Who We Are
Carole Zabar – Founder
Mrs. Zabar has been an active supporter of Israeli documentary filmmaking over the last decade and is the founder of the Other Israel Film Festival. As part of her support for Israeli cultural, social, and political causes, Mrs. Zabar serves as a board member of JCC Manhattan, New Israel Fund, and the American Friends of Meretz.
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Isaac Zablocki – Executive Director
Isaac Zablocki is the Director of Film Programs at JCC Manhattan and the Director and Co-Founder of ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York – the largest cultural festival of its kind in the world. The festival runs in 25 locations throughout the New York Metro area and in thirteen major cites throughout the country. Isaac is the founder and director of the Israel Film Center, which includes North America’s largest streaming site for Israeli films: IsraelFilmCenterSTREAM.org. He writes for many national publications and lectures on film at esteemed institutions around the world.
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Caroline Calandro – Program Producer
Caroline studied journalism and psychology at the University of Connecticut and brings professional experience in freelance post-production work for clients including the International Rescue Committee, UNICEF and VMware as well as NYC production companies The National Media League and SALTY Features. She is excited to be supporting the mission of the Other Israel Film Festival through her work on the JCC film team.
Juliette Klitz – Production Manager
Juliette is born and raised in New York City. She graduated with degrees in Film & Media Studies and Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University. After a summer internship at MY Entertainment, Juliette has worked as a production sound mixer for many student shorts as well as a production assistant on HBO’s The Shop.
Carmel Lotan – Festival Guest Coordinator
After starring in successful TV shows for Disney and Nickelodeon, Carmel moved to New York City to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Carmel graduated from Hunter College, Magna Cum Laude, majoring in Writing, Directing, and Producing for film, TV, and theater. Her first play, “Smartphone Love,” was selected for the Downtown Urban Arts Festival final list and The Chain-One Act Festival. Carmel is excited to be on the Other Israel Film Festival’s team, and is very inspired by the festival’s work.
Sarah Rosen – Festival Consultant, Marketing & Partnerships
Sarah Rosen is a writer, filmmaker, and journalist based in Brooklyn and Tel Aviv. Her latest short film screened at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, among others. Her writing has been published in the New York Times, Harper’s, Jewish Currents, the Forward, the Times of Israel, and more. She is the recipient of a 2022-23 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in Screenwriting. Her work has been supported by New York Foundation for the Arts, the Gotham’s Marcie Bloom Fellowship, ROI Schusterman and the Dorot Fellowship.
Ryan Bottitta – Program Administrator
Born and raised in Queens, New York, Ryan is the Program Administrator at the Carole Zabar Center for Film. She graduated with a degree in Media & Film Studies at Queens College, and has experience in aspects of production, such as stage management, archival research, and screenwriting, as well as development experience on an upcoming WNBA documentary. She’s thrilled to support the art of storytelling and the message of the Other Israel Film Festival alongside the JCC film team.
