Ostrovsky Family Fund (OFF)

In 1938, as the Nazis were expanding their European occupation, George and Anya Ostrovsky fled from Prague to Rio. The New World provided them with a new start. Like many refugees, initially they struggled. As soon as they were able, they contributed to cultural, scientific, health and social service institutions in Israel, Brazil and the USA. In 1987 the family’s philanthropic interests took form as the Ostrovsky Family Fund (OFF).

George (1901-1980), a Pinsk-born, Rio and Paris based businessman, proposed building the Jerusalem cinematheque in 1973. The facility absorbed the Israel Film Archive and together, these entities comprised the Jerusalem Film Center. He played a crucial role in the planning and design of the site however he did not live to see its completion when the JFC debuted in 1981.

For over thirty years, OFF played a leadership role, supporting the JFC mission and facility. Donations included major annual support and resources for film acquisition and restoration, programs, festivals, equipment, staff enrichment and development consultants.

OFF also initiated and gave major funding for the renovation and expansion of the JFC campus. When this was completed in 2009, OFF provided considerable additional funding to upgrade the Film Archive and to dedicate it to the memory of Wim and Lia van Leer, George's co-founders in this endeavor. The Fund continues to support special projects at the cinematheque, the international film festival and archive.      

The Film Forum (NYC) has also been among principal OFF beneficiaries.  Renowned for its presentation of vintage film and vital as a resource for international independent film, this art-house showcase has been legendary since it opened in 1970.  For over 30 years, OFF has been among its leading underwriters for building and expansion, research and programming and major annual support.

In addition to international cultural projects, OFF has supported film preservation and archives through Electronic Arts Intermix (NYC), Light Cone (Paris), VideoBrasil (São Paulo) and in 2018, the Fund initiated the Brazilian Film and Video Preservation Project (Rio) to restore and re-master media artworks created between 1960-1980.   

Consult: https://ostrovsky-family-fund.com for past and current projects.