EVENT LIST
US Premiere, Southwest Premiere, Central Texas Premiere
AI, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Mystery
FREE program!
Director(s): Idan Gilboa, Inbal Voitiz Sass, Dalit Kimor, Guy Shilo, Avyel Cohen
2023, 2025, 2026
61'
Israel
Why we like this film: Perhaps our most diverse mix of shorts.
Virtual
Nov 20
Southwest Premiere, Texas Premiere
Animation, Comedy, dance, Drama, music
Director(s): Margot Gelber, Sam Roebling, Dana Schneider
2025, 2026
51'
USA
Why we like this film: An interesting mix of genres and stories.
Virtual
Nov 20
International Premiere, US Premiere, Southwest Premiere
Documentary, Drama
FREE program!
Director(s): Roland Denning, Sally Patterson, Lewis Rose, Barney Pell Schole, Daisy Abboudi, Charlotte Peters
2025
52'
UK
Why we like this film: A view of Jewish life from the UK. Some of these shorts are Pears UK Shorts Competition winners.
Virtual
Nov 20
World Premiere, Southwest Premiere
Comedy, Documentary, Drama
FREE program!
Director(s): Chaya Ernster, Rotem Avidani, Yitzchak Ledee, Noam Weizman
2024, 2025, 2026
71'
Israel
Short films from the Ma'aleh Film School in Israel.
Why we like this film: A nice mix of genres showing different aspects of Israeli society.
Virtual
Nov 20
World Premiere, Southwest Premiere, Central Texas Premiere
Animation, Documentary, Drama
FREE program!
Director(s): Ravit Markus, Samuel Yadidian, Christine Veras, Yaniv Shalom, Emanuel Shechter, Arianna Alter
2025, 2026
63'
Israel, USA
Why we like this film: A diverse collection of excellent shorts.
Virtual
Nov 20
Drama
Director(s): Assaf Machnes
2026
95'
Germany, Israel
In Berlin’s lively nights, a Palestinian Uber driver, carries partygoers across the city’s endless streets. When Amir, a young Israeli discovering himself far from home, keeps reappearing in his back seat, their late-night rides grow into an unexpected friendship. Between chance encounters and shared stories, both find new ways to confront their stories.
Why we like this film: Based on the director’s own real life experiences, the film is a subtle, yet nuanced film about an unexpected friendship, juxtaposed with several subplots of complex love stories. Told with honesty, grace and humor, the film shows how a simple dialogue can lead to mutual connection, even in a world that is ever more polarized. The two lead actors were recently honored for their incredible performances with prizes at this year''s Ophir (Israeli ''Oscars'') Awards - Best Actor (Ehab Salami) and Best Supporting Actor (Israeli star Ido Tako).
Virtual
Nov 20
Documentary
Director(s): Paula Eiselt
2025
104'
USA
An immersive journey through the Jewish Catskills—once known as the Borscht Belt—reviving the iconic resort that inspired Dirty Dancing and defined an era of Jewish American life.
Throughout decades of prejudice stifling the integration of Jewish immigrants in America, the Borscht Belt in the Catskills provided an oasis of belonging, and Grossinger’s Resort and Hotel was the crown jewel. The real-life inspiration for the setting of the 1987 classic film Dirty Dancing, Grossinger’s provided both a physical and mental getaway where Jews—and others from marginalized communities—needing a break from NYC could relax.
The resort’s growing reputation attracted a wide variety of comedians, athletes, and political figures, including Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jackie Robinson and Eleanor Roosevelt. Award-winning filmmaker Paula Eiselt resurrects this vanished world with an immersive warmth, providing a timely reminder of the historic richness of Jewish culture and its immeasurable contributions to American life.
Why we like this film: They say ''nostalgia ain''t what it used to be,'' but this charming documentary is proving otherwise. A favorite on the Jewish Film Festival circuit this year, this feel-good film offers an inviting look into the legendary Catskills resort that helped shape Jewish-American culture and hospitality. At its center is the story of three generations of visionary Jewish women, led by the iconic Jennie Grossinger, who created a welcoming haven for those excluded from elite vacation spots. Drawing a celebrated mix of comedians, athletes, entertainers, and public figures, Grossinger''s grew into a bright symbol of American Jewish culture. Get ready to leave the opening film of this year''s festival with a smile on your face!
Virtual
Nov 20
Drama
Director(s): Frank Van Passel
2025
118'
Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands
On the eve of the German invasion in 1940 Belgium, a tender attachment forms between a gifted young radio apprentice and a rising actress, their hopes colliding with a world edging toward war. Inside Brussels’s famed Flagey Building, 18-year-old Berre—an introverted talent with a magical ear—rises from intern to sound engineer, crafting transportive live radio drama soundscapes that captivate Elza, a luminous on-air performer seeking joy in uncertain times. As their fragile bond deepens amid air-raid sirens and rising antisemitism, the radio studio becomes a haven where imagination and escape push back the gathering darkness. Through lyrical visuals, sumptuous period detail, and breathtaking use of sound, this singular prewar tale delivers an immersive WWII-era drama unlike any other.
Why we like this film: Step into a world where sorrow and joy walk hand in hand, and where warmth ultimately prevails against all odds. This arresting, poetic film weaves a deeply moving love story against the backdrop of Belgian wartime history, creating a stunning tribute to human imagination, resilience, and technological wonder. Complete with an extraordinary, immersive soundscape that must be experienced to be believed, it offers a truly unique cinematic journey that will touch your heart and linger in your mind.
Virtual
Nov 20
Documentary
Director(s): Rubika Shah
2026
83'
France, Germany
This gripping documentary uncovers the remarkable true story of The Mad Dog of Europe, a screenplay written in 1932 by Herman J. Mankiewicz, a decade before he wrote Citizen Kane. Conceived as an urgent warning about the rise of Nazism, the film was never made after Hollywood’s Jewish studio executives, constrained by diplomatic pressure and financial interests, refused to produce it. This compelling documentary explores the intersection of politics, censorship, and the film industry, while drawing striking parallels to today’s climate of polarization, resurgent antisemitism, and cultural silencing.
Why we like this film: Hands down one of the most compelling films to emerge from this year’s European Film Market, this riveting documentary exposes the shocking, untold story of how the Nazi regime managed to influence the golden age of Hollywood right in its own backyard. Stunningly visual and deeply eye-opening, it’s a masterclass in cinematic history and political intrigue. Whether you''re a movie buff, a history enthusiast, or simply love a brilliantly crafted story, this is an absolute must-see that will change the way you think about classic Hollywood.