By Maria Esteves – March 16, 2012

Writer and documentarian IZZA GÉNINI received the Lifetime Achievement Pomegranate Award for her excellence and achievement in filmmaking during the 16th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival 2012 (NYSJFF 2012) Opening Night Gala, held at the Center for Jewish History, New York, Thursday, March 15, 7:00 PM. Presented by the American Sephardi Federation (ASF), the Pomegranate (symbolize love and prosperity) Award acknowledge visionary achievements in the history, tradition, and culture of Sephardic Jews through film.

Born in Casablanca, Morocco of Jewish descent, director Genini outstanding music documentaries that captures the history of Moroccan Jews include “Nûba of Gold and Light (Nûba d'or et de lumière), ”Songs for a Shabbat (Chants pour un Shabbat),“ and "For the Eyes Delight (Des Luths et délices).”

Sponsored by the American Sephardi Federation (ASF), Yeshiva University Museum (YUM), and supported by the Consulate General of France, Israel, and Morocco in New York, NYSJFF 2012 Opening Night Premiere of FREE MEN (Les Hommes Libres), directed by Isamael Ferroukhi and Opening Night post screening reception immediately followed ASF’s Pomegranate Awards. Filmmakers, dignitaries, industry professionals, festival patrons, press, celebrities, and guests attended Thursday night’s opening night gala. FREE MEN opens in NYC theatres Friday, March 16, 2012.

The 16th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festvial runs from March 15-22, 2012. For more information call 1.212.868.4444 or visit http://www.sephardicfilmfest.org/tickets.php.

Lifetime Achievement Pomegranate Award recipient director Izza Genini, right, with NYSJFF award presenter Florence Amzallag Tatistcheff, ASF Chair, Cultural Programs.

NYSJFF 2012 Opening Night Pomegranate Awards: from
r-l, Lifetime Achievement Pomegranate Award recipient
Izza Genini, with ASF director Lynne Winters, center, and
Florence Amzallag Tatistcheff, ASF Chair, Cultural Programs.

NYSJFF 2012 Opening Night Gala: Lifetime Achievement
Pomegranate Award recipient Izza Genini, left, with her
nephew Sephardic master singer, guitarist Gerard Edery.

NYSJFF 2012 Opening Night Gala: librarian Randall
Belinfante, the Center for Jewish History.

NYSJFF 2012 Opening Night Gala: award winning filmmaker/NYSJFF founder Haim Shiran, IFRANE 2011: The First Holocaust Co in the
Arab World, left, and his daughter Ofrit Peres.

NYSJFF 2012 Opening Night post screening reception: Sephardic master singer, guitarist Gerard Edery(http://www.gerardedery.com), left, and Nita Edery (Gerard’s mother).