The Last Blintz

The closing of The Café Edison is not just a story about another famous show business haunt shutting its doors - which it is, it is an American Dream-come-true story about a multi-generational, big-hearted, mom-and-pop family business that is tragically and pre-maturely coming to an end. It's also about gentrification on steroids and all-consuming greed. It's about the heart, soul, authenticity and distinctiveness of cities globally being flagrantly ripped away for yet another impersonal, cookie-cutter, corporate chain. It's too late for The Café Edison... but, looking to the future, 'The Last Blintz' is an impassioned plea for 'progress' that honors the past, protects and future and preserves the heart and culture of our great cities...before there's nothing left.

Country: USA

Release Date: Nov 2016

Rating: PG

SHORTS JURY PRIZE: The Atlantic Jewish Film Festival

It is no easy feat to juggle themes such as gentrification, Jewish history, community activism and personal loss within the confines of a half hour. But that's exactly what this film does, using the setting of an old New York establishment to explore the way memories come to define iconic locations to the point where change seems unthinkable — and then arrives, no matter how much resistance there is to stop it. For its ability to present a powerful ode to nostalgia and a wistful portrait of the march of time, we award our top prize to The Last Blintz.

Cast & Crew

Cast:

The Strohl Family
Francis Edelstein
Adam Strohl
Brian Strohl
Conrad Strohl
Jordan Strohl
Harriet Strohl

The Café Edison Staff
Barbara Baranowska
Emily Beltran
Louis Carias
Maria Choromanska
Margarita Dominguez
Renee Gutierrez
Mike Hartofiles
Alberto Larios
Christine Legacka
Jose Naula
Maureen Nicholson
Nick Ftilakis Nikolaos
Oscar Oropeza
Araceli Ramos
Emiliano Roam
Fedencio Rosando
Alex Saldana
Jose Santana
Mohammed (Manik) Siddiquee
Luz Taylor
Celeseo Torres
Katherine Veljkovic
Katina Bequiri Velskovic
Betty Warshaw

The Café Edison Storytellers
Annaleigh Ashford
Manny Azenberg
Matthew Baker
Bob Balaban
Mariah Balaban
Tom D’Angora
Michael D’Angora
Alpha Baide
Joy Behar
Joe Benincasa
Celia Keenan-Bolger
Christian Borle
Manattan Borough President Gaie Brewer
Andre Buncome
Danny Burstein
Paula Cobrada
Steve Earle
Georgia Engel
Senator Brad Hoylman
Emily Bauer Jenness
Mia Sinclair Jenness
NYC Council Member Corey Johnson
Peter Lawrence
Paul Libin
Hal Luftig
Meremiah Moss – ‘Vanishing New York’ Blogger
Elaine Minkoff
Douglas Nevin
Christine Pedi
Josh Prince
Michael Riedel
Justin ‘Squigs’ Robertson
Shade Rupe
Robert Score
Hanna Seiman
Marc Shaiman
Christopher Siever
Joe Tapper
Matt Wells
Jerry Zaks
Moris Zevenbergen
The Cast of ‘You Can’t Take It With You’
The Cast of ‘Gentlemen’s Guide To Murder’
The Magicians
Café Edison Diners

Director:
Dori Berinstein

Producer:
Dori Berinstein

Screenwriter:
Dori Berinstein

Editor:
Rob Van Alkemade

Director of Photography:
Rob Van Alkemade

Executive Producer:
Rob Van Alkemade

With Tremendous Thanks:
Francis and Harry Edelstein
The Strohl Family
Jeremiah Moss – ‘Vanishing New York’ Blogger
Annaliegh Ashford
Manny Azenberg
Joe Benincasa
Byrce Pinkham
The Cast of ‘You Can’t Take It With You’
The Cast of ‘Gentlemen’s Guide To Murder’
The Actor’s Fund

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