The Muses of Isaac Bashevis Singer Documentary Opens NYJFF 2015

The Muses of Isaac Bashevis Singer Documentary Opens NYJFF 2015
Maria Esteves
1/19/2015
Updated:
4/23/2016

The 24th New York Jewish Film Festival 2015 (NYJFF 2015) Opening Night U.S. Premiere documentary THE MUSES OF ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER, by Israeli directors Asaf Galay and Shaul Betser, commenced Wednesday, January 14, 4:00pm and 8:45pm at the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center. The Q&A session immediately followed with directors Galay and Betser moderated by NYJFF Selection Committee, Rachel Chanoff, The Office performing arts+films, and translator Aviva Weintraub, Associate Curator, Jewish Museum and Director, New York Jewish Film Festival. Audience members and special guest Judy Bieber, Singer’s female translator, attended the premiere.

Questions posed to directors Galay and Betser by Chanoff and the audience included: How did you come to make this story? How does a famous writer write? When you approached the interviews or when you took archival material, did people realize that it was going to be about the women in his life and this focus, or did people think you were making a general documentary about him? He had a lot of film, did you know about the films or did you come upon when you were researching? Was he actually married to the mother of his child?

Maria Esteves pursued her passion as a photographer and writer in the arts in the aftermath of 9/11. It has led to cover interviews, awards ceremonies, film reviews, celebrity photos and videos in fashion, film, music and technology. This native New Yorker has spoken with Award-winning recording artists such as Randy Jones to filmmakers like Greg Pak and Todd Haynes, Academy Award-winners Murray Lerner, to fashion designer Mara Hoffman, and actresses such as Celia Weston.