Inspiring Students Through the Legacy of Elie Wiesel

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival continued its commitment to education and community engagement with a special Field Trip Screening of Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center on Thursday, February 27. This powerful documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Oren Rudavsky, provided students and educators an immersive learning experience, bringing history and moral lessons to life through the story of one of the Holocaust’s most profound voices.

The screening was followed by a thought-provoking Q&A session, moderated by WSB-TV’s Condace Pressley, Director of Community, Public Affairs, and Licensing, allowing students to engage directly with Rudavsky about the film, its impact, and Wiesel’s enduring legacy.

Due to overwhelming demand, an encore screening was held the next day at the Tara Theatre, allowing even more students, including those from Westminster Academy, to participate.

Bringing Wiesel’s Legacy to a New Generation

Elie Wiesel’s life story is one of resilience, moral leadership, and the fight against indifference. His memoir Night remains one of the most important accounts of the Holocaust’s horrors, and his lifelong work as a writer, advocate, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate continues to shape human rights conversations worldwide.

The Field Trip Screening provided an opportunity for students not only to witness Wiesel’s story but to engage in meaningful dialogue about how his lessons apply to today’s world. As Holocaust denial and antisemitism rise globally, events like these become essential touchpoints for historical education and ethical reflection.

Interactive Learning: Filmmaker Q&A & Student Engagement

Following the screening, students and teachers had the rare opportunity to engage directly with filmmaker Oren Rudavsky. Rudavsky fielded insightful questions, offering an inside look at his creative process, historical research, and the significance of Wiesel’s story.

After the formal Q&A, Rudavsky went above and beyond to connect with students in the lobby, taking photos, answering additional questions, and even sharing his contact information with some educators and students for future learning opportunities.

To further enhance classroom discussions, AJFF distributed a custom curriculum and questionnaire, crafted by AJFF Mission Committee Lead and Board Member Gordon Mathis (Galloway School) and former Pace Academy educator Kathie Larkin. This resource provided students and teachers with structured ways to process the film’s themes, discuss moral responsibility, and draw connections to their own lives.

A Core Pillar of AJFF’s Future: Expanding Year-Round Education

The Field Trip Screening was part of the Kenny Blank Vision Initiative (KBVI), AJFF’s $2.5M Growth Campaign, which seeks to transform AJFF from an annual festival into a year-round cultural institution and arts hub.

Education is a strategic priority for AJFF, particularly as rising antisemitism and Holocaust denial impact students in local communities. The festival’s investment in education initiatives ensures that young audiences have access to meaningful Jewish storytelling that fosters understanding, awareness, and social responsibility.

Key education initiatives under KBVI include:

• Field Trip Screenings – Providing accessible learning experiences, including special pricing for Title 1 schools, to ensure all students can attend.
• Student Filmmaking Competition – Empowering young voices to tell their own stories.
• Classroom & Campus Programming – Expanding film-based education directly into schools and universities to reach students where they learn.

Why These Screenings Matter

For many students, this was their first exposure to a full-length Holocaust documentary in a communal setting, allowing them to process Wiesel’s life story in a deep and lasting way.

These Field Trip events are more than just screenings—they are immersive educational experiences that bring history to life and challenge young minds to think critically about moral leadership, activism, and their role in shaping the future.

As AJFF continues expanding its educational initiatives, Field Trip Screenings will remain a vital component of the festival’s commitment to access, innovation, and impact.

For educators and schools interested in future screenings, curriculum support, or student engagement opportunities, visit AJFF.org/fieldtrip to learn more.

About Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire

This visually stunning and deeply moving documentary explores the life, struggles, and lasting legacy of Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, one of the Holocaust’s most important witnesses. Through exclusive interviews, rare archival material, and hand-painted animation, the film illuminates Wiesel’s journey from a childhood in Sighet, Romania, to the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, and his evolution as a writer, activist, and conscience-keeper for humanity.

Now, 80 years after his liberation from Buchenwald, Wiesel’s voice remains as urgent as ever, reminding us of our shared responsibility to combat hatred and preserve history’s lessons for future generations.

Looking Ahead through the Lens of Kenny Blank

As AJFF grows beyond its flagship festival through the Kenny Blank Vision Initiative, programs like Field Trip Screenings and expanded student programming will continue to shape the next generation of critical thinkers, storytellers, and advocates.

With the support of KBVI and community partners, AJFF is poised to deepen its role as a leader in Jewish arts, culture, and education, ensuring that important films like Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire continue to inspire and inform audiences for years to come.

For more information on AJFF’s education programs, future screenings, and how to get involved, visit AJFF.org/vision.