2023 BOSTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL – FAQ

Below is information that will help you through the Festival experience. For further assistance, please email our help desk at info@bostonjfilm.org. When sending us an email, include your name and phone number in the subject line.

To ensure quicker responses from staff, we recommend emailing info@bostonjfilm.org during customer service hours.

Customer Service Hours during the In-Person Festival (November 1-12): 

  • Customer Service available Monday-Thursday 10AM-2PM
  • No Customer Service available on Sunday, November 5th
  • Limited Customer Service available on Sunday, November 12th 

Customer Service Hours during the Virtual Festival (November 13-15): 

  • Monday – Wednesday: 10am-2pm, 5-6pm

Accessibility, Community Standards & Covid

Notes on Accessibility

  • All venues offer wheelchair-accessible seating and restrooms.
  • All international films are subtitled.
  • We are unable to reserve seats except for accessibility needs.

For further accommodations, please contact the festival office at info@bostonjfilm.org.

The small but mighty Boston Jewish Film team is committed to providing a pleasant viewing experience for the audience. Please be patient if there are delays in responses to any questions/comments and know that we will respond as soon as we are able to.

In accordance with our Community Standards, Boston Jewish Film will suspend service to audience members exhibiting disruptive, inappropriate, or disrespectful behavior toward staff. Our Community Standards include: treating staff and guests with respect; verbal, online, and/or physical threats will not be tolerated. We respectfully request that online conversations be polite and relevant.

Community Standards have been adopted by Boston Jewish Film to help our organization and the entire festival community build a safe and supportive environment in which we can all continue to connect through our unique film programming and events.

All Boston Jewish Film staff and volunteers are fully vaccinated.

Masks are optional. The town/city and venue will dictate any mask mandates. If you are feeling unwell or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home. You may contact us at info@bostonjfilm.org for a refund or to exchange tickets for a later date.

Ticketing for Virtual & In-Person Screenings

Tickets are only available online, at bostonjfilm.org (with credit card only). No refunds or exchanges.

  • General Admission: $18 ($16 + $2 processing fee per ticket.)
  • Group Sales: $14 ($12 + $2 processing fee per ticket) (10 Ticket minimum): Contact info@bostonjfilm.org to order group tickets.
    • Group tickets not available for MFA screenings.

EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders are eligible for a 50% discount during our November Fall Film Festival (special programs excluded), subject to availability, by contacting info@bostonjfilm.org to receive the discount code.

  • BJFF All-Access Pass: $320 (until October 1), $360 (after October 1)
    • Access to all in-person and virtual screenings in the 35th Annual Boston Jewish Film Festival, November 1-15.
    • Seating is guaranteed for Passholders who arrive 20 minutes before a screening start time.
    • View selected Boston Jewish Film Festival virtual screenings on-demand from home in the BJFF digital screening room, November 13-15.
    • To save $40, purchase your pass before October 1 for $320. All-Access pass price will increase to $360 on October 2.
    • We recommend Pass holders arrive 20 before a screening start time. Seating is guaranteed for passholders until 10 minutes before the scheduled start of the screening or event when unclaimed seats will be released to the Stand-by line. We reserve the right to deny entry to Pass or ticket holders who arrive 10 minutes after any screening or event starts, as not to disrupt the programming.

Online: with a credit card at bostonjfilm.org. Before completing your order for virtual screenings, please check that your order is correct and that your system is compatible for streaming.

In Theaters: Tickets for scheduled screenings will be on sale at each venue one hour before showtime, pending availability. 

Museum of Fine Arts Screenings, November 5 + November 12:

All tickets for MFA screenings must be ordered on the MFA WEBSITE at mfa.org/film beginning October 2. The BJF ticketing page will direct you to the MFA website to purchase tickets. Passholders will be able to obtain tickets for the films outside of the MFA at the Huntington entrance from a BJF staff member beginning 1 hour before the screening.

Advanced online tickets will not be available for pick up in-person at the Museum. It is necessary to print an online ticket from your email confirmation or present your ticket from your phone. Please note that a film ticket is required to enter the MFA; therefore, tickets can’t be held inside the MFA at the box office. Theater doors will open 30 minutes before the start of a screening. Tickets may be available for sale in person on the day of the screening, pending availability. The MFA does not offer stand-by tickets or group tickets; advanced purchase is highly recommended. Films will be screened in Remis Auditorium. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.  

  • CLICK HERE For step by step instructions on how to purchase a ticket 
  • Festival Passholders: CLICK HERE, for step by step instructions on how to select and view your films

No refunds or exchanges. All sales are final.

Here is what you need to know about attending the in-person programs November 1-12, 2023

  • You must present either your print-at-home or mobile ticket at the theater for entrance into theater – no exceptions.
  • We are unable to reserve seats at this time unless special accommodations are needed, contact info@bostonjfilm.org.
  • Seating begins 15 minutes before showtime.

Stand-By Line: It’s worth it!

Stand-by tickets may become available after Pass holders and advance ticket holders are admitted into the theater. 15 minutes before the show, a number of tickets may be released to the Stand-by Line. While not guaranteed, there is a high probability of getting tickets. The line begins to form one hour before screening—maximum of 4 tickets per person. The MFA does not offer stand-by tickets. Advance purchase is highly recommended. 

COVID: Masks are optional. The town/city and venue will dictate any mask mandates. If you are feeling unwell or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home. You may contact us at info@bostonjfilm.org for a refund or to exchange tickets for a later date.

Yes, you need a Boston Jewish Film account. If you have ever purchased a ticket online to a Boston Jewish Film event you should already have an account. You can sign in with your email address or username. If you have forgotten your password, please follow the prompt to reset it. 

If you do not have an account, you will be asked to create one during the checkout process.  

CLICK HERE for step by step instructions on how to set up an account and purchase tickets.

Tip: Once you have set up an account, click  “remember me” so you stay signed in on your device.

Confirmation emails are sent automatically once your purchase is complete. If you do not receive your email within a few minutes of completion, check your Spam and Junk Mail folders.  Please make sure you add info@bostonjfilm.org as a trusted source.

If you still do not see the email, log in to your account using your username and password.

Once you have completed your purchase, refunds or exchanges are not available*. All sales are final

*If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and are unable to attend, you may contact us at info@bostonjfilm.org for a refund or to exchange tickets for a later date.  

VIEWING FILMS

Viewing Film List from Phone

When viewing film list from your phone, in View, click on Detailed. 

In-Person Screenings

In-Person Screenings: For entrance into theaters, you must present your BJFF All-Access Pass, Print-at-Home tickets, E-Mobile tickets on your phone, or in-person venue tickets.

There are NO WILL CALLS.

We are unable to reserve seats except for accessibility needs.

All venues offer wheelchair-accessible seating and restrooms. For further accommodations, please contact the festival office at info@bostonjfilm.org.

Virtual Screenings

Your BJFF All-Access Pass or online ticket allows you to watch selected films at any time from November 13-15. Once you begin to watch, you have 48 hours to complete viewing.

After purchasing a ticket, simply click “Watch Now”. This button appears on the confirmation page after purchase, in your confirmation email, and on the film page.

All patrons have 48 hours to watch a film after pressing “Watch Now.”

Films are available for purchase until November 15, 2023 11:59 pm

Films are available to stream  November 13, 2023 12 am – November 15, 2023 11:59 pm. Starting then, you can stream all purchased films by clicking on “Watch Now” in your confirmation email or on the film page.

For information on how to view virtual films, click here.

You will be required to sign in with your email address, or username.

The ability to watch on your TV is not a guarantee. No refunds or exchanges.  All Sales Are Final.

All virtual films in this festival (March 26-29) are available to view in Massachusetts only.

WHY? Boston Jewish Film has to geoblock films because of requirements from the filmmakers and film distributors. Most, if not all, virtual films have geoblocking restrictions. We are proud to be part of a large film festival community and to adhere to restrictions that help assure that other virtual film festivals across the country and abroad can expose their audiences to these films without having their attendance compromised.

WAYS TO WATCH

Computer

  • PCs running Windows 7+ Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera. Internet Explorer is not supported.
  • Intel-based Macs running macOS 10.12+ Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Opera

Viewing Tips: For best viewing, make sure to close any extra tabs in your web browser. If you have problems viewing in your usual browser, try another of the recommended internet browsers listed above.


TV

  • Airplay from a computer, iPhone, or iPad to an AppleTV (Gen 2 and above) or to any Smart TV bearing the “AirPlay” badge
  • HDMI – Use an HDMI cable to connect your computer directly to your television
  • The ability to watch on your TV is not a guarantee. No refunds or exchanges.  All Sales Are Final.
  • Roku and AppleTV are no longer available. 

Phone / Tablet

  • iOS devices (iPhone, iPad) Use Safari on iOS 11.2 or later. Screen mirroring is not supported for watching our films. Ensure it is turned off in your device settings.
  • Android devices Use Chrome on Android 6.0 or later

The ability to watch on your TV is not a guarantee. No refunds or exchanges.  All Sales Are Final.

If you have a laptop or computer with an HDMI port, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to your TV, using it as a second monitor. You will need to have access to the back or side of your TV to check to see if your TV has an HDMI port and to make this connection.

Once connected, make sure the correct input source is selected on your TV. Your TV will then act as a second monitor for your computer.

When ready to watch films on your TV, you can either mirror your computer or use your mouse to drag the video window onto the TV screen.

*Check to make sure that Airplay is turned on your Smart TV. Should work on:  Newer smart TV from LG, Samsung, Sony or Vizio.  CLICK HERE for instructions

*Set Up Wi-Fi on Your iDevice to make sure its connected to the same router as your Smart TV.  Compatible devices include any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad capable of running iOS 11.4 or later.  CLICK HERE for instructions

*If you are unable to find Airplay settings on your TV or your iDevice, then they are not compatible to AirPlay.

AirPlay film from your iDevice to your SMART TV. CLICK HERE for instructions

For optimal screening experience, please make sure all your tabs are closed.  Recommended browsers include Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome.  If you are having problems screening in one browser, please switch to another. (Internet Explorer NOT supported.)

CLICK HERE for instructions on how to display from your PC to your SMART TV.

We use adaptive bitrate streaming which means the streaming quality will automatically adjust based on your internet speed. If your internet connection is poor or inconsistent you may experience problems during playback. If you’re on wifi, try moving closer to your router.

Viewing Tip: For best viewing, make sure to close any extra tabs in your web browser. If you have problems viewing in your usual browser, try another internet browser. (We recommend Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge.) Internet Explorer is not supported.

Voting For Your Favorite Film

Help choose the audience award winners by rating each Festival film you watch. Rating is based on a star scale, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). 

For tickets purchased for both in-person and virtual screenings, you will be able to vote online through the Festival Voting Page. You will need to be logged in to your ticket purchasing account to rate the films you have watched. 

OR

Scan the QR Code below for quick voting access.