The final series events were a tribute to Dave and Dorothy Goldstone, the forces behind another delightful season. Thanks to the Goldstones, Sharon Heyman and Barry Zitser, the hospitality team, all the patio party hosts and the film selection team.

The 2024 festival's final films were a contrast of old and new. "No Name Restaurant" is a recent film starring our guest speaker Luzer Twersky, an American film and television actor who shared his personal journey from Orthodox boy from NYC to a secular actor. Twersky described making the film in the West Bank, with spectacular desert scenery filmed in Wadi Ram in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula. The mixed Israeli-Arab crew worked under harsh conditions and a very limited budget - jealously eyeing the posh sets and accommodations at the nearby “Dune” filming site.

The film is a buddy movie with a mission. Twersky's character is determined to fulfill an important promise, but bad luck, circumstances and other catastrophes stymie him. He is saved in the desert by a kind Bedouin who comes to respect Twersky's piety, and, posing as Twersky, enables the hapless hero to (indirectly) complete his task and save the day.

Lucy Goodhart and Gordon Bennett hosted the patio party, with Sharon Heyman and Barry Zitser's support.

See all Martin Kessel’s photos from the party, including a video of guest speaker Twersky’s Q&A here

Rick Winston introduced "The Producers" with a warning that even Mel Brooks couldn't do a film like this today. Yet, despite the Swedish blonde and gay producer stereotypes, the film is still hilarious. As Winston noted, it was one of Zero Mostel's few films because, he suggested, Zero is simply too big for the screen. His eyes alone say volumes.

Sharon Heyman and Barry Zitser, our series hospitality anchors, put out a lovely spread and tended bar to close the WMJFF season.