SCREENINGS
Here you can find upcoming and past screenings
of the film. The film is not currently available online.
Wednesday
April 16, 2025
[Institute of Contemporary Arts Boston Seaport Studio]
4:30 PM-6:30 PM
Fast Forward Presents… The Seltzer Factory by Paloma Valenzuela
Description
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Calling all teens! Join us, Fast Forward teens, for a free night of food, film, and family stories. We will screen The Seltzer Factory by local director and filmmaker, Paloma Valenzuela, and host a Q&A with her right after. We invite you to bring stories from your own families or communities to share through an interactive activity we will lead. Free food and beverages too!
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More about The Seltzer Factory in Paloma’s words:
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The film is a short documentary (hybrid in a way with narrative parts as well) that traces back a family story from my mother’s side: a story that set off a series of events that led my great grandmother to Cleveland ultimately saving her life, as just years later the rest of her family were sent off and killed in concentration camps in the Holocaust. I want to tell this story because I think this is a powerful story that many families can relate with — in terms of looking back, tracing back and finding those moments that led us to even still being here today. There is no doubt in my mind that if my Great Grandmother, Jewish-Hungarian woman from the town of Marghita wasn’t thrust into a move to the United States before the war took millions of lives – we would not be here today.
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As a Jewish woman of color, and one of only 2 in my family on my mother’s side, I
also want to tell the story from my perspective- giving myself permission to
tell this story, even if I can feel sometimes “othered” as a Jewish
woman, I am a proud Jewish-American who is also part
Afro-Caribbean/Dominican/Latina and this is my story too.
Past Screenings:
Saturday, March 15, 2025 & Saturday March 22
[Connolly Branch of the Boston Public Library]
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Seltzer Factory: Film Screening and Writing Workshop with Filmmaker Paloma Valenzuela / The Seltzer Factory: Proyección de Documental y Taller de Escritura con la Cineasta Paloma Valenzuela
Description
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Join us for this two-part writing workshop with Jamaica Plain filmmaker Paloma Valenzuela.
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In the first session, we will screen her latest documentary film The Seltzer Factory, which explores her family’s story and her identity as a bi-racial Dominican-American Jewish-American. Following the screening Paloma will lead participants in a monologue writing workshop exploring themes of immigration, belonging, identity, and finding connections with ourselves, our ancestors, and their stories. For the second session, we will workshop our monologues through table reads and edits and share them together in community.
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This program is a bilingual offering in English and Spanish; you may participate in whatever language you feel most comfortable. The film will be shown in English with Spanish subtitles.
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To register, please email Nic at connolly@bpl.org.
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This program is generously sponsored by the Baxter Fund.
Instructor Bio: Paloma Valenzuela is a Dominican-American writer/filmmaker and lecturer originally from Boston. She is the creative director of the production company La Palomita Productions and the writer/producer of the web series "The Pineapple Diaries."
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Acompáñanos a este taller de escritura de dos partes con la cineasta Paloma Valenzuela.
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En la primera sesión proyectaremos su documental The Seltzer Factory, que explora la historia de su familia y su identidad como persona biracial, parte dominicana-americana afro-caribeña/ parte judía-americana. Después de la proyección, Paloma facilitará un taller de escritura de monólogos que explorará temas de inmigración, sentidos de pertenencia, identidad y cómo encontrar conexiones con nosotros mismos, nuestros antepasados y sus historias. Para la segunda sesión, trabajaremos nuestros monólogos a través de lecturas de mesa y sesiones de edición y los compartiremos juntos en comunidad.
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Este programa es una oferta bilingüe en español e inglés; puedes participar en el idioma con el que te sientas más cómodo. La película se proyectará en inglés con subtítulos en español.
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Regístrese enviando un correo electrónico a connolly@bpl.org.
Este programa es generosamente patrocinado por The Baxter Fund.
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Biografía de la instructora: Paloma Valenzuela es una escritora, cineasta y profesora dominico-americana originalmente de la ciudad de Boston. Es directora creativa de la productora La Palomita Productions y escritora/productora de la serie web basada en Jamaica Plain, "The Pineapple Diaries."
Thursday
January 16, 2025
[Roger Williams Park Botanical Center]
7:00PM-8:30PM
RWPC Winter Warm Up Film Series; The Seltzer Factory at RWP Botanical Center
Description
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RWP Conservancy's Winter Warm Up Film Series; The Seltzer Factory at the RWP Botanical Center
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Thursday, January 16th at 7:00 PM
Doors open at 6:30, Q & A following the screening
Sponsored by the Providence Tourism Council
Seating limited so please reserve a free spot.
Saturday
December 7, 2024
[Connolly Library in Jamaica Plain, Presented by Hyde Square Task Force]
2:00PM-3:30PM
The Seltzer Factory: Film Screening with Paloma Valenzuela/The Seltzer Factory: Proyección del Documental con Paloma Valenzuela
Description
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Join us for a screening of The Seltzer Factory, written and directed by Jamaica Plain filmmaker Paloma Valenzuela. In this short documentary film, Paloma investigates her maternal family history and explores her identity as a bi-racial Dominican-American Jewish-American as she pieces together the connecting events that shaped her family's story from Marghita to Oradea to Cleveland to the Dominican Republic to Boston.
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The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Paloma; both English and Spanish are welcome.
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The film will be shown in English with Spanish subtitles.
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This program is presented in partnership with Hyde Square Task Force.
Tuesday
December 3, 2024
[Northeastern Crossing at Northeastern University]
6:00PM-8:00PM
Film Screening and Discussion at Northeastern Crossing
Description
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Join us a screening of The Seltzer Factory, written and directed by the Dominican-American, Boston-based filmmaker Paloma Valenzuela. This short documentary follows Paloma as she investigates her family history and explores her identity as a biracial Latina Jewish-American.
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The film will be followed by an audience Q&A with Paloma Valenzuela.
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This event is free!
Monday
November 18, 2024
[Boston Public Library - Central Library] 6:00PM-7:30PM
The Seltzer Factory: Film Screening and Conversation with Writer and Director Paloma Valenzuela
Description
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Join us for a screening of The Seltzer Factory, written and directed by the Dominican-American, Boston-based filmmaker Paloma Valenzuela. This short documentary follows Paloma as she investigates her family history and explores her identity as a biracial Latina Jewish-American, piecing together the connecting events that shaped her family's story from Marghita to Oradea, to Cleveland, to the Dominican Republic to Boston.
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The film will be followed by an audience Q&A with Paloma Valenzuela. This event will be held in Rabb Hall, in the Lower Level of the Boylston Street Building at the Central Library in Copley Square.
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This event is free!
This Event is Private & Not Open to the Public.
Saturday
November 16, 2024
[Wellesley College] 5:00PM
The Seltzer Factory: Film Screening and Post-Screening Discussion on Identity & Belonging as a Jewish Person of Color
Sunday
November 3, 2024
[justBook-ish]
4:00PM-6:00PM
"The Seltzer Factory": Documentary Film Screening
& Q&A with Director
Description
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Join us at justBook-ish: a literary gathering space in Dorchester for a screening of the documentary film "The Seltzer Factory" directed by Paloma Valenzuela [with a Q&A with Paloma after!]
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More about justBook-ish: https://justbook-ish.com/
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This event is free!
Thursday
October 10, 2024
[Nevins Library] 6:00PM-8:30PM
The Seltzer Factory: Film Screening and Conversation with Writer/Director Paloma Valenzuela
Description
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Join us for an exciting evening with a screening of the short documentary “The Seltzer Factory,” written and directed by talented Boston-based Dominican-American filmmaker Paloma Valenzuela. This documentary follows Paloma as she investigates her family history and explores her identity as a biracial Jewish-American Latina. Throughout the film, Paloma ties together the events that shaped her family's history, from Marghita to Oradea to Cleveland to the Dominican Republic to Boston.
After the screening, you will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with the director, Paloma Valenzuela.
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We are waiting for you! Don't miss this unique opportunity to explore a deeply moving and enlightening personal and cultural history.
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This event is free!
