2025 EVENT GRID
Selected Venue:
Mixed
Year: 2024, 2025
Runtime: 358'
Director(s): Ron Ayalon & Yuval Nathan
Israel
Year: 2024
Runtime: 12'
Free
US Premiere
Animation, Short
Nov 14 - Nov 23
A short stop-motion film about Gabi Koren, a Holocaust survivor who searched for a home and found it in Kibbutz Yad Mordechai.
Why we like this film: A story about creating home and family when you have none. Told with humor and whimsy through a very creative and unusual animation technique—bringing wooden toys to life!
Director(s): Mitch Yapko
USA
Year: 2024
Runtime: 17'
Free
Austin premiere
Drama, Short
Nov 14 - Nov 23
A short biopic set in both 1995 Philadelphia and World War II Nazi occupied Poland. Based on the true story of Holocaust survivor-turned watchmaker Wladyslaw ''Walter''' Wojnas, it''s a slice of life story that touches on several poignant moments in his life during those times. It's a story of triumph over tragedy, and is all too relevant in today's turbulent international climate.
Why we like this film: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” -Viktor Frankl, ''''Man''''s Search For Meaning''''
Director(s): Gal Gonen
Israel
Year: 2025
Runtime: 20'
Free
Southwest premiere
Drama, Short
Nov 14 - Nov 23
A rebellious young woman is sent to community service in a kennel, where she helps a rejected dog find a family. For the first time, she feels meaningful in life.
Why we like this film: The power of connection between a person and an animal can have positive outcomes for both.
Director(s): Greg Franklin
USA
Year: 2025
Runtime: 8'
Free
Texas premiere
Animation, Short
Nov 14 - Nov 23
A Jewish doctor and his family are living a comfortable life in Cologne, Germany when, in 1938, the Nazis enact a law making it illegal for a Jewish doctor to treat non-Jews. Our doctor defies that law and the consequences are harsh. Will his past determine his future? The Whistle is a testament to the power of empathy, hope, courage and integrity, even in the darkest times. Based on a true story.
Why we like this film: A very well told story of survival through animation without dialog.
Director(s): Arnon Z. Shorr
USA
Year: 2025
Runtime: 14'
Free
Southwest premiere
Drama, Short
Nov 14 - Nov 23
The story of a dedicated mother who is racing to assemble a Holocaust memorial program for her daughter’s school while facing opposition from an anonymous parent. Amidst preparations, a faded friend from childhood interrupts with news that the land containing their buried time capsule is about to be sold. As the women hurriedly dig it up, buried secrets emerge.
Why we like this film: Generational trauma around the Shoah hits different people in different ways. Maybe there''s more than one way to deal with it.
Director(s): Ernst H. Indenbaum
USA
Year: 2025
Runtime: 15'
World premiere
Short
Nov 14 - Nov 23
After an altercation with a classmate, a Jewish student gets advice from his strict father, as he is about to take a stand against fear and hatred.
Why we like this film: A poignant story of American and earlier Russian antisemitism cause David to take a stand against his attacker. Contemporary themes of fitting-in and campus agression.
Director(s): Omri Levy
Israel
Year: 2024
Runtime: 16'
FREE!
Southwest premiere
Drama, Short
Nov 14 - Nov 23
Now that the Gaza war has broken out and there are constant air raid warnings, all schools are closed. Ido, an architect who works from home, finds himself caring for his 12-year-old son Michael
who has both physical and mental disabilities. Michael’s stress and anxiety are heightened when he discovers that his dog, Oggi, is very sick. Ido, Michael and Oggi take a trip to the veterinary hospital, where some tough decisions will have to made.
Why we like this film: A short drama with a special needs child as a father seeks normalcy whether little is to be had.
Director(s): Isaac Sverdlov
Israel
Year: 2024
Runtime: 10'
Free
US Premiere
Animation, Short
Nov 14 - Nov 23
Baruch dreams of going to heaven after life. For this he marries a woman, he thinks, will make him go through hell during his lifetime and will bring him to Heaven afterlife. That is, until things take a twist.
Why we like this film: A humorous short with an interesting naive visual style - at times reminding one of Chagall and Picasso.










