On the evening of Sunday, June 8, 2025, a packed and enthusiastic crowd filled El Museo del Barrio—a landmark of Latino arts and culture on New York’s iconic Museum Mile—for the much-anticipated Opening Night of the 27th Annual New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF). This unforgettable evening, presented along with the Mimouna Association, honored the rich legacy of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish culture, artistry, and community, marking a triumphant beginning to one of New York’s most vibrant and meaningful Jewish cultural events.
More than just a film festival, the NYSJFF has, since its founding in 1990, stood as a beacon of heritage and storytelling. Organized by the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) and supported by over 50 community organizations and the UJA-Federation of New York, the festival—under the wider umbrella of the inaugural Festival Sefarad—brings the vibrancy of Sephardic scholarship, music, film, art, and spirituality to the forefront of New York’s Jewish cultural calendar.
Each year, the festival curates a rich program of feature films, thought-provoking documentaries, and immersive experiences. The 2025 edition raised the bar even higher, featuring premiere screenings, panel discussions with filmmakers, and the highly anticipated ASF Pomegranate Awards—a hallmark of the festival that recognizes exceptional Sephardic contributions in the arts.
Honoring Excellence with the 2025 ASF Pomegranate Awards
Sculpted by world-renowned Iraqi-Israeli artist Oded Halahmy, the ASF Pomegranate Awards are symbols of creativity, resilience, and cultural pride. This year’s honorees represented a diverse mosaic of artistic brilliance and cultural preservation:
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🌟 Yael Naim—Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Music
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📚 Roya Hakakian – Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature
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🎭 Michel Boujenah – Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Stage and Screen
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🎶 Fortuna – Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Preservation of Sephardic Culture
In a moving address, Jason Guberman, Executive Director of the American Sephardi Federation, opened the ceremony:
““In the face of so much adversity and antisemitism, the ASF decided this year to create a city-wide celebration of communal, intellectual, and cultural events that bring all Jews together. With the support of the UJA-Federation of NY and 50 organizations throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, and Queens, the ASF is hosting over 40 events that showcase the dynamism, resilience, and joy of the Greater Sephardic world for Jews of all backgrounds and friends. Tonight is what Jewish Joy looks like..”
He also warmly acknowledged distinguished guests, including Judge Steven Menashi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, whose grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Iraq and Ukraine; Judge Mojgan Cohanim Lancman, the first Persian Jewish NY State Judge; the Acting Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mohamed Ait Bihi; and the Deputy Consul of Poland, Wiktor Cichecki.
Jason extended heartfelt thanks to ASF leaders, including Vice President and Head of the Festival Committee Raquel Laredo Benatar, President David Dangoor, and Vice President Denise Cohen; and key team members Anna Vasquez, Yves Seban, Sophie Pierson, and Zack Siraj, a Moroccan Muslim, whom he called “the miracle worker” of the festival and praised for his invaluable contributions.
Spotlight on the Honorees
ASF President Mr. David Dangoor took the stage to present the first award of the evening—the Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Music—to the internationally acclaimed Yael Naim.
“I discovered Yael in 2013, and it is a great honor for the ASF to recognize her immense talent and contribution to Sephardic music and identity,” said Mr. Dangoor.
In her deeply personal and moving acceptance speech, Yael Naim shared:
“Music helped me connect to myself—and to others—beyond what words could. At ten, I fell in love with classical composers like Mozart and Chopin, but I asked, ‘Where are the women?’ I realized then that to be a woman and an artist meant choosing one over the other. I wanted to be both—I chose freedom.”
She concluded by dedicating her work to musicians’ rights, women’s rights, human rights, and environmental preservation, leaving the audience both inspired and uplifted.
Raquel Laredo Benatar, an ASF vice president, then presented the Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Stage and Screen to legendary Tunisian-Jewish actor and director Michel Boujenah in a humorous monologue.
“Michel has captivated audiences for five decades and brought Sephardic stories to life with authenticity and heart,” she noted. “We are also thrilled to mark the 40th anniversary of his iconic film “Three Men and a Cradle.”
Boujenah, known for his poignant portrayals of Jewish identity and cultural memory, expressed deep gratitude to ASF and the Sephardic community for honoring his life’s work.
Mike Nassimi, ASF Board Chairman and a proud torchbearer of his late father’s legacy, then introduced Roya Hakakian as the recipient of the Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature.
As an Iranian-Jewish refugee and acclaimed author, Hakakian’s powerful storytelling speaks to themes of exile, identity, and resistance.
“This award takes me back to my girlhood in Tehran and the urge I first felt to write—not for fame, but to survive the cataclysm around me,” she reflected.
“Through writing, I’ve lived the commandment to remember. It’s how I hold the Torah, tightly, in words.”
She then offered special praise to the evening’s host:
“I also want to acknowledge Jason Guberman, who is the reason that I think we’re all here tonight. What amazes me about Jason is that he knows things about subjects, especially as an Ashkenazi, far beyond his own realm of familiar things. And he places his principles and convictions far above what is convenient. I wish I had an award to give him tonight.”
Her words drew heartfelt applause from the audience, acknowledging the leadership and vision that have guided ASF to ever-greater heights.
The final award of the night, for Preservation of Sephardic Culture, was presented by ASF board member Norris Wolff to Brazilian singer Fortuna, whose moving performances have brought Sephardic melodies to global audiences.
“Fortuna, we’ve waited 18 years for this. You take our culture and turn it into a religious experience that reaches the soul,” said Wolff.
Fortuna accepted the award with grace and then returned to the stage—joined by Trio Mediterraneo and special guest Frank London, Grammy-winning trumpeter and co-founder of The Klezmatics—for a spellbinding performance that transported the audience across centuries and continents through music.
A Surprise Encore and a Magical Finale
As the applause echoed through the hall, the audience was treated to a surprise encore: the return of Yael Naim, who delivered a stunning live performance of her global hit “New Soul,” made famous in Apple’s first MacBook Air campaign. She followed with “Rabbit Hole” from her upcoming album, along with other fan favorites—sealing the night with magic, rhythm, and soul.
Looking Ahead: A Legacy in Motion
This year’s festival not only celebrated the achievements of visionary artists—it reaffirmed the urgency and beauty of preserving and promoting Sephardic culture in all its diversity. The evening radiated with pride, memory, and joy. Guests lingered long after the final curtain call, buzzing with excitement and gratitude for an unforgettable night that elevated the soul and honored the past while looking boldly toward the future.
As the curtain rose on the 2025 edition, anticipation is already building for what promises to be an even more extraordinary celebration in 2026. With new voices, powerful stories, and a growing global audience, the New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival continues to be a crown jewel of Jewish cultural life—where heritage meets innovation, and the pomegranate of memory bursts forth with meaning, color, and life.
Meyer Harroch, New York Jewish Travel Guide
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