The Rutgers Jewish Film Festival, now in it 25th year, spans two weeks and features 14 films to entertain, enlighten, and spark discussion.
The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life connects Rutgers University with the community through public lectures, symposia, Jewish communal initiatives, cultural events, and teacher training in Holocaust education. For 25 years, the Center’s annual Rutgers Jewish Film Festival has brought Central New Jersey diverse award-winning international films and dynamic discussions on Jewish history, culture, and identity.
The festival runs from Thursday, November 7, through Thursday, November 21. Twelve films will be screened at the Regal Cinema Commerce Center, North Brunswick (November 7 through 17), and five films will be available virtually (November 15 through 21). In-theater and virtual tickets are $15. For information or to purchase tickets, visit bildnercenter.rutgers.edu/film.
The full schedule of screenings and accompanying special events is as follows:
Running on Sand, 104 minutes. An Eritrean refugee, Omari, is about to be deported when he is mistaken for a top-notch Nigerian soccer player. Despite zero soccer skills, Omari hides his identity in order to stay in Israel. His presence on the team both exposes and heals the racial divisions among his teammates. Thursday, November 7, 3:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 16, 7 p.m.
A virtual discussion with Don Seeman, associate professor in the department of religion and the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University follows the November 16 screening. Also available for virtual viewing.
Seven Blessings, 108 minutes. In this intense family drama, Marie, now living in Paris, returns to Israel for her wedding. There, she reunites with her large Moroccan family and drama unfolds over the traditional week of sheva brachot (seven blessings), the celebratory meals following a wedding. Over sumptuous tables, painful family secrets and lies are revealed. Inspired by true events. Thursday, and Saturday, November 7 and 9, 7 p.m. A speaker to be announced follows the November 7 screening.
Call Me Dancer, 84 minutes. In India, an Israeli ballet master discovers Manish Chauhan, a talented, athletic street dancer with no formal training. Impressed by Manish’s talent and passion, he takes him under his wing, arranging scholarships and an internship with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. Facing competition from a younger more talented dancer and against the wishes of his parents, Manish pushes himself to become a professional dancer. Tuesday, November 12, 3:30 p.m., and Sunday, November 17, 7:30 p.m. Manish Chauhan speaks at both screenings.
The Catskills, 86 minutes. This charming documentary pays tribute to the summer resorts and bungalow colonies that became Jewish-American vacation destinations during the 20th century when hotels and resorts discriminated against Jews. Lovingly nicknamed the Borscht Belt, this film explores the Catskills not only as a hotspot for lavish meals and hilarious entertainment, but also as a refuge from social antisemitism. Sunday, November 10, 3 p.m. Guest speaker is director Lex Gillespie.
Colleyville, 80 minutes. On January 15, 2022, a gunman took four men hostage at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. Featuring never-before-seen security footage and exclusive interviews with the hostages, this extraordinary documentary takes you inside that fateful day to examine how the hostages’ faith and resilience kept them strong when all hope seemed lost. Virtual viewing only includes discussion with director Dani Menkin.
Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, 114 minutes. This inspiring documentary chronicles the epic life of acclaimed American singer-songwriter Janis Ian: her Jewish upbringing on a chicken farm in New Jersey; her struggle with notoriety following her first hit, “Society’s Child,” about an interracial love affair; and her ascent to fame with “At Seventeen” about body shaming. The film features other iconic singer-songwriters, including Joan Baez and Arlo Guthrie. Sunday, November 17, 2 p.m. Speakers are director Varda Bar-Kar and Janis Ian. Virtual viewing November 18 through 21.
Sabbath Queen, 105 minutes. Amichai Lau-Lavie is a descendant of an Orthodox rabbinic dynasty. He’s also gay, an interfaith minister, and a drag queen. Filmed over 20 years, this expansive, creative, and funny documentary follows his lifelong quest to radically reinvent religion and ritual for contemporary Jews. Sunday, November 10, 12:30 p.m. Speakers are director Sandi Dubowski and Amichai Lau-Lavie.
Telling Nonie, 50 minutes. In 1956, Shin Bet official Geizi Tsafrir helped assassinate Mustafa Hafiz Darwish, an Egyptian military intelligence officer who had organized commando brigades against Israel. Now, more than 50 years later, an elderly Geizi seeks forgiveness for his decision and contacts Darwish’s daughter, Nonie. This essential documentary sheds an unwavering spotlight on the individual costs of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Thursday, November 14, 5:30 p.m., and virtual viewing.
All About the Levkoviches, 85 minutes. Set in present-day Budapest, this moving family drama follows a stubborn boxing instructor who, after his wife dies unexpectedly, must reconcile differences with his estranged Orthodox son in order to meet his grandson. With humor and wit, they air their grievances and find reconciliation. Thursday, November 14, 12:30 p.m., and Sunday, November 17, noon.
Bad Shabbos, 84 minutes. You’ve never been to a shabbat dinner quite like this. David and Meg, a newly engaged interfaith couple, have brought their families together for Friday night dinner. However, an unexpected accident injects chaos into an already nerve-wracking evening. Featuring hilarious performances from stars Kyra Sedgwick and Cliff “Method Man” Smith, this darkly funny comedy takes family dysfunction to new heights. The film premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival and won the Audience Award in the narrative category. Saturday, November 9, 9:30 p.m., and Thursday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. Speaker at the November 14 screening is director Daniel Robbins.
The Glory of Life, 104 minutes. This tender love story portrays the relationship between acclaimed writer Franz Kafka and his lover, Dora Diamant, a charming and politically active Orthodox Jewish kindergarten teacher. Despite Kafka’s rapidly progressing tuberculosis, the two fall in love and make a life together. Told with hope and heart, The Glory of Life reveals Kafka as more than a tortured artist. Virtual viewing only.
Of Dogs and Men, 82 minutes. Blending fiction and documentary, the film subtly explores the aftermath of the October 7th attack on Israel’s southern border. Sixteen-year-old Dar, who survived the attack on her kibbutz, returns home to look for her dog. Shot on location with most people playing themselves, this wholly unique account of the impact of October 7th is arresting in its humanity and gravity. Tuesday, November 12, 7:30 p.m., and Thursday, November 14, 2:30 p.m.
The Performance, 112 minutes. While on a European tour in 1937, an acculturated American Jew and accomplished tap dancer Harold May (Jeremy Piven) is scouted by a German attaché to headline an exclusive performance in Berlin for a VIP guest: Adolf Hitler. He makes a Faustian bargain. Based on a short story by Arthur Miller. Sunday, November 10, 5:30 p.m., with a speaker to be announced, and Tuesday, November 12, 12:30 p.m.
The Stronghold, 113 minutes. Set during the Yom Kippur War, The Stronghold follows a group of IDF soldiers whose outpost comes under siege. The group’s loyalties are divided between the young commander, who insists on fighting, and the visiting doctor (Michael Aloni) who believes they should surrender. This stirring drama portrays the complexity of the fateful 1973 war with intensity and humanity. Saturday, November 16, 9:15 p.m., and Sunday, November 17, 4:45 p.m.
Rutgers Jewish Film Festival, Regal Cinema Commerce Center, 2399 Route 1, North Brunswick. November 7 through 21. Tickets are $15 per film for either in-person or virtual viewing, when available. bildnercenter.rutgers.edu/film.
