Closing Night Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthrie

CLOSING NIGHT

Pennsylvania Premiere

Directed by Steven Pressman
Documentary Feature | USA | NR | 2026 | 89 min | English

Talkback with Director Steven Pressman and Lorin Sklamberg of the Klezmatics
Folk Music and Closing Night Reception after the Film featuring Rubble City String Band

The name Woody Guthrie conjures images of Dust Bowl families from the 1930s fleeing their soil-ravaged farms, along with those famous lyrical phrases, “This land is your land, this land is my land.” However, once Woody’s wanderings brought him to New York City in the 1940s, he was introduced into a vibrant Jewish culture that ultimately had a deep influence on his life and his music. DUST BOWLS AND JEWISH SOULS also weaves in the story of Aliza Greenblatt, an immigrant from Ukraine who later became a prominent Yiddish poet and songwriter – and who also happened to be Woody’s mother-in-law. From the dust storms of Oklahoma to the lox and bagels of Coney Island, discover a whole new side of Woody Guthrie that will forever change your view of one of America’s most celebrated songwriters and cultural icons.

WINNER – Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature | San Francisco Jewish Film Festival 2026