Nearly 10 years after the nation’s second largest Jewish Film Festival was formulated in Atlanta, this diverse display of Jewish culture will finally spread to the Athens community.

“Athens is sort of a cultural mecca in this part of Georgia,” said Abraham Tesser, president of Athens Jewish Film Festival.

“There is a significant Jewish community and there is a lot of pride in our identity. More importantly, it’s a matter of learning about other cultures, religions, the different way people do things.”

Six percent of the University’s undergraduate population is Jewish – approximately 2,000 students, Jonathan Arogeti said, a sophomore from Atlanta and student representative for the festival.

Started in September of 2008, Tesser consulted with some people in Athens, as well as with the manager at Ciné regarding the decision to bring the festival here.

The festival will last two days – featuring 10 international films, such as “Noodle,” winner of two and nominated for nine Israeli Academy Awards, and an Israeli buffet gala.

“It’s more than a cultural experience – whenever there’s understanding of a group, it makes for a much more harmonious community,” Angela Meltzer, vice president of AJFF, said.