2020 FESTIVAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

Ticketing

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

  • General Admission – $15
    • There is a $1.50 processing fee per ticket. Please consider donating for companion viewing.
  • Group Sales (10 Ticket minimum): $12
    • There is a $1.50 processing fee per ticket. Group discounts are not available for the November 11 Midfest Event. Contact info@bostonjfilm.org to coordinate group tickets.
  • Midfest: November 11, 7:30 pm: $36
    • Behind the Scenes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with show writer Noah Gardenswartz.
    • CLICK HERE to purchase your Midfest Ticket.
  • 10-Film Pass Package – $118
    • Watch at your convenience! Access any 10 films presented at the virtual Boston Jewish Film Festival (excludes Midfest).
    • 10-Film Pass valid for one user login only. There is a $2.00 processing fee per pass.
    • November 11, Midfest Event is not included with this pass.
    • CLICK HERE to purchase your 10-Film Pass Package.
    • Need help on how to purchase a 10-Film Pass? Click Here.
  • All-Access Festival Pass: $360
    • Access all Boston Jewish Film Festival virtual screenings and events November 4–15, including Midfest. Easily view all films from home in Boston Jewish Film Festival’s digital screening room. Films may be viewed anytime during the Festival.
    • All-Access Passes are non-transferable and are valid for only one user login. There is a $4.00 processing fee per pass.
    • CLICK HERE to purchase your All-Access Pass.

Watching with your family and friends? Please consider donating for companion viewing.

View the 2020 Film ListFilms by Category, and Live Program Schedule.

Search through the Boston Jewish Film Festival ticket site by Film Name or Category. Select the film you want to see by clicking “View More.” On the film page, press “Buy Ticket” to purchase a ticket to the film you want to stream. Viewing of films will be available November 4-15.

  • CLICK HERE For a step by step on how to purchase a ticket 
  • All-Access Passholders: CLICK HERE, for a step by step how to select and view your films
  • Need help on how to purchase a 10-Film Pass? Click Here

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. All-Access Pass holders and 10-Film Pack Pass holders can also sign in with pass numbers (sent in the confirmation email). 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.  

For step-by-step instructions on how to set up an account and purchase tickets, click here.

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

Most films are only available in Massachusetts (with a Massachusetts address in your account). Some exceptions apply**

WHY? Boston Jewish Film Festival 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.

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. You can stream films by going directly to the film page and clicking “watch now” or going into your account to view your orders where you will find your confirmation with the watch now link.

Once you have completed your purchase, refunds or exchanges are not available. Before completing your order, please check that your order is correct and that your system is compatible for streaming.

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

Films are available for purchase until November 15, 11:59 pm. If a ticket is purchased on November 15, you will still have 48 hours to watch the film (films will not be available after November 17).

*TLV TV Unchained program will remain available for the duration of the festival.

Films are available to stream beginning November 4, 12 am. Starting then, you can stream all purchased films by clicking on “Watch Now” in your confirmation email or on the film page.

All tickets are general admission. Special pricing is available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@bostonjfilm.org for assistance with groups.

Viewing Films

Your All-Access pass or online ticket allows you to watch the film at any time during the Festival November 4-15. Once you begin to watch, you have 48 hours to complete viewing.

In this case, streaming simply means watching a video over your internet connection (instead of downloading a file to your computer). It’s immediate and available on-demand with any device that’s connected to the internet. Anytime you watch a film on Netflix, or a video on YouTube, you’re streaming!

After getting a ticket, simply click “WATCH NOW”. This button appears on the confirmation page after purchase, in your confirmation email, and on the film page.  If you purchased your ticket before November 4, you will be able to go back into your account beginning November 4 at 12 am, and click “watch now” on the film you purchased and  begin streaming  

You will be required to sign In with your pass number, email address, or username.

The ability to watch on your tv is not a guarantee, no refunds are allowed.  All Sales Are Final.

WAYS TO WATCH

TV

  • Download our dedicated app “Boston Jewish FIlm” On Roku or AppleTV (Gen4 and above)
  • Cast from a computer or Android phone/tablet from a Chrome browser using a Chromecast device
  • 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 are allowed.  All Sales Are Final.

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

Phone / Tablet

  • iOS devices (iPhone, iPad) Use Safari on iOS 11.2 or later. Screen mirroring is not supported, 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 are allowed.  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. We recommend consulting your television’s manual to confirm HDMI connections and for more information.

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.

You can stream films using Apple AirPlay by screen sharing from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

  • Make sure your TV is on the same wifi network as the computer, phone, or tablet you are casting from.  Open the “Watch Now” link sent in your confirmation email on your device. This will load the page with your video.
  • Click on the bottom right of the video and select the AirPlay or Chromecast icon. 
    • AirPlay: The icon  looks like a rectangle with a triangle
    • Chromecast: The icon  is a rectangle with three curved lines Select your TV from the dropdown that pops up
  • Turn off your VPN, if applicable – it can block viewing.

The Boston Jewish Film app is available on all versions of Roku and on Apple TV (Generation 4 or higher only)** 

  1. DOWNLOAD the Boston Jewish Film app
    1. To download the Boston Jewish Film app, search for “Boston Jewish Film” in either the Roku Channels app store or Apple TV app store and click “Get the App.”
    2. ATTENTION: THE ROKU CHANNEL STORE OR THE APPLE TV APP STORE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE APP STORE ON YOUR IPHONE OR IPAD

Once you have downloaded the “Boston Jewish Film” app, go to the Boston Jewish Film Festival film ticket page, log into your account and then choose any film you have purchased a ticket for and click “WATCH NOW.”

When you are ready to stream, click “WATCH ON ROKU OR APPLE TV” at the top of your stream page to access your 9-digit voucher code.

Open the Boston Jewish Film app on your Roku or Apple TV and enter the code to stream the film.

**Live Q&As and programs are unavailable on the Roku and AppleTV apps.

  • For a step-by-step on how to set up and watch on Apple TV, CLICK HERE.
  • For a step-by-step on how to set up and watch on Roku, CLICK HERE.

The ability to watch on your tv is not a guarantee, no refunds are allowed. All Sales Are Final.

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.

Live Programs

This year’s Festival includes daily conversations with filmmakers, actors, special guests, musical performances, and more! Your film ticket grants you access to the corresponding events and conversations. Want to see it all?  Purchase an All-Access Pass!

  • Individual tickets purchased include access to the corresponding live-streamed programs.
  • All-Access Passholders have access to all live-streamed programs.

Conversations and programs will take place on specific dates and times listed, for a full list of live programs, CLICK HERE. Entry into programs is only available to pass holders or with the purchase of a ticket for that particular film.

There are NO refunds for Midfest or other missed programs.

Watch live events by clicking the link from your confirmation email or ticket account.

Moderated live Q+A’s with filmmakers and other special guests will be streamed through Zoom. Video instructions on how to join Zoom Q&A’s HERE

Live programs are not available on Roku or Apple TV.

Moderated live Q+A’s with filmmakers and other special guests will be streamed through Zoom. These events can be attended via computer, tablet, smartphone, or mobile devices. Video instructions on how to join Zoom Q&A’s HERE

  • Find your film confirmation email. It will have the subject line: Boston Jewish Film Order Confirmation
  • Your confirmation email will contain a link to attend the Live Q+A, along with the date, time, and guest speakers. It may also contain a password or meeting ID.
  • On the scheduled date and time, click the Live Q+A link in your confirmation email.
  • This will launch the Zoom software on your computer or mobile device. If you do not have Zoom installed, it will prompt you to do so.
  • Enter any password or meeting ID, if prompted.
  • When the event starts, you will join the Live Q+A room and should be able to see and hear guest speakers.

Audiences will be able to type in questions and questions will be selected by the moderator. Some audience members may also be asked to “Join the Panel” to ask their questions on screen.

Recorded versions of the Q+A will be available after the Festival on the Boston Jewish Film YouTube channel. 

View archive videos HERE and make sure to subscribe to our channel to get alerts when we release new videos.