SCHENECTADY– The Schenectady Jewish Community Center (SJCC) Jewish Film Festival will feature  “Burt” on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. Following the screening, the film’s director, Joe Burke, will join the program via Zoom for a discussion led by Jane Ginsburg, president and CEO of Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York.

Jane Ginsburg

The film relates the story of Burt, a 69-year-old street musician living with Parkinson’s, who has his life turned upside down when Sammy, a young man from New York, shows up claiming to be his son. Burt embraces Sammy into his life and invites him to stay for the weekend at his home, where he lives with his grumpy landlord, Steve.

According to organizers, the story was inspired by the real life of singer/songwriter Burt Berger, who stars in the film alongside actor Oliver Cooper.

Burke, the director, is originally from Toledo, Ohio, he moved to Chicago after high school to study filmmaking and theater at Columbia College Chicago. Later relocated to Los Angeles, where he earned his MFA in directing from the American Film Institute (AFI).

Single price tickets are $10 for Center members and $15 for guests at the door and $8 for members and $13 for non-members with prepayment. Information about the film showing and registration may be obtained at https://schenectadyjcc.org/post/Burt, or by calling 518-377-8803.

The Jewish Film Festival is supported by the JCC Friends of the Arts, the Epstein Jewish Cultural Fund, Meyer and Mary Kurland/Gebell Fund, Jonas and Edith Flemiberg Jewish Cultural Fund, The Jewish World, and a grant from the Schenectady County Legislature through its County Initiative Program.