Image by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images

By Talya Zax April 28, 2017

What does it take to win two of the Tribeca Film Festival’s most prestigious prizes?

Apparently, aside from talent, willpower and funding, a dose of inspiration from the JCC Manhattan will do the trick.

Director and writer Rachel Israel’s film “Keep the Change” took home the Festival’s juried awards for Best U.S. Narrative Feature and Best New Narrative Director. The film follows a Jewish man and woman, both on the autism spectrum, as they fall in love. It is Israel’s feature debut.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Speaking to Kelsey Moore from the blog Women and Hollywood in advance of film’s Festival premiere, Israel explained that “Keep the Change” took off after she began frequenting the JCC Manhattan.

“I came to this story through my lead actor, Brandon Polansky, who plays David,” she said. “Brandon is a friend of mine of over 15 years. He is on the autism spectrum, and our film’s story was inspired by his real life struggle to find and ultimately maintain romantic love. The project grew into something bigger as I got to know the autism community at the JCC Manhattan, which is where Brandon met his first girlfriend.”

“I came to know some amazing people there and became obsessed with bringing them to the screen. I had never seen characters anything like them portrayed in narrative film before,” she continued.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount