The Mayerson JCC Jewish and Israeli Film Festival returns entirely in person for the first time since the pandemic. All 12 films will have screenings at venues across Cincinnati, including the Freedom Center, Seven Hills School, and the Mariemont Theater.
Four of the 12 films, “No Name Restaurant,” “The Glory of Life,” “Here I Lived,” and “All About the Levkoviches,” will also be available for virtual screenings 48 hours after their in-person screenings.
You can find more information on virtual screenings here.
“We wanted to ensure accessibility remains a priority,” said festival director Wyn Garfinkle.“Some of our audience members have mobility issues or don’t like driving at night, so providing some virtual options was important.”
This year, the diverse 16-person film festival committee sifted through over 40 films that were discussed and debated until they settled on 12 films. The films cover the spectrum of Jewish experience, from comedies and dramas to thought-provoking documentaries that tackle subjects like Oct. 7, the Civil Rights movement, and LGBTQ stories.
This year, the film festival opens at the 20th Century theater in Oakely with the dark comedy “Bad Shabbos.” The film follows the misadventures of an interfaith couple’s first Shabbat dinner with their soon-to-be in-laws.
To Garfinkle, many of the films have extra meaning this year as the world faces the threats of rising antisemitism and bigotry. One of the most challenging films to choose from was the documentaries about Oct. 7.
“We knew that we wanted to include representation of the victims and survivors of October 7,” she said. “But it’s also a very difficult topic to watch multiple films and have to sift through them.”
The committee chose the film “630,” which documents the Oct. 7 attacks and interviews several survivors. The film explores the events of the day but is not as graphic of many of the documentaries screened by the committee. The screening will also include a discussion afterward for viewers to ask questions or process any feelings that may come up during the viewing.
Along with challenging topics, some films led to partnerships with several organizations in Cincinnati, including FC Cincinnati. Who has partnered with JIFF for the film “Running on Sand,” about an African refugee in Israel who is mistaken for a player on the Maccabi Netanya soccer team.
Closing night is on Feb. 27 at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The film “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round” is a documentary that explores the events around the desegregation at Glen Echo Park.
“It’s a timely story about allyship through activism,” said Garfinkle. “It’s about truly standing together, not just saying you will.”
Two films that will be screened at the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanities Center feel timely. One, “Here I Lived,” is a documentary about Gunter Demigs Stolperstine’s project. The Stoplerstine project places brass plaques in front of the homes of those murdered in the Holocaust. And a short film about fighting white supremacy, “We’ve Been Here Before: What the Punk Scene Can Teach Us About White Supremacy.”
Another film, “Unspoken,” about a closeted Modern Orthodox teenager, will have a discussion with director Jeremy Borison.
For Garfinkle and the film festival committee, the JIFF is a way to bring the community together. Garfinkle said that one of her favorite parts of the festival is hearing the audience’s reactions to the films.
“This festival is about more than grief,” she said. “It’s about healing, laughter, and seeing yourself on screen.”
The JIFF runs Feb. 1- Feb. 27, you can buy your tickets here.