THE STARR STORY
In celebration of its 16th anniversary, the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival (TBJFF) honored its esteemed founder, the late Mr. Jesse Starr (Z"l), with an honorary award. This recognized his dedication and exceptional contributions to the festival's success. A renowned film enthusiast, Mr. Starr was a pillar of the Jewish community, actively involved in organizations like Hillels of the Florida Suncoast and the Jewish Community Relations Council. He served on various committees within the JCC/Federation and was a passionate advocate for Israel.
To commemorate his legacy, the TBJFF established the STARR AWARD. Presented annually since 2012, this award acknowledges and celebrates individuals within the film community who demonstrate unwavering support and significant involvement in the festival.
Congratulations to Neil Friedman
the 2025 Starr Award Recipient.
Menemsha Films, founded in 1998 by Neil Friedman, is a premier distributor dedicated to bringing the finest art house films to audiences worldwide. Known for its discerning taste, Menemsha Films has earned a reputation for selecting exceptional films, having set a record by representing five Academy Award nominees for five consecutive years.
Neil has been an instrumental figure in programming and supporting the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival (TBJFF) since its inception. His unwavering commitment to Jewish cinema and film festivals around the world has made him a trusted guide in the industry. In recognition of his dedication, we are proud to honor Neil Friedman with the 2025 Starr Award for his outstanding contributions to the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival.
The STARR Award is generously sponsored by:
We welcome you this prestigious circle and hope that you enjoy
sharing the honor with the previous year recipients:
2024 - Roxana Levin and Anat Mansour
2023 - Sara Golding Sher and Loni Shelef
2022 - Dan Sultan
2021 - Martha Margolis and Elaine Rubel
2020 - Bill Fleece representing Herman Forbes Charitable Trust and Terri & Robert Tankel
2019 - Ellyn Kessler & Steward Donnell
2018 - Anita & Herm Greenberg, Myra & Robert (Z“l) Sann
2017 - Stuart Novick & Edward Rudd
2016 - Cathy Gardner, Susan Heyman & Michael White
2015 - Mindy Solomon
2014 - Sharon Feen- Wallace
2013 - Rina Donchin (Z“l)
2012 - Jesse Starr (Z“l)