NEW YORK JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 2025 - preview

Diversity of genres, characters, issues and themes take center stage for the 34th Annual New York Jewish Film Festival (NYJFF) and co-presented by Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) and The Jewish Museum. Going on now through January 29th, the festival which is known for being one of the oldest and best of its kind the focuses on a presenting a combination of carefully curated documentary, narrative, and short films from around the world that explore the Jewish experience. Although there are over 20 selections for the festival, as is traditional for FLC, there are three especially prestigious positions that make up the Opening, Centerpiece and Closing film selections. 

Opening Film: “Midas Man,” a biopic on Brian Epstein and directed by Joe Stephenson and written by Brigit Grant serves as the festival Opening film.  Epstein is the Jewish and gay music lover and visionary man who discovered and then managed the Beatles in the 1960s before his tragic death at age 32. The impact of the Beatles on the music industry and pop culture is still felt today and launched after the band’s legendary appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show by storm in 1964. That appearance came to be all because of Epstein.

Centerpiece Film: This year’s Centerpiece Film, “Of Dogs and Men” dives right into the current tragic series of events taking place in Israel and Gaza. Director Dani Rosenberg examines the horrors of it all through an experiential account of a teenager who returns home to her kibbutz searching for her missing dog in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7 attacks in Israel. The film does not stop there, but rather takes a humanist approach to the ongoing conflict, including both the tragic losses for Israel and the horrific violence of retribution toward Gaza.

Closing Film: Closing things out is the eagerly anticipated documentary, “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round.” Filmmaker Ilana Trachtman’s recalls a crucial 1960 part of the Civil Rights Movement when protesting Black students were joined by Jewish locals as they together took to a merry-go-round in a segregated park in Maryland. The film’s objective is to highlight the importance of allyship in the face of social injustice.

Other noteworthy titles included in the festive are “Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire”, “Full Support, “The Zweiflers.” And "The True Story of Tamara De Lempicka & the Art of Survival” by filmmaker Julie Rubio. Tamara de Lempicka was the preeminent Art Deco painter. She was misunderstood and marginalized because of her bi-sexual lifestyle and her need to hide her Jewish background. This is, of course, a visually captivating film experience due to footage of De Lempicka’s art, but it is also rich content and access.

Based on the film line up, it is impressive that during these polarizing times within the Jewish community specifically, and society overall, that the NYJFF is making a bold commitment to highlighting sensitive issues and hard themes, as well as including diversity of filmmakers. If you live in or near New York, take advantage of these screenings, most of which will include a Q & A session afterward’s with the film’s director. If you are outside of the area, look for these films to come to a theater near you or accessible to various streaming platforms.

Soon, look for me to post full reviews of a couple of the screenings from this festival. 

For festival details and to purchase tickets, access the link below:
https://www.filmlinc.org/festivals/new-york-jewish-film-festival/#films