Rose Byrne (L to R) struck a pose on Aug. 13 at the JBFC before their Q&A on new film JULIET, NAKED.
WFUV's Dennis Elsas stopped by the JBFC on Aug. 2, 2018, for a Q&A after a Sounds of Summer screening of KEITH RICHARDS: UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
Filmmaker Boots Riley hammed it up for the camera following a Q&A on his debut feature, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, at the JBFC on July 27, 2018. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.
Filmmaker Aneesh Chaganty, actor John Cho, and writer Sev Ohanian stopped by the JBFC on July 24, 2018 for a preview screening of their new film SEARCHING.
Filmmaker Nijla Mu'min (L) joined film writer Tayler Montague (R) for a Q&A following a Remix screening of her debut feature documentary, JINN, at the JBFC on July 19.
Filmmaker/Comedian Bo Burnham joined JBFC Senior Programmer Andrew Jupin (L to R) for a Q&A following a preview screening of EIGHTH GRADE at the JBFC on July 19, 2018. Photo by Ed Cody.
WFUV Assistant Director Carmel Holt joined JBFC Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman (L to R) for a Q&A following a 2018 Sounds of Summer screening of MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS.
Beatles expert Scott Freiman brought a new season of "Deconstructing the Beatles" to the JBFC during Sounds of Summer 2018, including his July 16 presentation on "The Birth of The Beatles."
Filmmaker James Demo (R) joined JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas (L) for a Q&A following a Global Watch screening of his film THE PEACEMAKER on July 12, 2018.
Filmmaker Alex Gibney joined us July 11, 2018, at the JBFC for a Sounds of Summer screening of his new, two-part documentary ROLLING STONE: STORIES FROM THE EDGE.
Creative Culture Director Sean Weiner (L) and JBFC Artist-in-Residence Martha Gregory engaged in a post-screening discussion after Martha hosted a screening of THE PEARL BUTTON at the JBFC on June 27, 2018.
Filmmaker Jon Bowermaster, Hudson Valley Farm Hub Director Brooke Pickering-Cole, Clearwater Tideline Program Director Eli Schloss, and President of Hudson Riverkeeper Paul Gallay (L to R) joined us for a Q&A following a June 20, 2018 screening of HOPE ON THE HUDSON.
Broadway producer/Life on the Stage series moderator Dori Berinstein, composer/lyricist David Yazbek, playwright Itamar Moses, and Broadway producer Orin Wolf (L to R) participated in a Q&A during our June 18, 2018 Life on the Stage event for THE BAND'S VISIT. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.
JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas (L) and filmmaker Brett Haley (R) were all smiles following a June 7, 2018 preview screening of Haley's new film HEARTS BEAT LOUD.
The Veronica Swift Trio wowed our audience with a live performance on May 30, 2018, following a screening of JAZZ ON A SUMMER'S DAY during our annual series Jazz Sessions: Take 10.
Writer/producer Stephen Schiff (R) joined JBFC Board President Janet Maslin for a preview screening of the season finale of THE AMERICANS on May 23, 2018.
The Benny Benack III Quartet dazzled audiences with a live performance on May 23, 2018, following a screening of 1959: THE YEAR THAT CHANGED JAZZ during our annual series Jazz Sessions: Take 10.
Filmmaker Susanna Styron & Producer Jacki Ochs joined us for a screening of their film OUT OF MY HEAD on May 21, 2018. Photo by Kervin Marseille.
The Julius Rodriguez Trio treated our audience to a live performance following a screening of BILL EVANS: TIME REMEMBERED on May 16, 2018, during our Jazz Sessions: Take 10 series.
Filmmaker Julie Cohen (R) joined us for a preview screening of her Oscar-nominated documentary RBG on May 10, 2018.
The Julian Lee Quartet treated our audience to a live performance following a screening of CHASING TRANE: THE JOHN COLTRANE DOCUMENTARY during Jazz Sessions: Take 10 on May 9, 2018.
Producer Tamara Fisch and filmmaker Thomas Woodrow joined us for a one-night-only screening of WE'VE FORGOTTEN MORE THAN WE EVER KNEW on May 6, 2018.
Filmmaker Paul Schrader (L) and the Reverend Dale Southorn joined us for a preview screening of FIRST REFORMED on May 3, 2018, followed by a JBFC Live Q&A. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.
Musician John Pizzarelli kicked off opening night of Jazz Sessions: Take 10 with a musical performance following a screening of THE HOUSE OF TOM on May 2, 2018.
THE CHICAGO MIXTAPE filmmaker Paola Piers-Torres, ‘63 BOYCOTT producer Tracye Matthews, and Professor of Media Studies and Film at The New School Michelle Materre engaged in a dialogue following a Remix event on Apr. 29, 2018.
Filmmaker Ashley Bell, conservationist Sangdeaun Chailert, writer John Michael McCarthy & producer Roddy Tabatabai (L to R) with JBFC Executive Director Edie Demas (Far L) following a screening of LOVE & BANANAS on Apr. 28, 2018.
Visiting Artist Ekin Çalışır (C) and Greenhouse Program director Sigal Yehuda (R) with JBFC Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman (L) during a Greenhouse 2018 screening of MR. GAY SYRIA.
JBFC Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman, author & chef Maria Loi, and filmmaker Joanna James engage in a panel discussion following a screening of James' film A Fine Line during our Film to Table: Celebrating Women Chefs event. Photo by Lynda Shenkman.
Actress Edie Falco joined us Sunday, Apr. 15 for a Q&A with JBFC Board President Janet Maslin following a screening of her new film, Outside In.
Filmmaker Marta Renzi engaged in a lively Q&A with patrons following a screening of local production Her Magnum Opus.
WJFF series programmer Bruni Burres moderated a Q&A with filmmaker Aaron Wolf (L to R) following a 2018 WJFF screening of his film Restoring Tomorrow.
AJC Chief Executive Officer David Harris leads a post-screening discussion on Strangers at Home during the 2018 Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
AJC's Asia Pacific Institute Director Shira Loewenberg and filmmaker Cellin Gluck joined us for a panel discussion following a screening of Persona Non Grata during the 2018 Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
Filmmaker Hava Kohav Beller and WJFF series programmer Bruni Burres (L to R) are all smiles following a screening of Beller's film In the Land of Pomegranates during the 2018 Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
Actor Alan Arkin rounds out our "Celebrating Alan Arkin" centerpiece with his second Skype Q&A of the 2018 WJFF.
Filmmaker Lisa Ades is joined by vets following the Mar. 25 screening of of her film, G.I. Jews; Jewish Americans in WWII during the 2018 Westchester Jewish Film Festival.
A veteran watches from the audience as filmmaker Lisa Ades, producer Amanda Bonavita & historian James Young engaged in a panel discussion following the Mar. 24 screening.
WJFF series programmer Bruni Burres hosted a Q&A with filmmaker Rachel Grady following a screening of her film, One of Us.
Filmmaker Sam Pollard joined WJFF series programmer Bruni Burres (L to R) for a Q&A following a screening of his film, Sammy Davis Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me, during the 2018 series.
Actor Alan Arkin joined us via Skype for a Q&A on The In-Laws, which screened as part of WJFF 2018's "Celebrating Alan Arkin" centerpiece.
Filmmaker Lily Rivlin (Heather Booth: Changing the World) and filmmaker Leah Galant (Death Metal Grandma) graced audiences with their presence during a WJFF 2018 double-feature screening of their documentaries.
Mikkel Hagen Hess, Director of Invest Denmark, joined us for a post-screening Q&A following a 2018 WJFF screening of Across the Waters.
Filmmaker Ferne Perlstein joined WJFF series programmer Bruni Burres (L to R) for a post-screening Q&A.
JBFC Founder Steve Apkon hosted a post-screening Q&A with AJC Director of Contemporary Jewish Life Steve Bayme during the 2018 WJFF.
Filmmaker Alexandra Dean and WJFF series programmer Bruni Burres (L to R) joined us for a post-screening Q&A during the 2018 WJFF.
Filmmaker Alison Chernick kicked off the 2018 Westchester Jewish Film Festival with an opening night screening of her film, Itzhak.
Food Bank of Westchester President & CEO Leslie Gordon & Director, Operations & Food Sourcing Bob Silvia joined us for a Global Watch screening on Mar. 8.
JBFC Board President Janet Maslin and film writer Mark Harris joined us for this very special, annual tradition on Feb. 27.
Following a REMIX screening of The Rape of Recy Taylor, VP - Cinema of BAMcinematek Gina Duncan, filmmaker Nancy Buirski, and Coordinator of Community Engagement and Education at My Sisters’ Place Kymberly McNair (L to R) participated in a panel discussion.
Members of the Order of Interbeing joined JBFC Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman for a Q&A following a Meditative Life screening of Walk With Me.
Following a 35mm screening of 1986 film Children of a Lesser God, cast and creative from the current Broadway revival spoke with patrons, including Broadway director Kenny Leon, producer Hal Luftig, actors Anthony Edwards, Kecia Lewis, and John McGinty with moderator Dori Berinstein.
Filmmaker Barry Strugatz and Tai Chi instructor Ed Young with JBFC Programming Director Brian Ackerman.
Following a REMIX screening of poignant documentary For Ahkeem, filmmaker Landon Van Soest and ACLU Racial Justice Program Director Dennis Parker sat down with Creative Culture Fellow Crystal Kayiza.
Filmmaker Mickey Lemle sat down with JBFC Programmer Karen Sloe Goodman following a screening of his film, The Last Dalai Lama?, during our 2018 Meditative Life series.
Krisna Das and Jane Kolleeny of the Garrison Institute participated in an audience Q&A following a screening in our series The Meditative Life: Meaning, Happiness, and Connection.
