Deborah Bobrow of the Mandel Jewish Community Center says she believes in listening to different opinions, even if she doesn’t always agree with them.

'Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthrie.'That open-mindedness is also Bobrow’s vision for the Cleveland Jewish FilmFest, which will recognize its 20^th anniversary this week at several locations.

Opening this Thursday, Oct. 8, and running through Sunday, Oct. 18, the milestone festival brings 39 films from 13 countries to screens across Greater Cleveland. Among this year’s offerings is “In Sheitel: The Beauty in the Hidden,” a documentary exploring the significance of hair covering among Orthodox and Hasidic women. Meanwhile, ““In Sheitel: The Beauty in the Hidden,” follows a Palestinian boy on a perilous journey across his fraught homeland.

Ultimately, the annual cinematic showcase is more about sharing new ideas than espousing a particular ideology, says Bobrow, manager of arts and culture with Mandel JCC.

“That’s the beauty of the festival—people are learning things they didn’t know, or getting a different perspective of something they thought they knew,” Bobrow says. “Yes, it’s a divided time, but the festival is the best chance for people to come together and experience something a little different.”

Films will be screened at regional venues including the JCC, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cedar Lee Theatre, and the Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Five movies will be available for streaming as well, with selections available for 48 hours once viewing begins.

'Frontier.'Opening night at CMNH on Thursday will feature “Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthrie.” Fitting the festival's mission of featuring diverse perspectives, the documentary explores how Jewish culture shaped the folk legend’s life and work. “Dust Bowls” will be introduced by a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame staff member—bringing an added layer of musical authority to the screening, says Bobrow.

Special guests are part of the larger festival scene as well: Filmmaker Abby Ginzberg will discuss her documentary, “Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold,” which immortalizes the Hadassah founder who rescued thousands of Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe.

Additionally, Beachwood native Jacob Pincus will share “I Don't Know What I'm Doing Here,” about an American college student who journeys through rural Romania in search of her family’s native village.

All told, it’s an eclectic lineup that Bobrow says she hopes will draw crowds for live viewings.

“Coming to the theater is a springboard for conversation,” she says. “It gives you a different way of looking at something rather than just watching the movie on your own. You can learn from others, which is something I really like. We want to get people together and experience something cool on screen.”

Marking 20 years with such a wide-ranging collection brings Bobrow back to where it all began. In 2006, the festival screened 10 titles at the Shaker Square Cinemas 6 movie theater (now Atlas Cinemas) with a standing-room-only crowd that quickly extinguished any concerns she had about attendance, she recalls.

'Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthrie.'“Clearly, there was a thirst from people to see films they otherwise would not,” says Bobrow, herself a 27-year Mandel JCC veteran. “We are blessed to have so much arts and culture, [despite being] a smaller city.”

From the start, the event has brought in high-quality films covering a variety of topics—from queer themes to biopics to movies interrogating aspects of Jewish culture. Bobrow says choosing a favorite is like selecting a preferred child, although her enthusiasm for the festival has stayed strong.

Among the festival's most memorable moments, Bobrow points to a bar mitzvah-themed 13th anniversary. But keeping the event as open and welcoming as the JCC itself remains the primary focus, she adds.

“I love hearing comments from non-Jews, saying how much they learned,” Bobrow says. “For the world to be a more understanding place, we need to learn from each other.”