All You Need to Know About the 2023 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

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The In-Theater Experience
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How is AJFF managing seating for in-theater screenings?
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New this year, and by popular demand, AJFF introduces reserved seating to enhance your festival experience. Now you can select your seat in advance, skip the lines, and forgo the worry of getting a good seat or saving seats.

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Will I have to wait in lines?
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Since all seating is reserved, there are no queue lines or a need to arrive extra early to get a good seat. We recommend you plan to arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of the screening to allow time for parking, security checks, and concessions.

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What if I want to sit with friends?
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We encourage groups who wish to sit together to coordinate their reserved seat selection and ticket purchase.

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May I save seats?
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With reserved seating, there is no longer a need to save seats. Please avoid sitting in any seats for which you do not have a ticket.

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When should I arrive at the theater?
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Doors open to the auditorium 30 minutes before each film, and our friendly ushers are available to assist you in locating your reserved seat. We encourage you to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to show time, to allow for parking, security checks, and concessions.

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What if a screening sells out? Can I still get tickets?
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Call the Box Office at 678-701-6104 to check if last-minute tickets have become available or if other tickets have been returned to AJFF. If all else fails, add your name to the standby list, in person at the theater on the day of the screening you wish to attend. We will release unoccupied seats at show time.

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Do you show films on Saturdays?
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Yes. AJFF screens films on Saturdays beginning at 1:00 PM.

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What if I am Sabbath observant?
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Our mission includes serving audiences of all faiths and backgrounds. Films showing on Saturday afternoons will often screen at other times and are available (with permission of the film distributors) in the Virtual Cinema.

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How is AJFF keeping audiences safe?
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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has made safety our priority. That includes a commitment to monitor and respond to evolving conditions and public health measures. All in-theater screenings will proceed in accordance with federal, state, and local guidelines. For more information on safety measures for in-theater screenings, visit AJFF.org/healthandsafety.

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Watching Movies at Home
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How can I watch a film in the Virtual Cinema?
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Each virtual screening ticket you purchase comes with a voucher code that allows you to stream the film at any time during the festival. To watch the film, enter the voucher code in the Virtual Cinema, either on a computer at watch.AJFF.org, or via the AJFF app on a streaming device (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV). Then click ‘Play.’

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Why are some films available only in the theater, and not in the Virtual Cinema?
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At the behest of distributors, a number of films in the 2023 AJFF lineup are available for exclusive in-theater presentation only.

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How long do I have to watch a film in the Virtual Cinema?
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You can stream a film in the Virtual Cinema any time during the festival dates, February 8–21, 2023. Access ends at the conclusion of the festival.

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Can I buy a Virtual Cinema ticket for a film before the festival begins?
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Absolutely! Tickets are available for purchase by the public beginning at noontime on Friday, January 27. You can begin watching movies in the Virtual Cinema at noontime on Wednesday, February 8 through the end of the festival, Tuesday, February 21.

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Can a virtual screening sell out?
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Yes. Due to limits on the number of views permitted, virtual screenings can sell out. Reserve your tickets as soon as possible, including for the Virtual Cinema.

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Can I share a voucher code?
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While you may give a gift of a voucher code to someone, you cannot share the same code. Each code may be used only once to stream from only one household.

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Can I watch the films from anywhere in the USA or beyond?
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Due to restrictions on where a film may be viewed (known as geo-blocking), most films in the 2023 AJFF lineup can be streamed only by ticket purchasers in the state of Georgia. If you plan to travel out of the state during the festival, be sure to use a credit or debit card with a Georgia billing address at the time of purchase.

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Tickets and More
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How do I purchase tickets?
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Go to AJFF.org/buytickets to browse films and purchase tickets.

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When can I purchase tickets?
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The public can access tickets starting on Friday, January 27 at noon. Pre-sale for sponsors and members begins Wednesday, January 18 at noon.

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Do I need a ticket to watch a film in the Virtual Cinema?
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Yes. To stream movies in the Virtual Cinema, you first need to order a ticket. The ticket will contain a voucher code required to watch the film.

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Are tickets for in-theater screenings and the Virtual Cinema interchangeable?
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No. For the hybrid festival, tickets for screenings at the movie theaters and in the Virtual Cinema are sold separately. Tickets for in-theater screenings do not include streaming access, and vice versa.

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Will everyone in my home need a ticket to watch a film in the Virtual Cinema?
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No. Only one Virtual Cinema ticket is required per household, priced at $18. For movies at a theater, everyone will need individual tickets.

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Will I need a ticket to watch a Q&A in the Virtual Cinema?
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Yes. Use your existing voucher code to access the corresponding Q&A program for the film (if applicable), located under Bonus Content in the Virtual Cinema. Live in-theater Q&A programs will not be available to watch in the Virtual Cinema.

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How do I cast a ballot for the Audience Awards?
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Go to AJFF.org/vote to cast your ballot for any films you have seen in the festival. You can also score each film you see via a custom link, emailed to ticket buyers, or shared via QR code at in-theater screenings. Votes will be tabulated, and Audience Award winners announced at the conclusion of the festival.

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What should I do if I have trouble with ticketing or accessing the Virtual Cinema, or if I have other questions?
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There is a wealth of information available on our website, here in the FAQs. If you prefer assistance by phone, please contact the AJFF Box Office at 678-701-6104.

The Box Office will be available Monday–Sunday between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Beginning January 27, when tickets go on sale, through the end of the festival, the Box Office will be available an additional two hours, until 8:00 PM.

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Membership & Sponsorship
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How do I use my All Access Pass?
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As a Member or Sponsor you have access to complimentary tickets based upon your member level. To claim a complimentary ticket to a film, login to your AJFF account associated with your membership, select the film(s) you wish to view, and checkout. Upon checkout you will receive two emails, one is your confirmation and the other will have a voucher code included in the attachment. The voucher code allows access to stream the film.

Please note that while you are eligible to claim complimentary access to each film in the festival, films may sell out. Access to your complimentary tickets is not guaranteed after the start of the public sale.

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Do I need to get tickets to films even though I have an All Access Pass?
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Yes. First login to AJFF.org to access your member benefits. Then, begin selecting the film(s) you wish to see. The number of complimentary tickets you can claim is based on your member level.

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What email should I use to access my member benefits?
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The login and password for your ticketing account should be the same as used for the previous festival year. From the login screen you can reset your password, if needed. If you need further assistance, please contact the AJFF Concierge team at 678-701-6107.

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I am a member. Why am I not seeing my complimentary tickets?
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It may be that you are not logged in to the account associated with your 2023 AJFF membership. To confirm access, please contact the AJFF Concierge team at 678-701-6107.

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Can I share my All Access Pass with a friend or family member?
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If you would like to share your member benefits with someone else, please contact Donor Relations Manager, Dawn Watkins, at dawn@ajff.org for assistance.

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Technical & Hardware Questions
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When I open the AJFF app on my television, or Virtual Cinema on my computer, it says I need to enter a voucher code. What is a voucher code?
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A voucher code is your ticket to view a film in the Virtual Cinema either on your computer or through the AJFF streaming app on your Smart TV. You receive a voucher code by purchasing a ticket through AJFF.org or calling 678-701-6104. The voucher code will be emailed to you following completion of your transaction.

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How do I watch using my Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV?
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  • Amazon FireTV: In the App Store, search for ‘AJFF.’ Click to Download.
  • Apple TV: In the App Store, search for 'AJFF.' The App is available for all versions of Roku and Apple TV (Generation 4 or higher only).
  • Roku: In the Roku Channel Store, search for 'AJFF' and click ‘Add Channel.’
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How do I watch films on my iPad or Tablet?
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  • At AJFF.org, click ‘Virtual Cinema’ at the top of the website.
  • Enter the voucher code for the film you want to watch and press ‘Play.'
  • System Requirements:
    • Android: Use Chrome on Android 6.0 or later
    • iPhone/iPad: Use Safari on iOS 11.2 or later

Note: 'Screen Mirroring' must be turned off for content to play.

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How do I watch films on my PC or Mac computer?
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  • At AJFF.org, click ‘Virtual Cinema’ at the top of the website.
  • Enter the voucher code for the film you want to watch and press ‘Play.'
  • System Requirements:
    • PCs running Windows 7, 8.1 or 10. Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera. Note: Internet Explorer is not supported.
    • Macs running Mac OSX 10.12 or later. Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Opera.
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Can I AirPlay to my Apple TV?
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  • You can AirPlay from most browsers if you have Apple TV, by selecting the ‘AirPlay’ button in the bottom right-hand side of the player.
  • Make sure your TV is on the same Wi-Fi network as the computer, phone, or tablet from which you are playing the film.
  • AirPlay users need to connect directly from the video. Do not use the in-screen mirror mode.
  • On your device, open AJFF.org and select ‘Virtual Cinema’ at the top of the website.
  • On the bottom right of the link select the AirPlay icon. 
  • Enter the voucher code for the film you want to watch and press ‘Play.'
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Why do I see a black screen if I am watching content with AirPlay on my TV?
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You likely have ‘Screen Mirroring’ turned on in your device settings. Please turn off the screen mirroring setting and start AirPlay by selecting the AirPlay button in the bottom right-hand side of the player.

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How do I Chromecast?
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  • You can Chromecast from a Chrome web browser on PC and Mac computers as well as Android devices by selecting the ‘cast’ button in the bottom right-hand side of the player.
  • Make sure your TV is on the same Wi-Fi network as the computer, phone, or tablet from which you are casting. Please note that casting is not available from iPhone and iPad.
  • On your device, open AJFF.org and select ‘Virtual Cinema’ at the top of the website.
  • On the bottom right of the link select the Chromecast icon. 
  • Enter the voucher code for the film you want to watch and press ‘Play.'
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Why does video playback stall or not play smoothly?
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We use adaptive bitrate streaming, which means the streaming quality will automatically adjust based on your internet speed. If your internet connection is weak or inconsistent, you may experience problems during playback. If you’re on Wi-Fi, try moving closer to your router.

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My movie freezes, is blurry, or does not play. What should I do?
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If you are having trouble watching a film, there are several things you can try. Follow these steps:

  • Try refreshing your browser first. There may be some lag time and refreshing your browser will generally fix the issue.
  • Restart your computer.
  • Reset your Wi-Fi router or move closer to the router.
  • Make sure you are watching through an approved browser. If it is not working in one browser, try another. Remember, Internet Explorer is not supported.
  • Is your device set to block pop-ups? You might need to disable this.
  • If all you see in the player window is a black screen, please click or tap on the window to activate the player controls.

If these options do not work, it may be that you are experiencing a slower speed of service from your internet provider. We recommend contacting your internet provider for further assistance.

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Why am I receiving an error message: "Your voucher has been redeemed by a different IP address?"
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For security reasons, you must view your film on the same Wi-Fi network or internet connection. That is, once you start the stream in one location, you cannot continue the film in another location or on a different network. You cannot start watching at home and try to restart at a friend’s house.

Alternately, you can only use different devices in one location if they are using the same network. For example, if you start watching on a TV and switch to a tablet or laptop, they both need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

If you are receiving this message in error, please contact helpdesk@ajff.org.

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How do I watch on my flat screen TV (with no smart TV capabilities)?
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  • Connect an HDMI cable from your laptop to your TV.
  • Once connected, select the correct input source on your TV. Your laptop screen will be “mirrored” on your TV.
  • Then, on your laptop, open the AJFF website and select ‘Virtual Cinema.'
  • Enter the voucher code for the film you want to watch and press ‘Play.'
  • It is strongly recommended that you test this operation before the film festival begins. Any YouTube video or the festival trailer can be used for testing purposes.

Note: A lightning-to-HDMI adapter is not supported for connecting tablets to your TV.

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Can I watch the films from anywhere? I am not currently at home. Is that okay?
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Distributors dictate the geographic region where a film may be viewed, so it varies from film to film. The geographic availability of each film will be noted on its film details page on AJFF.org.

If you’re traveling away from home, don’t worry though. Geoblocking is enforced at purchase, so just make sure to use a credit or debit card with a billing address in Georgia (or the US, depending on how restrictive the geoblocking is).

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Can I use a VPN?
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No. If you pause the film and continue watching, you will receive an error. Turn off your VPN before you click 'Play.' If you receive an error after you start watching a stream with your VPN on, please contact helpdesk@ajff.org.

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Will tech support be available?
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Yes. We will offer basic tech support by phone Monday–Sunday from 11:00 AM–7:00 PM at 678-701-6104 or by emailing helpdesk@ajff.org.

We recommend that you watch films as early as you can during the festival so that our team has time to troubleshoot problems if they arise.

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Why can I not play the film on my smart TV?
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With the large variety of smart TV options it is hard to know for sure. Many smart TVs have very basic built-in web browsers which DO NOT support the security features in place for the Virtual Cinema. Without the support of DRM it can prevent videos from loading and playing properly. For this reason it is best to access the festival on a television through one of the three supported devices - Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

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Why am I encountering an error while watching on Roku?
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A simple System Update should resolve the issue.

If you find you continue to receive the error we recommend you perform a Network Connection Reset by navigating to System -> Advanced System Settings -> Network Connection Reset. This will automatically restart the Roku after which the app should no longer display the error when playing content.

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What platform are you using to host the films?
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AJFF has partnered with CineSend to host the Virtual Cinema.

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