Showcasing the Best 10
New Israeli and Jewish International Films
FESTIVAL SPONSOR
WELCOME TO OUR 15TH ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL
Film Enthusiasts Will Delight in Our Heartwarming Funny and Poignant Award-Winning, Award-Nominated, and Acclaimed Films. You Will Laugh! You Will Cry and You Will Be Motivated to Think About Relevant Topics!
Toby Shylit Mack,
Director,
Axelrod Jewish International Film Festival (AJIFF) and Film Education
Series Pass — $82*
Includes All 10 Films
*$72 Series Pass Until June 30 (Save $10)
$82 Series Pass Effective July 1
SCREENINGS AT THE AXELROD PAC
"Opening Night": Matchmaking 2
Sunday, July 20 • 4 & 7 PM
Baruch Auerbach (Maor Schweitzer), an aging Yeshiva student and assistant to matchmaker Malki (Irit Kaplan), has missed every chance to marry. When tasked with picking up Malki’s daughter Shira (Omer Nudelman) from the airport, he decides it's finally time. Baruch asks for Malki's help, but when she matches him with Ruth (Niv Sultan), he schemes to win Shira instead. Only after misreading everything does Baruch begin to see clearly—and open his heart to the love he truly deserves.
Monday, July 21 • 4 & 7 PM
Occupied Paris, 1941: As Jews are ordered to identify themselves, jeweller Joseph Haffmann (Daniel Auteuil) arranges for his family to flee and offers his employee François Mercier (Gilles Lellouche) control of his shop. When Haffmann's escape fails, he seeks refuge with Mercier. The arrangement, met with suspicion by Mercier’s wife Blanche (Sara Giraudeau), soon becomes a dangerous Faustian bargain—one that will forever alter the lives of all involved.
The Blonde Boy from the Casbah
Tuesday, July 22 • 4 & 7 PM
Filmmaker Antoine returns to Algiers with his young son to present a film about his childhood during Algeria’s civil war. As he roams the city, memories flood back—of school, friends, his Jewish family, and moments of joy and sorrow. Growing up during the country’s final days before independence, young Antoine discovers a deep love for cinema and begins to understand his true identity.
Wednesday, July 23 • 4 & 7 PM
NEVER ALONE tells the true story of Jewish refugees seeking safety in WWII-era Finland. As Nazi influence spreads, Finnish-Jewish businessman Abraham Stiller (Ville Virtanen) risks everything to protect them. Directed by Klaus Härö (Oscar-shortlisted The Fencer), this gripping drama highlights courage, defiance, and the fight for hope in the darkest of times.
Thursday, July 24 • 4 & 7 PM
On the eve of the Six-Day War, a fierce rivalry erupts between two charismatic Israeli fighter pilots. After shooting down six Egyptian MiGs in a single battle, the bold and impulsive Lt. Ran Nesher earns a prestigious new role—commanding a fighter squadron—pushing tensions to a breaking point.
Sunday, July 27 • 4 PM
SPECIAL EVENT: Join us for a powerful film screening and special author event with Nadine Epstein, who will speak about her acclaimed book on Elie Wiesel, introduce the film, and lead a Q&A.
Synopsis: Told largely in his own words, Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire explores the life and legacy of Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel (1928–2016), one of the most prominent Holocaust survivors.
Sunday, July 27 • 7 PM
Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a trip through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. As they journey together, old tensions resurface, clashing with the weight of their shared family history.
Monday, July 28 • 4 & 7 PM
In 1942 Slovakia, Marika, a Hungarian widow, lives on the edge of Bratislava, working for a closing tailor shop and tending livestock. One day, she discovers Simon, the Jewish tailor’s son, hiding in her barn and decides to shelter him, despite her doubts. A Slovak officer takes interest in her, unaware of the boy, while a regional Nazi hires her to alter dresses. As danger draws closer, Marika must balance survival with courage in a time of fear and betrayal.
Tuesday, July 29 • 4 & 7 PM
Kyra Sedgwick and Cliff "Method Man" Smith star in BAD SHABBOS, winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative at Tribeca. David and his fiancée Meg plan a Shabbat dinner for their parents to meet on NYC’s Upper West Side—but an accidental death (or murder?) derails the evening. With Meg’s Catholic parents arriving any minute, chaos and comedy ensue in this uproarious family disaster.
.png)
Wednesday, July 30 • 4 & 7 PM
Sassi (73) and Effi (50) race from job to job, trying to repay a massive gambling debt left by Sassi’s son. Despite a grueling schedule, their age gap, and Sassi’s post-surgery impotency, they navigate life with love and humor. But when two young men disrupt their fragile routine, their bond faces its toughest test yet..
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Mon. Aug 4th • 7 & 9 pm
*** Free Community Event ***
Your Donations Make this Event Possible
October 8 – Mon. Aug 4th at 7 pm
From Executive Producer Debra Messing and Director Wendy Sachs, OCTOBER 8 explores the surge of anti-Semitism on U.S. campuses, social media, and streets following the October 7th attacks. Featuring voices like Debra Messing, Michael Rapaport, Mosab Yousef, Sheryl Sandberg, Scott Galloway, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Amb. Deborah Lipstadt, Dan Senor, Noa Tishby, Bari Weiss, and a survivor from Nir Oz.
Beyond October 7 – Mon. Aug 4th at 9 pm
Three generations of the Gad family survived the Hamas attack on October 7. Filmed just days after their rescue, this intimate documentary captures their trauma, grief, and resilience. With friends murdered or abducted and homes destroyed, they fight to preserve Be’eri’s shattered community. Amid despair, a flicker of hope remains. Will they ever return?
Directed by Jasmine Kainy, an 11-time Israeli Academy Award nominee known for White Land, Magnificent Failure, and We Are Both from the Same Village.
Free Screenings Special Event
Sponsored By Landy Family Foundation