2025 EVENT LIST
Shorts
FREE program!
Director(s): Ron Ayalon & Yuval Nathan, Greg Franklin, Gal Gonen, Arnon Z. Shorr, Mitch Yapko, Geoff Brooks, Sari Azoulay Tugerman, Sharon Maymon & Tal Granit
2023-2025
109'
Israel, UK, US
A diverse mix of new short films including "What is Home", "The Whistle", "Underdog", "The Unburdened", "Watching Walter", "Daylight Follows", "Bubba", and "Restraining Order".
Why we like this film: Short programs are always great – they feature an ecclectic mix of films. If one isn’t to your taste, just wait a few minutes for the next one! Shorts are also how every filmmaker starts off, so come see the early work of tomorrow’s creators of feature length movies.
Evans Performance Center at Shalom Austin
Nov 8
Southwest premiere
Drama
Director(s): Shai Carmeli-Pollak
2025
93'
Israel
Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from a Palestinian village, gets the chance to see the sea for the first time in his life on a school trip. But when the class reaches a military checkpoint, the soldiers claim Khaled's permit is invalid and send him back home, while his classmates continue their trip. Deeply disappointed, Khaled sets out to the sea on his own, even though he doesn’t know the way and doesn’t speak Hebrew. When his father, Ribhi, an undocumented laborer working in Israel, learns that his son is missing, he leaves his job in search for him—risking arrest and the loss of his livelihood.
Why we like this film: Winner of 5 Israeli Acadmy Awards and Israel's submission to the upcoming 2026 Oscars, this is an excellent drama. But it angered the Israeli culture minister who vowed to pull all government funding from future Israeli Academy Awards. Come see the film and consider for yourself if this ought to be considered a controversial film or not.
Evans Performance Center at Shalom Austin
Nov 8
Southwest premiere
Documentary
CLOSING NIGHT
Director(s): Barry Avrich
2025
95'
Canada
Grandfather and retired Israeli general Noam Tibon rescues his family from Hamas terrorists invading their home during the October 7, 2023, massacre—a coordinated assault on Israel sparking an ongoing conflict.
Why we like this film: Maybe you caught the controversy about this film that was invited to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), then uninvited (supposedly because they didn't have Hamas's permission to use the livestreamed content from their attack), then reinvited, protested at, and ultimately winning the TIFF audience choice award. The film simultaneously tells the story of October 7th and the extraordinary rescue by retired Major General Noa Tibon of his family. The film will be preceded by a reception with food, drink, and live music. Don't miss this!
Evans Performance Center at Shalom Austin
Nov 9
Austin premiere
Drama
Director(s): Klaus Härö
2025
85'
Austria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Sweden
The gripping story of Jewish refugees seeking safety in Finland during WWII. As Nazi influence grows, the Finnish-Jewish businessman Abraham Stiller risks everything to protect the refugee community. This powerful film showcases courage, resilience, and the fight for hope amidst overwhelming adversity.
Why we like this film: A well told drama of what happended to a Jewish community from an unusual place during WWII—Finland.
Evans Performance Center at Shalom Austin
Nov 9
Austin Premiere
Documentary
Director(s): Jonathan Gruber
2024
77'
USA
Joe Lieberman was the U.S. senator from Connecticut for 24 years and nearly became the first Jewish vice president of the United States. He was known for putting principles above party. The film chronicles Lieberman’s extraordinary journey and 40+ years of public service, revealing the depth of his commitment to the American people. This timely film serves as a reminder of the values of unity and bipartisanship. Lieberman’s legacy as a principled statesman who placed country above party echoes throughout the film, which provides a timely call for civility, moderation, and dialogue. Following Lieberman’s untimely passing in March 2024, his message of moderation and bipartisanship resonates even more powerfully, underscoring the importance of unity and collaboration in today’s political landscape.
Why we like this film: The era of bipartisan politics as exemplified by Lieberman's public service seems today as if it was from another era, yet it wasn't that long ago. The movie chronicles Joe's run for vice president along with the rest of his long and distinguished political career.
Evans Performance Center at Shalom Austin
Nov 9
Austin premiere
Documentary
Director(s): Yoav Potash
2025
100'
Poland, USA
Using beautiful hand-drawn animation to bring the past to life, “Among Neighbors” investigates the story of a small, rural town where the longstanding peace between Jewish and Polish neighbors was shattered by World War II. Now, in an era where difficult truths about the past are being silenced for political gain, the film focuses on one of the last living Holocaust survivors from the town, and an aging eyewitness who saw Jews murdered there — six months after the Nazis were defeated. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Yoav Potash (“Crime After Crime,” Sundance Film Festival), “Among Neighbors” is an evocative and heart-pounding murder mystery with urgent political relevance.
Why we like this film: At first glance this appears to be another holocaust testimony, but the film is so much more. Ten years in the making, Yaacov Goldstein's journey from a small Polish town to life in Israel is a riveting story, expertly told through interviews and animation. At the same time the film deals with important testimony from some of his Polish neighbors about actions perpetrated by some Polish villagers agains the Jews. The film has an unexpected and very touching ending providing a element of mystery to this excellently crafted movie.