By Maria Esteves - February 28, 2010

The 14th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) 2010, Opening Night 20th Anniversary Awards Ceremony sponsored by the American Sephardi Federation/Sephardic House (ASF), Yeshiva University Museum (YUM), supported by the Consulate General of Israel in New York, were held at the Center for Jewish History, New York, Thursday, February 4, 7:30 PM. The New York Premiere of COCO, directed by Gad Elmaleh and opening night gala reception immediately followed the inaugural awards.

Since 1990, the New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival founded by the American Sephardi Federation/Sephardic House acknowledge the history, tradition, and culture of Sephardic Jews through film. This year's inaugural awards hosted by ASF President David E. R. Dangoor celebrated twenty years by honoring the following festival founders for their visionary achievements with the Pomegranate Award (Oded Halahmy Sculpture):

*  DR. JANICE OVADIAH, festival founder

*  HAIM SHIRAN, festival founder/filmmaker PILLAR OF SALT

*  MORRIE YOHAI, festival founder/board member

2010 NYSJFF 20th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, (from left-right), executive director Stanley Urman, ASF, Institutional Advancement Director Rachel Lazin, YUM, director of programming Lynne Winters, ASF, award recipients MORRIE YOHAI, DR. JANICE OVADIAH, festival founders, president David E. R. Dangoor, ASF, and award recipient HAIM SHIRAN, festival founder/filmmaker.

2010 NYSJFF 20th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, award recipients DR. JANICE OVAIAH, center, with MORRIE YOHAI, left, and HAIM SHIRAN, festival founders.

2010 NYSJFF 20th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, ASF President David E. R. Dangoor, left, with award recipient MORRIE YOHAI, festival founder.

2010 NYSJFF 20th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, award recipient, DR. JANICE OVAIAH, with her family, daughter Simhi, son Meiri, and husband Isaac.

2010 NYSJFF 20th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, ASF director of
programming Lynne Winters, left, with award recipient MORRIE YOHAI,
festival founder.