Overview
The Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival presents a diverse, inspiring lineup of award-winning films and engaging, educational programming that connects to Jewish and Israeli stories.
The 2023 Festival has a hybrid lineup with each film offered either in-person only or virtual only to allow for viewing in community or from the comfort of your home. There are six in-person and five virtual film offerings. Each film ticket includes access to film screening and companion special feature, if scheduled.
- Virtual film showings and companion special features will have a 48-hour watch availability. Please note the specific geographic regions in which each virtual film is available.
- For in-person film showings and companion special features, please note the specific venue at which each event will take place.
- These films are not rated and are recommended for mature audiences. Only film, not special feature, runtimes are noted. All times listed are Eastern Time.
Film Festival ticket sales, as well as virtual content, will take place on the Eventive platform. If you have attended past Film Festivals or already have an Eventive account, you will be prompted to login; if you are new to Eventive, please create an account.
Additional help and FAQs about the festival and Eventive can be found HERE. You can also visit https://watch.eventive.org/help for technical information and support, available 9am – 3am ET, 7 days a week, through Live Chat.
The mission of the Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival is to educate, engage, and create connections within the Jewish community and beyond with the broader Cincinnati community. The Festival presents quality films that broaden and challenge perspectives, entertain, and appeal to a wide audience base. The views and opinions expressed in the films and special events in the Festival are those of the filmmakers or speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Mayerson JCC, Festival Committee, staff, board, sponsors, or volunteers.
Accessibility
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Inclusion@MayersonJCC.org.
The Mayerson JCC offers need-based financial assistance in an effort to make JCC programming accessible. Contact Membership@MayersonJCC.org to apply.
2023 Jewish & Israeli Film Festival Program Book
Thank you for taking a look at our 2023 Program Book! This virtual book is packed with director statements, film facts, speaker bios, and much more. Flip through at your leisure – you can even download it for later reading!
See below for details of the many years of film festivals for which we have records.
Past Festival Line-Ups
One More Story (Dir. Guri Alfi, 2021)
The Conference (Dir. Matti Geschonneck, 2022)
On This Happy Note (Dir. Tamar Tal Anati, 2021)
Polonsky (Short Film, Dir. Ofir Trainin, 2022)
Upheaval: The Journey of Menachem Begin (Dir. Jonathan Gruber, 2021)
Schächten – A Retribution (Dir. Thomas Roth, 2022)
1341 Frames of Love and War (Dir. Ran Tal, 2022)
Greener Pastures (Dirs. Matan Guggenheim and Assaf Abiri, 2020)
White Eye (Short Film, Dir. Tomer Shushan, 2019)
Rose (Dir. Aurélie Saada, 2021)
Not a Hero (Dir. Rubi Gat, 2021)
Marry Me However (Dir. Mordechai Vardi, 2020)
Periphery (Short Film, Dir. Sara Yacobi-Harris, 2021)
Farewell Mister Haffmann (Dir. Fred Cavayé, 2022)
Persian Lessons (Dir. Vadim Perelman, 2020)
200 Meters (Dir. Ameen Nayfeh, 2020)
Paradise (Short Film, Dir. Asaf Saban, 2021)
Alone Together (Dirs. Kineret Hay-Gillor and Maya Tiberman, 2019)Thou Shalt Not Hate (Dir. Mauro Mancini, 2020)
Masel Tov Cocktail (Short Film, Dirs. Arkadij Khaet and Mickey Paatzsch, 2020)Kiss Me Kosher (Dir. Shirel Peleg, 2020)
With Slight Steps (Short Film, Dir. Guy Hodes, 2019)Here We Are (Dir. Nir Bergman, 2020)Tiger Within (Dir. Rafal Zielinski, 2021)A Starry Sky Above the Roman Ghetto (Dir. Giulio Base, 2020)With No Land (Dirs. Aalam-Warqe Davidian and Kobi Davidian, 2021)Lune (Dirs. Aviva Armour-Ostroff and Arturo Pérez Torres, 2020)Forgiveness (Dirs. Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir, 2019)A Common Goal (Dir. Shuki Guzik, 2020)
A Cantors Head (Dir. Erik Greenberg Anjou, 2019)
A Jew Walks Into a Bar (Short Film, Dir. Jonathan Miller, 2018)
Sustainable Nation (Dir. Micah Smith, 2019)
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (Dir. Caroline Link, 2019)
The Art of Waiting (Dir. Erez Tadmor, 2020)
Torch (Short Film, Dir. Odeya Rosenak, 2017)
Transkids (Dir. Hilla Medalia, 2019)
Asia (Dir. Ruthy Pribar, 2020)
Grey Zone (Short Film, Dir. Gal Sagy, 2019)
They Ain’t Ready for Me (Dir. Brad Rothschild, 2019)
Dina Malul Fights Back (Short Film, Dir. Amit Saragosi, 2019)
Honeymood (Dir. Talya Lavie, 2020)
My Name is Sara (Dir. Steven Oritt, 2019)
Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance (Dir. Shari Rogers, 2020)
The Unorthodox (Dir. Eliran Malka, 2018)Picture of His Life (Dir. Dani Menkin, Yonatan Nir, 2019)
Layam (Short Film, Dir. Assaf Machnes, 2018)Those Who Remained (Dir. Barnabás Tóth, 2019)The Spy Behind Home Plate (Dir. Aviva Kempner, 2019)The Passengers (Dir. Ryan S. Porush, 2019)
I Have a Message for You (Short Film, Dir. Matan Rochlitz, 2017)
How to Swim (Short Film, Dir. Noa Gusakov, 2018)
My Playground (Short Film, Dir. Seth Friedman, 2019)
Gefilte (Short Film, Dir. Rachel Fleit, 2018)
Beneath the Ink (Short Film, Dir. Cy Dodson, 2018)Love in Suspenders (Dir. Jorge Weller, 2019)Aulcie (Dir. Dani Menkin, 2019)Leona (Dir. Isaac Cherem, 2018)Family in Transition (Dir. Ofir Trainin, 2018)Working Woman (Dir. Michal Aviad, 2018)The Mamboniks (Dir. Lex Gillespie, 2019)Witness Theater (Dir. Oren Rudavsky, 2018)Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles (Dir. Max Lewkowicz, 2019)
An Act of Defiance (Dir. Jean Van De Velde, 2017)Budapest Noir (Dir. Éva Gárdos, 2017)
A Thousand Kisses (Short Film, Dir. Richard Goldgewicht, 2018)Keep the Change (Dir. Rachel Israel, 2017)
Wendy’s Shabbat (Short Film, Dir. Rachel Myers, 2018)The Last Suit (Dir. Pablo Solarz, 2017)
The Driver is Red (Short Film, Dir. Randall Christopher, 2017)Winter Hunt (Dir. Astrid Schult, 2018)Etgar Keret: Based on a True Story (Dir. Stephane Kaas, 2017)Dear Fredy (Dir. Rubi Gat, 2017)Shelter (Dir. Eran Riklis, 2018)Who Will Write Our History? The Secret Archive of the Warsaw Ghetto (Dir. Roberta Grossman, Exec. Producer Nancy Spielberg, 2018)The Invisibles (Dir. Claus Räfle, 2017)When the Smoke Clears: A Story of Brotherhood, Resilience, and Hope (Dir. Rebecca Shore, 2017)Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds: The Conductor Zubin Mehta (Dir. Bettina Ehrhardt, 2016)Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel (Dirs. Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger, 2018)
Hummus! The Movie (Dir. Oren Rosenfeld, 2016)Ben-Gurion, Epilogue (Dir. Yariv Mozer, 2016)The 90-Minute War (Dir. Eyal Tadmor, 2017)Home Port (Dir. Erez Tadmor, 2016)
The Gravedigger’s Daughter (Short Film, Dir. Shira Gabay, 2016)Scaffolding (Dir. Matan Yair, 2017)Across the Waters (Dir. Nicolo Donato, 2017)Bye Bye Germany (Dir. Sam Garbarski, 2017)And Then She Arrived (Dir. Roee Florentin, 2017)The Law (Dir. Christian Faure, 2015)Amor (Dir. Raphaël Rebibo, 2016)
Against Reinheitsgebot (Short Film, Dir. Adam Souriano, 2016)My Hero Brother (Dir. Yonatan Nir, 2016)Big Sonia (Dirs. Leah Warshawski and Todd Soliday, 2016)
Mr. Predictable (Dir. Roee Florentin, 2016)Fever at Dawn (Dir. Péter Gárdos, 2015)Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? (Dirs. Tomer Heymann and Barak Heymann, 2016)A Heartbeat Away (Dirs. Tal Barda and Noam Pinchas, 2016)The Last Mentsch (Dir. Pierre-Henry Salfati, 2014)
Broken Branches (Short Film, Dir. Ayala Sharot, 2014)Persona Non Grata (Dir. Cellin Gluck, 2015)Moos (Dir. Job Gosschalk, 2016)Mr. Gaga (Dir. Tomer Heymann, 2015)Wounded Land (Dir. Erez Tadmor, 2015)Time to Say Goodbye (Dir. Viviane Andereggen, 2015)
Hannah Cohen’s Holy Communion (Short Film, Dir. Shimmy Marcus, 2012)
A.K.A. Nadia (Dir. Tova Ascher, 2015)
On The Map (Dir. Dani Menkin, 2016)
Remember (Dir. Atom Egoyan, 2016)Look At Us Now, Mother! (Dir. Gayle Kirschenbaum, 2015)Victor “Young” Perez (Dir. Jacques Ouaniche, 2014)In Search of Israeli Cuisine (Dir. Roger M. Sherman, 2015)Serial (Bad) Weddings (Dir. Philippe De Chauveron, 2014)
The Seder (Short Film, Dir. Justin Kelly, 2011)Les Héritiers/Once in a Lifetime (Dir. Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, 2014)Rock in the Red Zone (Dir. Laura Bialis, 2014)Fire Birds (Dir. Amir Wolf, 2015)Is That You? (Dir. Dani Menkin, 2014)Operation Sunflower (Dir. Avraham Kushnir, 2014)Hill Start (Dir. Oren Stern, 2014)Oriented (Dir. Jake Witzenfeld, 2015)Special Event – On Movies: A Conversation with Film Critic Leonard Maltin
Peace After Marriage (Dirs. Bandar Albuliwi and Ghazi Albuliwi, 2013)The Green Prince (Dir. Nadav Schirman, 2014)Aftermath (Dir. Władysław Pasikowski, 2013)24 Days (Dir. Alexandre Arcady, 2014)Dancing in Jaffa (Dir. Hilla Medalia, 2013)Bethlehem (Dir. Yuval Adler, 2013)Zero Motivation (Dir. Talya Lavie, 2014)The Third Half (Dir. Darko Mitrevski, 2012)Snails in the Rain (Dir. Yariv Mozer, 2013)Above and Beyond (Dir. Roberta Grossman, 2014)
Glue (Short Film, Dir. Michal Lavi, 2012)
Little Horribles: Minibar (Short Film, Dir. Amy York Rubin, 2013)
Summer Cinema Series:
Above and Beyond (Dir. Roberta Grossman, 2014)
Apples from the Dessert (Dirs. Arik Lubetzky and Matti Harari, 2014)
Dough (Dir. John Goldschmidt, 2015)
The Yellow Ticket (Dirs. Eugen Illés and Victor Janson, 1918)Eagles (Dir. Dror Sabo, 2012)
Kaddish For A Friend (Dir. Leo Khasin, 2011)
The Zig Zag Kid (Dir. Bal Vincent, 2012)Besa: The Promise (Dir. Rachel Goslins, 2012)The Ceremony (Dir. Avi Weissblei, 2013)Ameer Got His Gun (Dir. Naomi Levari, 2011)Cupcakes (Dir. Eytan Fox, 2013)
Once Upon a Bench (Short Film, Dir. Alexandra Torterotot, 2012)
The Bris (Short Film, Dir. CJ Johnson, 2010)
Welcome and…Our Condolences (Short Film, Dir. Leon Prudovsky, 2012)
Summer Cinema Series:
For a Woman (Dir. Diane Kurys, 2013)
Kaddish For A Friend (Dir. Leo Khasin, 2011)
Run Boy Run (Dir. Pepe Danquart, 2013)
Hava Nagila (Dir. Roberta Grossman, 2012)
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea (Dir. Thierry Binisti, 2011)
Cap or Kippah (Short Film, Dir. Susanne Engels, 2012)
Numbered (Dirs. Uriel Sinai and Dana Doron, 2012)
Just the Two of Us (Dir. Tzipi Baider, 2011)
Life in Stills (Dir. Tamar Tal, 2012)
Advice and Dissent (Short Film, Dir. Leib Cohen, 2002)
Orchestra of Exiles (Dir. Josh Aronson, 2012)
Blank Bullet (Dir. Haim Bouzaglo, 2010)
Mabul (The Flood) (Dir. Guy Nattiv, 2011)
Starring David (Short Film, Dir. Ester Gould, 2010)
The Day I Saw Your Heart (Dir. Jennifer Devoldère, 2011)
Summer Cinema Series:
Life in Stills (Dir. Tamar Tal, 2012)
My First Wedding (Dir. Ariel Winograd, 2011)
Portrait of Wally (Dir. Andrew Shea, 2012)
Salsa Tel Aviv (Dir. Jorge Weller, 2011)
Seltzer Works (Short Film, Dir. Jessica Edwards, 2010)
Blood Relation (Dir. Noa Ben Hagai, 2009)
Tasnim (Short Film, Dir. Elite Zexer, 2010)
Melting Away (Dir. Doron Eran, 2011)
The Debt (Dir. Assaf Bernstein, 2007)
La Rafle (The Roundup) (Dir. Roselyne Bosch, 2010)
Naomi (Dir. Eitan Zir, 2010)
Nicky’s Family (Dir. Matej Miná, 2011)
Three Promises (Short Film, Dir. Edward Serotta, 2011)
Summer Cinema Series:
Melting Away (Dir. Doron Eran, 2011)
Arab Labor (TV Series, Dir. Roni Ninio, 2007)
This is Sodom (Dirs. Adam Sanderson and Muli Segev, 2010)
100 Voices: A Journey Home (Dirs. Matthew Asner and Danny Gold, 2010)
An Article of Hope (Dir. Daniel Cohen, 2010)
Anita (Dir. Marcos Carnevale, 2009)
Berlin ’36 (Dir. Kasper Heidelbach, 2009)
Seven Minutes in Heaven (Dir. Omri Givon, 2008)
The Matchmaker (Dir. Avi Nesher, 2010)
The Yankles (Dir. David R. Brooks, 2009)
Wedding in Galilee (Dir. Michel Khleifi, 1987)
Echoes of Conflict (Dir. Gur Heller, 1991)
Hamsin (Dir. Daniel Wachsmann, 1982)
Noa at Seventeen (Dir. Isaac Zepel Yeshurun, 1982)
Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer (Dir. Thorold Dickinson, 1955)
Kazablan (Dir. Menahem Golan, 1973)
My Michael (Dir. Dan Wolman, 1975)
2023 Film Festival Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor:
Rockwern Charitable Foundation
Annual Arts & Ideas Sponsors:
The Rockwern Charitable Foundation
Susan S. Friedlander (z”l)
Jean E. Feinberg
Jen & John Stein
The Film Festival speakers are supported by the Roslyn W. and Jule Gildenblatt Memorial Endowment “as a living legacy to their commitment to the Jewish community and to the heritage of pluralistic Jewish study.”
In Memory of Lucille K. Carothers
Evelyn & Marc Fisher
Suzette & Michael Fisher
Aimee & Ian Guttman
Lara & Ronnen Isakov
Jen & John Stein
Anonymous
Marcie & Nathan Bachrach
Gina & Jon Blatt
Susan Brenner & Steven Mombach
Alison & Bret Caller
Coldwell Banker Realty & Aaron Weiner, Realtor
Sally & Marty Hiudt
The Isaacsohn Family
Cindy Jarnicki
Patricia & Scott Joseph
Debbie Kirshner & Paul Heldman
The Knue Family
Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown & Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center
Deborah & John Moffatt
Nina & Edward Paul
Dianne & J. David Rosenberg
Abby & David Schwartz
Jo Ellen & Mort Spitz
Sherri & Adam Symson
Waldman & Company CPA’s
Weil Kahn Funeral Home
Linda & Andrew Berger
Jennifer & Eric Dauer
Penina Frankel
Beth & Louis Guttman
David C. Harris
Cantor Alane S & Rabbi Jan D Katzew
Amy Klein
Sue Price
Cynthia & Bob Rosen
Anna & Craig Sarembock
Rachel & Steven Schild
Sarah Weiss & Todd Schild
Stacey & David Schimberg
Paul Spitz
Rabbi Elena Stein
Jan & Maury White
Holly & Josh Wolfson
Shelly Gerson & Jeff Zipkin
Amy Schur & Steve Albert
Sara & Richard Behrman
Marci & Gary Blachman
Bonnie & Darryl Dick
Claire & Alan Eichner
Diana & Henry Fenichel
Jan Goldstein & Charles Frank
Carol Friedman
Julie Glazer
Karen & Richard Goodman
Lois & Jeff Gushin
Lauren & Seth Guttman
Felicia Zakem & Ken Heldman
Rabbi Shena & Brian Jaffee
Mary Sutton & Dan Kanter
Marcy & Mark Kanter
Julie & Rick Kantor
Arlene & Bill Katz
Gerry & Marvin Kraus
Cissy & Bob Lenobel
Ernesto & Rini Levy
Jeanne Weiland & Jay Moskovitz
Diane Oestreicher
Molly & Les Polasky
Joshua M. Rothstein
Martha & Lee Schimberg
David Schmerler
Debbie Friedman & Joe Segal
Nancy & Don Seltz
Susan & David Smith
Sharon & Walter Spiegel
Debra & Michael Steinbuch
Tara & Ross Vigran
Debbie & Dick Westheimer
Dr. James & Ronna Willis
Erin & David Wish
AJC Cincinnati
Camp Livingston
Cincinnati Hillel
CJX Young Professionals
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center
Cincinnati Skirball Museum and Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati – Guardians and Friends
Jewish Family Service
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati – Silver Circle Society and Create Your Jewish Legacy
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati – Jewish Community Relations Council
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati – Young Adult Division
Jewish Fertility Foundation
Jewish Home of Cincinnati
Jewish National Fund USA
JVS Careers
Mayerson JCC 20s & 30s
Mayerson JCC Milton and Frances Schloss Special Needs and Services Department
Shomrei Olam – Jewish Environmental Advocates of Cincinnati
TOPICZ Convenience Store Specialists
Aaron Weiner, Chair
Marcie Bachrach
Lauren Bowen
Alison Caller
Evan Gildenblatt
Sam Greene
Cantor Alane Katzew
Margie Kessel
Amy Klein
Stacey Schimberg
David Schmerler
Sharon Spiegel
Paul Spitz
Terry Stransky
Brian Sugerman
Tara Vigran
Meet the Team
Related Programs
The mission of the Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival is to educate, engage, and create connections within the Jewish community and beyond with the broader Cincinnati community. The Festival presents quality films that broaden and challenge perspectives, entertain, and appeal to a wide audience base. The views and opinions expressed in the films and special events in the Festival are those of the filmmakers or speakers. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Mayerson JCC, Festival Committee, staff, board, sponsors, or volunteers.