Igor Shteyrenberg
and the Miami Jewish Film Festival.
Introduction to Igor Shteyrenberg. 1:35 min. Interview: Raymond Elman Music: Amernet String Quartet. Editing: Karen Morales, Miguel Anyelo. Recorded: 2/19/2018, FIU School of Communication + Journalism.
IGOR SHTEYRENBERG is executive director of the Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) and is responsible for its overall programming and administration. Under his leadership, MJFF has seen a revitalization of its brand, an audience growth from 4,000 to over 30,000, and was recognized as “The Best Jewish Film Festival in the US” by The Forward and “The Best Film Festival in South Florida” by Miami New Times and Miami’s Community Newspapers. He teaches film aesthetics at Florida International University and has presented at various conferences about film festival management and organization, including the Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale), Goethe-Institut in Germany, Jewish Film Presenters Conference, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Jerusalem Film Workshop. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts.
The videos below are organized by topic and run between 80 seconds and 8 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 3:09 min.
What was your first memory of art in any form?
CRITICAL THINKING: 3:59 min.
Growing up in a small Jewish village in Ukraine, when you saw the original silent film version of “King Kong,” did you associate the giant with the Golem of Jewish legend?
COMMUNITY VALUES: 1:21 min.
How do you want the films you show to impact your audience?
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 5:54 min.
The films shown at the MJFF have gotten better year-by-year, and it seems like you have become a thought leader, if your audience is open minded.
CRITICAL THINKING: 5:14 min.
Do you have quotas for film genres that you try to fill?
CRITICAL THINKING: 7:33 min.
What is your process for selecting films for the MJFF?
EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES: 4:19 min.
You were born in 1984 (an auspicious year). Even though the first film you ever saw was the black & white silent version of “King Kong,” were you willing to view black & white films when you were a teenager?
DEVELOP A VOICE: 3:08 min.
What has been the arc of your career in the film industry?
PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS: 3:35 min.
Was the MJFF looking for someone to lead the festival?
INSIGHT & INSPIRATION: 3:29 min.
Do you write film criticism?
RESPECTS OTHERS POINTS OF VIEW: 4:25 min.
What is your approach to film criticism?
UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE PERSPECTIVE: 2:52 min.
During your time leading the MJFF, has it gotten easier to attract filmmakers and cast to do Q&A sessions with the audience as part of the film screenings?
CRITICAL THINKING: 6:03 min.
This is an unfair question, but what are some of your favorite films?
SELF-CONFIDENCE: 7:36 min.
Where do you see yourself 5-10 years from now? Do you have a master plan? And who are your role models & influencers?
PERSEVERANCE FURTHERS: 6:36 min.
How do you market, establish word-of-mouth, and grow your audience?
UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF ART: 2:01 min.
What is your impression of the Miami film community, and what can be done to attract more filmmakers?
OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED: 2:45 min.
What are some of the challenges you face as the leader of two film festivals?
VALUES FIRST-RATE EDUCATION: 2:29 min.
What is a university’s proper role in educating students about cinema?
CRITICAL THINKING: 1:35 min.
What’s your assessment of the current age of movie watching?
CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND: 3:40 min.
What are your biggest challenges right now?
