All screenings are at 7:00 pm at the Hippodrome State Theatre 25 SE 2nd Pl, Downtown Gainesville
Festival Tickets & Passes
Platinum Pass: $ 120 = 12 screenings
Gold Pass: $ 80 = 8 screenings
Silver Pass: $ 40 = 4 screenings
Single Ticket: $ 12 = 1 screening
UF students are FREE with valid ID
The Gainesville Jewish Film Festival is organized by the Center for Jewish Studies and made possible by: Bud Shorstein Professorship in American Jewish Culture & Society, Friends of Jewish Studies Tree of Life Fund, Gary R. Gerson Annual Lecture Series, Raymond & Miriam Ehrlich Eminent Scholar Chair in Political Science, Harry Rich Endowment for Holocaust Studies, Jewish Council of North Central Florida, Mikki & Morris Futernick Visiting Professorship, Norman & Irma Braman Chair in Holocaust Studies, Price Library of Judaica NEH Challenge Grant Endowment
Hester Street
Thursday, December 8 at 7:00 pm
directed by JOAN MICKLIN SILVER
United States: English, Yiddish | 1975 | 89 min | Drama Romance
One of the most powerful portraits of immigrant life in America the screenplay was adapted from the 1896 Cahan novella Yekl. The film was a widely acclaimed addition to American Jewish cinema. Released in the 1970s and recently restored, the film can now be fully appreciated as it was meant to be by viewing it on the silver screen.
Past Movies
Berenshtein
Sunday, October 2 at 7:00 pm
directed by ROMAN SHUMUNOV
Israel: Russian, German, Polish, Ukrainian | 2021 | 105 min | Biography, War History
Documenting one of the great Russian-Jewish partisans, this a brilliantly made docudrama interspersing contemporary interview with reenactment. The film has the feel and intensity of a narrative World War II film, but this one with a Jewish hero.
Watch Trailer
Dead Sea Guardians
Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 pm
co-directed by IDO GLASS & YOAV KLEINMAN
Israel: Hebrew | 2021 | 75 min | Documentary
The Dead Sea—the lowest place on earth and one of the wonders of the world—is dying. Three men once enemies join together on a journey to stop this catastrophe and save the sea from disappearing. A tough subject that gives us hope for friendship, peace and international cooperation.
Apples and Oranges
Monday, October 10 at 7:00 pm
directed by YOAV BRILL
Israel: Hebrew | 2021 | 80 min | Documentary
The idealistic and rebellious 1960s generation was charmed by the old kibbutz ideology. As a result of the Six-Day War a wave of volunteers flocked to the kibbutzim. Anyone who has spent any time on one will love this look back on Israel’s once signature institution.
That Orchestra with the Broken Instruments
Tuesday, October 11 at 7:00 pm
co-directed by YUVAL HAMEIRI & MICHAL VAKNIN
Israel: Hebrew & Arabic | 2021 | 79 min | Documentary
100 musicians meet for four days of rehearsals. They speak different languages. Hidden among the cracks of their broken instruments, we discover a lyrical and engaging take on the members of the orchestra, on what is broken and whole and on the determined attempt, if only for a moment, to create harmony in a discordant place. This is a very beautiful film. A must for anyone who loves music.
Leaving Paradise
Wednesday, October 12 at 7:00 pm
directed by OFER FREIMAN & KOBI NATANEL
Israel: English, Hebrew, Portuguese | 2020 | 90 min | Documentary
Cleo fulfilled his dream: to establish a family commune on a farm in Brazil. Exploring their family-roots leads the children to discover their surprising heritage, which undermines the existence of the communal paradise. A fascinating story about the Diaspora and an attempt to resolve it.
Masel Tov Cocktail
Monday, October 17 at 7:00 pm
co-directed by ARKADIJ KHAET & MICKEY PAATZSCH
Germany: German, Hebrew, Russian | 2020 | 30 min | Short
A Russian-Jewish teenager Dima gets into a school fight, and then breaks the fourth wall and passionately and ferociously talks about his views, and about the hypocritically tolerant way in which his world works. This is a funky, funny and in many ways brilliant film. It’s German filmmaking at its best.
Unraveling
Tuesday, October 18 Double-Feature at 7:00 pm & 7:45 pm
directed by JEFF SWIMMER
United States: English | 1939 | 39 min | Documentary Short
Delve into memory, history, and contemporary life in Columbus, New Mexico— famed for being raided by Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution—as the filmmaker explores a rumor that Villa invaded the town seeking revenge on her grandfather for an arms deal gone bad. This is a fascinating piece of American Jewish history.
Latter Day Jew
Tuesday, October 18 Double-Feature at 7:00 pm & 7:45 pm
directed by ALIZA ROSEN
United States: English | 2019 | 85 min | Documentary
lan Scott is a gay former Mormon now Jew by choice, cancer survivor and writercomedian preparing for his Bar Mitzvah. A moving, funny and upbeat film. It has much to say about American Jews and Judaism in the 21st century and pairs beautifully with American Birthright.
American Birthright
Wednesday, October 19 at 7:00 pm
directed by ROMAN SHUMUNOV
Israel: Russian, German, Polish, Ukrainian | 2021 | 105 min | Biography, War History
Documenting one of the great Russian-Jewish partisans, this a brilliantly made docudrama interspersing contemporary interview with reenactment. The film has the feel and intensity of a narrative World War II film, but this one with a Jewish hero.
Watch Trailer
American Birthright
Wednesday, October 19 at 7:00 pm
directed by BECKY BORDO
United States: English, Hebrew | 2021 | 65 min | Documentary
An intimate, deep and joyous investigation that starts by asking “why marry Jewish?” and ends up exploring the subtler inquiry “why be Jewish?” American Birthright is a journey of self-discovery and self-education: it is both spiritual and inspiring, a wonderful counterpoint to Latter Day Jew.
Albert Speer Goes to Hollywood
Tuesday, November 1 at 7:00 pm
directed by VANESSA LAPA
Israel: English, French, German | 2020 | 97 min | Documentary, Bio
How did a man in charge of 12 million slaves become “the good Nazi”? A cautionary tale about Albert Speer’s 1971 attempt to redeem or some say whitewash his past with a Hollywood adaptation of his bestselling wartime memoir, Inside the Third Reich.
Xuete Island
Wednesday, November 2 at 7:00 pm
co-directed by OFER LASZEWICKI, DANI ROTSTEIN, FELIPE WOLOKITA
Spain: Catalan, Spanish, English | 2021 | 63 min | Documentary
The Xuetas (pronounced Chuetas): a unique group of families on the Balearic island of Majorca who are believed to be descendants of the island’s Inquisitionera Jewish population. The story follows Dani Rotstein, a Jewish-American activist and filmmaker whose investigations have helped reinvigorate this community.
Peron and the Jews
Thursday, November 3 at 7:00 pm
directed by SERGIO (SHLOMO) SLUTZKY
Hebrew & Spanish | 2021 | 73 min | Documentary
Sergio Shlomo Slutzky’s father is accused of having been another reactionary Jew who supported the 1955 military coup that deposed the government of Juan Perón. When. Slutzky investigates his father’s political DNA he discovers a young Jewish generation full of idealism.
A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff
Wednesday, December 7 at 7:00 pm
directed by ALICIA J. ROSE
United States: English | 2021 | 75 min | Musical Memoir
A creative hybrid of docudrama and narrative fantasy, the film tells the story of Madoff’s corruption through the eyes of musician/poet Alicia Jo Rabins. A vivid, and engaging work of art.