A La Jolla resident will make her documentary directorial debut at the 29th annual International Jewish Film Festival in San Diego.
Danielle Cohen, who works as the arts and culture program director for the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in addition to working on films, will present “The Tipping Point” at the festival’s Brews and Views event on Feb. 17. She said the idea for the 15-minute film came to her during a discussion about current environmental issues and how they related to the different policy changes brought on by the 2016 election. “We wanted to look at the policies and action items affecting the environment and global climate change, such as pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord and deregulating the EPA,” she said. “The more we filmed and interviewed scientists, the more we learned how vital these protection policies and government funding is to the state of our global climate.”
While Cohen has worked as a production assistant, camera operator and assistant editor on other documentaries and films, this was her first time directing a documentary. And so far, it’s gone pretty well. “The Tipping Point” received first place for the documentary category at the Central Illinois Feminist Film Festival, was a finalist in the Vaasa Wildlife Festival, and was a part of the official selection for seven other different film festivals across the world. “One of my favorite reactions to this film was from a French juror at the Life After Oil Film Festival in Italy who said ‘Wow! I’m going to tell people in France that Americans are actually intelligent,’” she said. “This film really calls out the government’s policies and procedures, specifically related to the EPA and what is happening due to defunding and deregulating of such policies. I hope this film has shown that America is still fighting the cause and not sitting passively.”
While it’s exciting to know people all around the world have watched her film, Cohen is excited to show her work to her local community. “As a female, Jewish director, native to San Diego, I’m excited to be participating in the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival’s Brews and Views event,” she said. “This will be the San Diego premiere so I’m excited for the film to finally screen to an audience so close to my heart.” Brews and Views The event will start at 5 p.m., Feb. 17 at Project Bar and Grill. For more information about the show and the International Jewish Film Festival, visit sdcjc.org.