Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls

SPECIAL CLOSING NIGHT EVENT

The name Woody Guthrie conjures images of Dust Bowl families from the 1930s fleeing their soil-ravaged farms, along with those famous lyrical phrases, “This land is your land, this land is my land. From California to the New York Island.” However, Woody’s horizons extended far beyond the dusty Oklahoma hills of his youth. Once his wanderings and ramblings brought him to New York City in the 1940s, he was introduced – both personally and professionally – into a vibrant Jewish culture that he wholeheartedly embraced and ultimately had a deep influence on his life and his music. Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls also weaves in the story of Aliza Greenblatt, an immigrant from Ukraine who later became a prominent Yiddish poet and songwriter—and who also happened to be Woody’s mother-in-law. From the dust storms of Oklahoma to the lox and bagels of Coney Island, discover a whole new side of Woody Guthrie that will forever change your view of one of America’s most celebrated songwriters and cultural icons.

WHY WE LIKE THIS FILM: Who would have thought that America’s most famous Dust Bowl balladeer held a deep, hidden connection to Jewish culture? Join us for an extraordinary Closing Night Event featuring “Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls,” the runaway hit of the current Jewish film scene! What began with director Steve Pressman’s surprising discovery of a Woody Guthrie Hanukkah song opened up an incredible web of history—most notably Guthrie’s profound, creative bond with his mother-in-law, a celebrated Yiddish poet. Packed with captivating anecdotes and iconic music, this documentary uncovers a unique cross-cultural story you’ve never heard before. To make this grand finale truly unforgettable, the evening begins with an exclusive live musical performance by Woody Guthrie’s granddaughter, Sara Lee Guthrie. Following the screening, stay with us for an engaging panel discussion featuring filmmaker Steve Pressman alongside a guest UT Yiddishist and Sara Lee Guthrie. Don’t miss this incredible night of music, history, and community—reserve your

Join us for a very special closing night event. “Club Guthrie” opens at 7PM with live music from Sara Lee Guthrie, Woody’s granddaughter. Snacks will be included on every table, and we’ll have an open bar, all included in your ticket. If the weather is nice, we’ll be outside in the Kogut Terrance, next to the Evans Performance Center. Otherwise, we’ll be indoors in the Community Hall behind the Evans Performance Center.

Following Sarah Lee’s performance, we’ll move next door to watch the film. Afterwards, Sarah Lee will join director Steven Pressman and UT Yiddishist Adrien Smith for what promises to be a memorable closing night Q&A panel.

Make sure you are on time so as not to miss any of this very special event to close the festival!

Showtimes

In-Person

Nov 19

7:00 PM — Evans Performance Center at Shalom Austin

Need help with ticketing? Email boxoffice@AustinJFF.org with your name, email address, and phone number. We can process ticketing over the phone. Please don’t wait until the last minute!