29th Annual Denver Jewish Film Festival

On behalf of all of us at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center (MACC), Jewish Community Center of Denver (JCC), and this year’s Film Selection Committee, we would like to welcome you to the 29th Annual Denver Jewish Film Festival. This year, although there will be opportunities for some virtual screenings, we are emphasizing community connection through in-person showings. We aim to bring to you the very best in Israeli and Jewish cinema from around the world with this year’s exciting lineup.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday January 23, 2025

6:00 PM: Opening Night Reception

7:30 PM: Running on Sand

2025 DJFF Opening Night Film Sponsored by Strear Family Foundation

Director: Adar Shafran

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. Aumari seizes the opportunity and benefits for his change of identity as the new key acquisitions for the team of ‘Maccabi Netanya’. Despite the absence of any soccer talent, Aumari is able to cover-up and heal the divisions of his struggling team, while a tender romantic bond with the charmingly unconventional daughter of the team owner is growing.

104 Minutes

Hebrew, English Israel 2023

Friday January 24, 2025

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM: First to Stand

Director: Irene Lilienheim Angelico, Abbey Neidik  

Irwin Cotler and his team fight for justice and human rights, women's rights and media freedom in the cases and causes of Raif Badawi, Amal Clooney, Shaparak Shajarizadeh, Anatoly Sharansky, and Bill Browder.

75 minutes  

Documentary, English, Canada, 2023

1:00 PM - 2:04 PM: Telling Nonie + featured short: Like a Man

Like a Man
Director: Shaya Chesner

Rugged and macho Ronen (40), takes his excited and innocent 13-year-old son Aviv on a Bar-Mitzvah hike to a lake in northern Israel. In spite of his attempts to present himself as the ideal masculine figure, Ronen’s vulnerabilities and fears are blatantly exposed during an encounter with three Israeli Arabs, who have arrived at the same spot for a day of hiking and leisure.

13 Minutes

Narrative Short, Arabic, Hebrew, Israel, 2023

Telling Nonie

Director: Paz Schwartz, Uriel Sinai  

Geizi Tsafrir, 88, reexamines his role in a targeted assassination in Gaza, uncovering unsettling information about his father's death and revealing it to Nonie in Los Angeles.

50 Minutes

Documentary English, Hebrew, Israel, USA, 2023

Sunday January 26, 2025

10:00 AM - 11:41 AM: Haute Couture

Haute Coutre
Director: Sylvie Ohayon, Sylvie Verheyde

Esther is at the end of her career as Head Seamstress at Dior Avenue Montaigne workshop. One day, she gets her handbag stolen in the metro by a 20 year old woman, Jade. Instead of calling the police she decides to take care of Jade.

119 minutes
Drama, Comedy, French, France 2021

12:15 PM - 2:00 PM: This is My Mother

Director: Julien Carpentier

Pierre is a successful 33-year-old florist whose life takes a turn when his mother, Judith, shows up after two years without seeing each other. Judith is whimsical, excessive, and suffers from bipolar disorder; she has escaped from her clinic. While Pierre's only thought is to bring her back urgently and resume his normal life, nothing goes as planned. Their unexpected reunion--both explosive, funny, and moving--will transform Pierre and Judith forever.

105 minutes
Drama, Comedy, French, France 2023

2:30 PM-  3:50 PM: Everything's Kosher

Everything's Kosher
Sponsored by Marci Penner

Director: Adam Fried  

Adam, a divorced, Jewish father originally from Chicago, embarks on a journey to fulfill a promise to his only daughter never to abandon her. Living in a small, German town steeped in the shadows of Antisemitism and Nazi history, Adam attempts to open a Jewish deli, to establish a link to his upbringing and try to find comfort and connection in his town.

80 minutes
Documentary, English, Germany, USA 2023

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: I Dance But My Heart is Crying

I Dance But My Heart is Crying
Followed by "Festo Festo DJFF Style"

Director: Christoph Weinert

The music documentary "Ich tanze, aber mein Herz weint" (I dance, but my heart is crying) resurrects music that was considered lost for more than seventy years and makes it shine in new splendor.

Following the event, we will have 2 Festo Festo bands join us in the Phillips Social Hall for an hour of music! This is complementary to DJFF attendees.

90 minutes
Documentary, English, Germany 2024

7:30 PM - 9:31 PM: Stella: A Life

Director: Kilian Riedhof

Stella Goldschlag grows up in Berlin during the Nazi regime. She dreams of a career as a jazz singer, but is forced to go into hiding with her parents in 1944, and her life turns into an hopeless tragedy.

121 minutes
Period Drama, German, English - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK 2024

Monday January 27, 2025

4:00 PM - 6:02 PM: Here Lived

Director: Jane Wells

Stone by stone: HERE LIVED is the story of hidden children, murdered parents, generational trauma, and one artist's singular vision for healing.

122 minutes
Documentary, English, Netherlands 2024

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM: 22nd Annual Fred & Audrey Friedman Marcus Holocaust Lecture

The Return From The Other Planet
Documentary film and discussion with director Assaf Lapid

Holocaust survivor and author Yehiel De-Nur lived a life shrouded in secrecy, concealing his identity behind the pseudonym “Ka-Tzetnik 135633.” His novels about the two years he spent in Auschwitz were widely read in the 1950s and 1960s and informed the way readers worldwide imagined the Holocaust. He came to refer to Auschwitz as “The Other Planet”—a place beyond the realm of human comprehension.

Increasingly haunted by the trauma of the Holocaust, De-Nur’s search for clarity and peace eventually led him to the Netherlands, where he underwent experimental psychedelic therapy with LSD. His treatment led him to new perceptions of humanity and ultimately to reject of the notion of “The Other Planet.” Lapid’s important documentary examines how individuals and societies reconcile a traumatic past with a return to life.

Following the film, director Assaf Lapid will be joined on stage by Denver psychologist A J Grovert to discuss the use of psychedelics in the treatment of trauma patients.

The annual Fred & Audrey Friedman Marcus Holocaust Lecture is presented by the Holocaust Awareness Institute at the University of Denver's Center for Judaic Studies.

Holocaust survivors, educators and students attend the Marcus Lecture for free. Please contact [email protected] or 303-871-3020 to request tickets.

Tuesday January 28, 2025

4:30 PM - 6:27 PM: For the Living

Director: Marc Bennett, Tim Roper

When 250 cyclists mount their bikes outside the universal symbol of absolute evil (Auschwitz-Birkenau) and pedal a WWII liberation path across the Polish countryside, every mile reveals that our entire species too has spent centuries on its own liberation path from Dehumanization towards Empathy and-in 2024-we may be traveling down the most dangerous stretch of all.

117 minutes
Documentary, English, USA 2024

7:30 PM - 9:21 PM: Home

Home
Sponsored by Mark and Krista Boscoe
Director: Benny Fredman

In this explosive true-crime drama, a newly married young man's ambition to open a computer store in his ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood begets a shocking clash of tradition versus modernity. Devout yeshiva student Yair tries to support his family with a new business, introducing outside technology into the cloistered community. Despite efforts to adhere to strict Haredi rules, he faces vehement opposition from the locals, leading to rising tensions, the threat of violence, and marital strain, culminating in a decisive showdown.

111 minutes  
Crime, Drama, Yiddish and Hebrew, Israel 2023

Wednesday January 29, 2025

5:00 PM - 06:20 PM: 2025 DJFF Shorts Collection

2025 DJFF Shorts Collection (80 min)
Sponsored by Mark Goldstei

Arie and I Changing Things
Director: Ori Shmueli

Ori persuades his grandfather, Arie, to make a film together, but Arie tries to convince Ori to be socially active instead through past stories - that shed light on Arie himself

16 Minutes
Drama- Short, Hebrew, Israel 2024

Neseh
Director: Shmuel Elmaleh

Mickey’s son is getting married today – at the winery that he himself has owned and cherished for decades. For 24 years Mickey has preserved a special barrel of wine to open for this occasion. But minutes before the ceremony, the rabbi who is the kosher supervisor at the winery witnesses a non-Jew touching the wine, thus rendering it “Neseh” – forbidden to all Jews. Mickey wants to serve the wine anyway (who’s to know?), but the supervisor is going to make damn sure it doesn’t leave the cellar.
 
10 Minutes
Drama-Short, Hebrew, Israel 2023

Over My Dead Body
Director: Meital Cohen Navarro

When a young Jewish Persian-American woman tells her parents that her fiancé is Muslim, they make her choose between him and them

25 Minutes  
Drama- Short, English, Persian, USA 2024

The Eighth Day
Director: Jonah Weinstein

Noah and Jonah are gay Jewish husbands and new parents to a baby boy. When Noah and Jonah's parents arrive at their home expecting a traditional bris for their grandson, Noah and Jonah are forced to reveal that they had something very different in mind for their son: no circumcision

11 Minutes
Comedy-Short, English, USA 2023

The Source of All Beauty
Director: Rachel Lévy

Yaeli, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish young woman, carries a terrible secret that may destroy all her chances of future happiness. David, a brilliant and eligible yeshiva student, seems interested in meeting Yaeli, but her father, in an attempt to protect her from pain and humiliation, refuses to give his permission for the two young people to meet.

19 Minutes
Drama-Short, Hebrew, Israel 2023

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: We Will Dance Again

We Will Dance Again
Sponsored by The Hon. James and Paula Breese

Director: Yariv Mozer  

A minute-by-minute retelling of the Supernova Music Festival Massacre, which took place on October 7th.

90 minutes
Documentary, Hebrew, English, Israel, USA, UK 2024

Thursday January 30, 2025

4:30 PM - 6:35 PM: Bliss (Hemda)

Director: Shemi Zarhin

Sassi and Efi are hard workers, struggling with the debt left by Sasai's son before he left for Brussels. Though there is quite an age gap between them, their love and humor keep them from life's weariness and despair. When two youngsters - Omri, Sassi's hormonal and kind-hearted grandson, and David, Efi's former student - appear in their lives, their carefully kept routine breaks, and the couple's love is tested. Eighteen years after Aviva, My Love, Sasson Gabai and Asi Levi collaborate once again with director Shemi Zarhin to showcase their unique talents. Sassi and Efi's love story is both funny and touching. It illuminates in its unique way issues of relationships, family, and loyalty and sends a painful but also warm and optimistic look at the social realities of today.

125 minutes
Drama, Hebrew, Israel 2024

7:00 PM - 8:24 PM: Yaniv

After funding is cut for the school musical, a high school teacher resolves to earn it back by cheating at an underground card game run by the Hasidic Jewish community.

10:00 PM: Game Night

Join us for Game Night immediately following the movie in the Phillips Social Hall til 10pm!

Young Adult (21-40) Yaniv Tournament

Following the screening of the film "Yaniv," young adults are invited to join us for our own Yaniv tournament! Instructions will be provided as will food and drinks (alcoholic and non-acholic). We will have prizes from the Yaniv film's merch store! Don't want to play in the tournament? No worries, come to schmooze, join for a casual game, and maybe even heckle the tournament players!

Friday January 31, 2025

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Bardejov

Director: Danny A Abeckaser

The story of small town Jewish leader Rafuel Lowy, who found an ingenious way to save Bardejov's Jewish population from being sent to Auschwitz during World War Two.

90 minutes
Drama, English, Israel 2023

12:30 PM - 1:35 PM: Custaryans + featured short: Red Shoe

Red Shoe
Director: K. Lorrel Manning

Forced to leave their families behind, Jewish teenagers Fanye and Rivkah flee their hometown during the Nazi invasion. Being chased through the woods by an armed Nazi soldier, they are forced to make life-and-death decisions.

15 Minutes
Drama-Short, English, USA  2023

Custaryans
Director: Sanne Kortooms, Timon Moll  

In the 70-minute documentary Custaryans, three stories are told about Jewish possessions stored during the Second World War, their Jewish owners and their non-Jewish protectors.

70 Minutes
Documentary English, Dutch, Netherlands 2023

Saturday February 1, 2025

5:30 PM - 6:54 PM: Bad Shabbos

Bad Shabbos
Sponsored by Bobbi Ewelt and Patricia Lackner

Director: Daniel Robbins   

An engaged interfaith couple are about to have their parents meet for the first time over a Shabbat dinner when an accidental death gets in the way.

84 minutes
Comedy, English, Israel 2023

7:30 PM - 9:10 PM: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Director: Mel Stuart  

This whimsical tale, starring the unforgettable Gene Wilder as the eccentric Willy Wonka, invites you to explore a world where rivers flow with chocolate, candy grows on trees, and imagination knows no bounds.

Follow young Charlie Bucket and four other lucky golden ticket winners as they venture into Wonka's factory, a place brimming with wonders—and surprises. From Oompa-Loompas to edible gardens, every corner of the factory is a feast for the eyes and a journey of discovery. But beware: not every child will make it to the end of the tour.

With its iconic songs like "Pure Imagination" and a heartwarming story about kindness, honesty, and the power of dreams, this film is a sweet treat for the whole family. Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic on the big screen!

100 minutes
Comedy, English USA 1971

Sunday February 2, 2025

10:00 AM - 10:38 AM: Taking Care
Sponsored by: Ascent Living Communities, Hilltop Reserve, & Rosemark at Mayfair Park

Directed by: James Keach

Produced by: Seth Rogen & Lauren Miller Rogen

Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker James Keach, Taking Care is a 38-minute documentary following the journey of acclaimed filmmakers Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen as they navigate the complexities and heartbreak of Lauren’s mother’s advancing Alzheimer’s disease. Through humor, heart, and an unwavering commitment to change, Taking Care imparts a message of hope, resilience, and the profound impact individuals can have when they seek solutions to society’s greatest challenges.

After the documentary, please stay for a lively panel discussion with Alzheimer's experts and enjoy a light brunch reception.

38 minutes
Documentary, English USA 2024

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM: Moses Ezekiel

Director: Steven Pressman  

Moses Ezekiel (1844-1917) was a world-famous American sculptor, who had been born and raised in a large Jewish family in Richmond, Virginia. Before becoming an artist, he was the first Jewish cadet to be enrolled at the Virginia Military Institute and was among a class of cadets who fought for the Confederacy in the 1864 Battle of New Market during the U.S. Civil War. This documentary film tells Ezekiel's story, while also focusing on the modern-day debate over the presence of Confederate statues and monuments in the United States, including those made by Ezekiel.

50 minutes
Documentary, English USA 2024

1:30 PM - 3:39 PM: Arugam Bay + feature short: Lion of Zion

Lion of Zion
Director: Mike Musikanto  

Yuri Foreman, the only world champion boxer from Israel, believes that balancing faith and fortitude can lead to greatness. After losing his title in 2010, he studied Judaism to understand the connection between his boxing pursuits and his spiritual quests. In 2014, he was ordained as a Rabbi. Despite being past his prime, Yuri is not done with the ring and strives to make history by becoming the first Rabbi Boxing Champion of the World.

30 Minutes
Documentary, English USA 2024

Arugam Bay
Director: Marco Carmel   

In this touching and inspiring film, three Israeli surfers set out on a soul-searching journey to the magical southeast coast of Sri Lanka after completing their military service, seeking solace and closure after the tragic loss of a friend during a mission in Beirut. As they navigate their way through the tropical paradise of Arugam Bay, they encounter locals embracing a serene, unhurried life, and even forge connections with Iranian surfers. This transformative adventure puts the unbreakable bonds of their friendship to the test, as long-suppressed emotions and buried traumas resurface. With an outstanding ensemble cast featuring Joy Rieger ("June Zero", "Image of Victory"), Yadin Gelman ("Victory"), and Maor Schwitzer ("Shtisel") in starring roles, Arugam Bay is a heart-healing odyssey that promises to captivate audiences.

97 Minutes
Drama, Hebrew, English, Sinhala, Sri Lanka, Israel 2023

4:15 PM - 5:55 PM: Torah Tropical

Director: Ezra Axelrod    

Colombian documentary Torah Tropical follows the peculiar phenomenon of Latin American Evangelical Christians converting to Orthodox Judaism, and reveals Zionism's troubling relationship with race and the idea of a Promised Land.

100 minutes
Documentary, Spanish, Columbia 2024

5:45 PM: Food Options for purchase following film

7:15 PM - 8:32 PM: Centered: Joe Lieberman
Sponsored by Vicki Trachten Schwartz & Andrea Hyatt

Director: Jonathan Gruber    

Joe Lieberman, the first Jewish person to be a Vice Presidential candidate on a major party ticket in the US, is celebrated for putting principles above party. This timely feature doc chronicles Lieberman’s extraordinary journey, his 40+ years of public service and the depth of his commitment to the American people. His message of moderation and bipartisanship resonates even more powerfully now underscoring the importance of unity and collaboration in politics.

100 minutes
Documentary, English USA 2024

8:30 PM: Closing Ceremony

Date: January 23, 2025 - February 2, 2025

Location:

Elaine Wolf Theatre - Denver Colorado
350 South Dahlia Street
Denver, CO 80246

Click Here for more information