The Savannah Jewish Film Festival kicks off Jan. 24 with “Live and Become,” a remarkable tale about Operation Moses, and ends with the fun, high-energy documentary “Hava Nagila” on Feb. 2. Eight films celebrating Jewish culture are part of this year’s lineup.

Jennifer Rich, director of community programming for the Jewish Education Alliance and Savannah Jewish Federation, took time out from prepping for the Jewish Film Festival to fill me in on this year’s event.

DO: How did the idea for the Jewish Film Festival come about?

Rich: “Around 2002, Lynn Levine, who is a Savannah native and member of the Jewish community, moved back to Savannah from Washington, D.C. She believed that Savannah would benefit from having a Jewish film festival, too, and when she found out that Mobile, Ala. — a city with a Jewish community similar to Savannah’s — had one, she thought that it would actually be feasible to try to bring a Jewish film festival to Savannah.

“She went to work on the project with Moises Paz, the executive director of the JEA at the time, and Sharon Paz, the rxecutive director of the Savannah Jewish Federation. The funding for the project was donated by the daughters of Joan and Murray Gefen, who were longtime residents of Savannah that had been tragically killed in a car accident. The daughters felt that the film festival would be a very positive, beneficial cultural event in Savannah and that it would be a nice way to honor their parents.”

DO: What special events are lined up for 2013?

Rich: “This year we will have two special guests featured at the film festival — Dr. Larisa Elisha, who is a violinist and assistant professor and director of Upper Strings Violin/Viola at Georgia Southern University, will be playing for us and speaking prior to the film ‘Violins in Wartime’ on Jan. 27; and professor Michael Hofstein of SCAD will be speaking before the film ‘David’ on Jan. 30.”

DO: What films are you most excited about this year?

Rich: “I am really excited about our entire lineup this year. We have films that are very inspiring, educational and fun and something for every type of movie enthusiast. I think one film that will be very popular is ‘Nicky’s Family,’ which highlights the life of Nicholas Winton, a non-Jewish Englishman who organized the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War II. His life demonstrates how one person can make an enormous difference in the world and how good deeds are not forgotten, they live on and inspire future good deeds by others.”

DO: Why do you feel that this is an important event for Savannah?

Rich: “I think the Savannah Jewish Film Festival adds another dimension to the cultural offerings in Savannah. It’s an opportunity to learn a little more about the diversity of Jewish experience through the lens of film. For movie lovers, it’s a chance to see high-quality, engaging, artful film at its best.”

For more info and to purchase tickets, visit the JEA, 5111 Abercorn St., or go to www.savannahjea.org.