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Arts, Ideas & Jewish Life

Jewish & Israeli Film Festival

Adult Programs

The Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival presents a diverse, inspiring lineup of award-winning films and engaging, educational programming that connects to the Jewish and Israeli stories. 

Film Festival.

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! 

Past Festival Line-Ups

2022

Persian Lessons
200 Meters
Alone Together
Thou Shalt Not Hate
Kiss Me Kosher
Here We Are
Tiger Within
A Starry Sky Above the Roman Ghetto
With No Land
Lune
Forgiveness
A Common Goal

2021

A Cantors Head (Dir. Erik Greenberg Anjou, 2019)
Sustainable Nation (Dir. Micah Smith, 2019)
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (Dir. Caroline Link, 2019)
The Art of Waiting (Dir. Erez Tadmor, 2020)
Transkids (Dir. Hilla Medalia, 2019)
Asia (Dir. Ruthy Pribar, 2020)
They Ain’t Ready for Me (Dir. Brad Rothschild, 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)

2020

The Unorthodox (Dir. Eliran Malka, 2018)
Picture of His Life (Dir. Dani Menkin, Yonatan Nir, 2019)
Those Who Remained (Dir. Barnabás Tóth, 2019)
The Spy Behind Home Plate (Dir. Aviva Kempner, 2019)
The Passengers (Dir. Ryan S. Porush, 2019)
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)

2019

An Act of Defiance (Dir. Jean Van De Velde, 2017)
Budapest Noir (Dir. Éva Gárdos, 2017)
Keep the Change (Dir. Rachel Israel, 2017)
The Last Suit (Dir. Pablo Solarz, 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 & Jeremy Newberger, 2018)

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)
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)
My Hero Brother (Dir. Yonatan Nir, 2016)
Big Sonia (Dirs. Leah Warshawski & Todd Soliday, 2016)

2017

Mr. Predictable (Dir. Roee Florentin, 2016)
Fever at Dawn (Dir. Péter Gárdos, 2015)
Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? (Dirs. Tomer Heymann & Barak Heymann, 2016)
A Heartbeat Away (Dirs. Tal Barda & Noam Pinchas, 2016)
The Last Mentsch (Dir. Pierre-Henry Salfati, 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)
A.K.A. Nadia (Dir. Tova Ascher, 2015)
On The Map (Dir. Dani Menkin, 2016)

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)
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

2015

Peace After Marriage (Dirs. Bandar Albuliwi & 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)

2014

The Yellow Ticket (Dirs. Eugen Illés & Victor Janson, 1918)
Eagles (Dir. Dror Sabo, 2012)
Kaddish For A Friend (Dir. Leo Khasin, 2011)
The Zigzag 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)

2023 Film Festival Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor:

Rockwern Charitable Foundation

Rockwern CF Logo

 

 

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.”

DIRECTORS

In Memory of Lucille K. Carothers

Evelyn & Marc Fisher

Suzette & Michael Fisher

Aimee & Ian Guttman

Lara & Ronnen Isakov

The Jewish Hospital and Mercy Health

Katz Teller Logo

Jen & John Stein 

 

SCREENWRITERS

 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 

ACTOR

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 

FRIEND

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

PARTNERS

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 

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

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

The Jewish & Israeli Film Festival is coordinated by Mayerson JCC staff and a committee of volunteers. 

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.