Because of the attack on Israelis by Hamas in October 2023 and the continued captivity of Israeli and American hostages, the topic of Jewish people and culture is at the top of the minds of many in Alabama.
One avenue in Alabama to study Jewish heritage and recent history is the Jewish Film Festival.
The 2025 festival kicks off Sunday, January 12, and runs through Thursday, January 30. The films, discussions and receptions are shown at different venues in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
Details, trailers and tickets can be found here.
Stay With Us
Sunday, January 12 • 2:00 p.m. • Springhill Avenue Temple
Gad, living in the U.S., returns to France, hiding his conversion to Catholicism from his family. When his parents find out, they try to revert him to Judaism. Gad convinces them his Catholic faith doesn't negate his identity or love for them.
Guest speaker Roy Hoffman will lead a discussion. Light reception following the film.
Vishniac
Thursday January 16 • 2:00 p.m. • Mobile Museum of Art
Roman Vishniac is best known for his iconic images of Jewish life in Eastern Europe from 1935 through 1938. Few predicted that less than a decade later, these communities would be wiped out, and Vishniac’s photographs would provide the last visual records of an entire world. Now for the first time, his story comes to life as a feature documentary.
Reita Franco Memorial Film: The Catskills
Sunday January 19 • 6:00 p.m. • Ahavas Chesed Synagogue
The Catskills is a humorous and nostalgic tribute to what became affectionately known as the Borscht Belt. Through the lens of stand-up comedians delivering their finest routines and the reminiscences of former waiters, entertainers, and dance instructors, the film captures the essence of the family-run resorts and bungalows that inspired iconic films like Dirty Dancing. By piecing together personal anecdotes, home videos, promotional images, postcards, and menus, this cinematic time capsule offers a comprehensive overview of Jewish immigration to New York.
The film is preceded by a dinner of Borsht Belt old world delights at 6 p.m. Film begins at 7 p.m.
The Survivor
Thursday January 23 • 7:00 p.m. • Fairhope: USA Campus
Directed by Academy Award-winner Barry Levinson and based on a true story, The Survivor stars award-winning actor Ben Foster as Harry Haft, who, after being sent to Auschwitz, survives not only the unspeakable horrors of the camp but the gladiatorial boxing spectacle he is forced to perform with his fellow prisoners for the amusement of his captors. Unbeknownst to those who try to destroy him, Haft’s will to survive is driven by his quest to reunite with the woman he loves.
Guest Speaker: Alan Haft, the Fairhope-based author of "Harry Haft: Survivor of Auschwitz, Challenger of Rocky Marciano" and son of Harry Haft.
Dessert Reception to Follow
The Survivor
Sunday, January 26 • 2:00 p.m. • Ahavas Chesed Synagogue
Directed by Academy Award-winner Barry Levinson and based on a true story, The Survivor stars award-winning actor Ben Foster as Harry Haft, who, after being sent to Auschwitz, survives not only the unspeakable horrors of the camp but the gladiatorial boxing spectacle he is forced to perform with his fellow prisoners for the amusement of his captors. Unbeknownst to those who try to destroy him, Haft’s will to survive is driven by his quest to reunite with the woman he loves.
Guest Speaker: Alan Haft, son of Harry Haft and Fairhope-based author of the book, Harry Haft: Survivor of Auschwitz, Challenger of Rocky Marciano.
Dessert Reception to Follow
Ain't No Back to the Merry Go Round
Tuesday January 28 • 7pm • USA Laidlaw
In June of 1960, three shocking, unprecedented events happened at “idyllic” Glen Echo Amusement Park: Howard University students arrived up at the Park and sat down on the carousel. Two, white, middle-aged neighbors, largely Jewish, joined the protests. Three, the American Nazi Party showed up. AIN'T NO BACK TO A MERRY-GO-ROUND is the forgotten story of how those three events shook metropolitan Washington, forced sides, changed lives, and ignited sparks that flew out across the Civil Rights Movement for years to come.
Post-film comments by Dr. Donald Shaffer, Director of African-American Studies, Miss State University
The Goldman Case
Wednesday, January 29 • 7:00pm • USA Campus: Laidlaw
“The Goldman Case,” a French courtroom drama that homes in on Goldman’s 1976 retrial for murder, has thrust him back into the spotlight. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 and became a hit in France, where Jewish actor Arieh Worthalter won a César Award — the French equivalent of the Oscar — for his portrayal of Goldman.
Guest Speaker: David Meola
Running on Sand
Thursday, January 30 • 7:00pm • USA Campus: Laidlaw
Aumari, a young Eritrean refugee living in Israel, is about to be deported back to his home country. After a spontaneous escape attempt at the airport, he is mistaken for a Nigerian striker, who is supposed to arrive at the same time.
Closing night reception to follow the film.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
