Charlotte Jewish Film Festival

In 1890s New York City, evocatively recreated on a shoestring budget, Jewish immigrant Jake (Steven Keats) has assimilated seamlessly into the American community...until his wife from back home (Carol Kane) arrives on his doorstep. Sumptuously shot in black and white, director Joan Micklin Silver’s loving, funny debut feature became an unexpected hit, and the rare independent American film to garner an Oscar nomination for Kane’s heartbreaking, but ultimately empowering turn.

Cohen Film Collection is proud to present a gorgeous new 4K restoration of this American classic.

Dr. Julia Wagner will be joining this special screening to discuss her book, Hester Street. Julia Wagner is a critic, writer and lecturer based in London, UK, specializing in Jewish film and cultural history, documentary and Italian cinema. She has written widely for publications such as the Jewish Chronicle and Sight and Sound. She was the curator of the archival documentary Jewish Britain on Film.

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Director: Joan Micklin Silver
Language:  English, Yiddish
Run Time: 89 Mintues
Country/Year: US 1975

A titan of European music finds himself adrift in the streets of Manhattan—thousands of miles from the theaters and concert halls where he achieved his greatest triumphs and endured his deepest torments. In this vibrant, unfamiliar city, Gustav Mahler confronts both the exhilaration of discovery and the shadow of his own mortality. As composer and conductor, Mahlerreshaped the musical landscape of late-nineteenth-century Europe. Yet it was in the final years of his life, in New York City’s bustling Upper West Side and along 59th Street, that he faced his greatest challenges: composing his Ninth and unfinished Tenth Symphonies, navigating family crises, battling illness, and leaving an indelible mark on the city’s cultural life through his leadership of the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic.

This film brings Mahler’s final years vividly to life, weaving together archival recordings, contemporary interviews, intimate musical performances, and evocative footage of Manhattan. It captures not only the creative genius of a man at the height of his powers but also the personal and artistic struggles that defined his last chapter. T

hrough this journey, viewers gain a new appreciation for how Mahler’s music continues to echo through New York’s streets and concert halls, bridging the past and the present with its timeless power.

This special premiere event will feature director Hilan Warshaw in attendance for an introduction and post-film conversation. 

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Director: Hilan Warshaw
Language:  English
Run Time: 93 Mintues
Country/Year: US 2026

The New Jew is sponsered by The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte

The New Jew: Days of War follows Israeli comedian Guri Alfi as he journeys through the American Jewish experience in the wake of October 7th. Through powerful personal stories—from families of hostages to young Jews navigating rising antisemitism and generational tensions around Israel—the film explores how this crisis has reshaped Jewish identity, safety, and belonging in the U.S. Blending empathy with his signature humor, Alfi brings humanity and accessibility to difficult topics, capturing both pain and resilience. A follow-up to the acclaimed 2021 series The New Jew, this timely documentary offers a heartfelt look at a community searching for unity and hope in uncertain times.

David Lubin, from Atlanta, GA will be joining in person to speak about his daughter IDF Sgt. Rose Lubin, 20, who died while guarding one of the most holy sites in the world after the attacks of Oct. 7.

Director: Moshe Samuels
Language: English
Run Time: 92 min
Genre: Documentary
Country/Year: United States, Israel

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Lost in Territories is sponsored by Temple Israel

Neighboring is a complex thing. Add to it a bloody multinational, inter-religious confrontation, stuffed with soldiers, terror organizations, fences, rockets, guns, knives and rocks, and you have a complete mayhem. Or as we all call it: “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”. Inspired by Academy Award nominated Argentinian film Wild Tales, Lost in Territories extracts the humor out of absurd situations where living together becomes a tricky challenge. It happens in the West Bank, the Wild West of the Middle East.

 Price:  $18

Director: Nadav Shlomo Giladi
Language: Hebrew
Run Time: 108 min
Genre:  Comedy
Country/Year: Israel 2025

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Charles Grodin: Rebel with a Cause is sponsored by Hearst Entertainment & Syndication

Charles Grodin’s extraordinary life and career as an actor-comedian and broadcast personality take center stage in this rich and multifaceted portrait of a consummate performer who infused humor with heart. A master of dry wit and deadpan delivery, Grodin captivated audiences with beloved performances in The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, and countless sharp-witted late-night TV appearances. In his later years, Grodin quietly turned his focus to champion meaningful causes, using his platform as CNBC talk show host to advocate for justice and pressing social issues. Through a treasure trove of film and TV clips, insightful interviews, and heartfelt reflections, this vibrant tribute remembers a singular talent who left an indelible mark on both entertainment and humanity.

 Price: $18

Director: James L. Freedman
Language: English
Run Time:  93 min
Genre: Documentary
Country/Year: United States 2024

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Mazel Tov is sponsored by the Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center Board of Directors.

From acclaimed Argentinean actor and director Adrián Suar comes a heartfelt, humorously touching tale of family, forgiveness, and the ties that bring us back home. When Dario Roitman returns from the U.S. to Argentina for a family wedding and Bat Mitzvah, he anticipates the usual family drama. But his carefully laid plans for a family reunion are suddenly upended when he learns, just hours before his flight, that his father has passed away.

As the Roitmans gather for the funeral, old wounds resurface and longstanding tensions reach a boiling point. Despite the emotional turmoil, Dario remains determined to celebrate both the wedding and Bat Mitzvah, even if it means challenging tradition and risking further discord. Navigating grief, sibling rivalry, and delightfully eccentric grudges, the Roitmans reveal the messy yet enduring love of family. With humor, heart, and a touch of dysfunction, Mazel Tov captures the bittersweet hilarity of coming home—and the strength it takes to forgive, let go, and find joy amid the tears.

 Price:  $18

Director: Adrián Suar
Language:  Spanish with English subtitles
Run Time:  97 minutes
Genre:  Drama
Country/Year: Argentina 2024

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Labors of Love is sponsored by Hadassah Charlotte Metro Chapter

A visionary leader and one of history’s most influential, yet under-recognized, American Jewish women, Henrietta Szold left an indelible mark on the 20th century. She founded Hadassah in 1912, creating a vital link between American women and communities in Palestine. Through this organization, she established the region’s modern healthcare system, built on a mandate to treat Arabs and Jews equally. Later, she spearheaded Youth Aliyah, an operation that rescued 11,000 Jewish children from Nazi Europe.

 This heartfelt documentary, directed by Peabody award-winner, Abby Ginzberg, brings long-overdue recognition to Szold, offering a thought-provoking look at a woman who reshaped history through compassion and an unwavering belief in the power of humanity.

 Abby Ginzberg will be joining the festival to discuss the film and facilitate a Q & A, bringing deeper insight and enhancing the overall experience for the audience.

 Price:  $18

Director: Abby Ginzberg
Language: English
Run Time: 79 minutes
Genre: Documentary 
Country/Year: USA  2025

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Tatami is sponsored by Truist

Iranian female judoka Leila and her coach Maryam, who travel to the Judo World Championship, intent on bringing home Iran's first gold medal. Midway through the competition, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose. With her own and her family's freedom at stake, Leila is faced with an impossible choice: feign injury and comply with the Iranian regime as Maryam implores her to do, or defy them both and fight on, for the gold.

JKID Club and a Boxed Dinner will be available at an additional cost.

Price: $18

Directors: Zar Amir Ebrahimi & Guy Nattiv
Language: English, Persian
Run Time: 105 minutes
Genre: Drama
Country/Year: Georgia, United States, United Kingdom 2023

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Register for JKID Club Here

Marathon Mom is sponsored by Women of Temple Israel/Miriam’s Well

Marathon Mother tells the inspiring story of Beatie Deutsch, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish mother of five who, after a pause from athletics to focus on her family, reignites her passion for running. In 2015, driven by a personal promise and the challenges of motherhood, Beatie embarks on a rigorous journey to complete a marathon. As she trains with dreams of becoming an Olympian, her remarkable journey transcends the track, embodying a powerful message of perseverance and empowerment. Through her story, Beatie inspires other women to embrace their dreams and overcome their own challenges.

Join us for light appetizers prior to the film, provided by Kosher Charlotte.

Register for the CJFF fun run before the film.

In addition, Beatie Deutsch will be joining virtually for a Q & A after the film.

Price:  $18

Directors: Oren Rosenfeld, Rebecca Shore 

Language: English, Hebrew
Run Time: 90 min
Genre: Documentary
Country/Year: Israel 2025

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Register for Marathon Mom Fun Run Here

Among Neighbors is sponsored by Hearst

Combining magical realism and evocative hand-drawn animation with revelatory interviews and verité footage, “Among Neighbors” examines the story of a small, rural town where Jews and Polish Catholics lived side by side for centuries before World War II. The film brings the Polish response to the Holocaust to life through the last living eyewitnesses, revealing both love and betrayal as it zeroes in on the only living Holocaust survivor from the town, and an aging eyewitness who saw Jews murdered there — not by Nazis, but by her own Polish neighbors. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Yoav Potash (“Crime After Crime,” Sundance Film Festival)

Price: $18

Director:  Yoav Potash
Language:  English, Polish
Run Time:  100 min
Genre: Drama
Country/Year: Poland 2025

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Matchmaking 2 is sponsored by Frolly.

After breaking box office records with their first film, the characters from Matchmaking return with this endearing romantic comedy set against Ashkenazi and Sepharic cultural tensions. Maor Schwitzer (Valley of Tears, Shtisel) stars as Baruch Auerbach, a graduate student who continues to live in a small room at the yeshiva where he studied and now serves as the faithful assistant to the matchmaker Malchi (Irit Kaplan, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem). When Malchi assigns him the task of picking up her younger daughter Shira from the airport, he decides it's time for him to get married but struggles to be seen as an eligible suitor. Featuring a stellar supporting cast that includes Reymonde Amsallem (Seven Blessings), this sequel is a fun trip in its own right that does not require familiarity with its predecessor.

Light Dessert Reception Prior to the Film

Price:  $18

Director:  Erez Tadmor
Language: Hebrew
Run Time:  110 min
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Country/Year: Israel 2024

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Once Upon My Mother is Sponsored by Pinnacle Bank

A mother's unwavering devotion helps her son, born with a clubfoot in 1963, overcome physical challenges and social barriers. Her powerful promise drives their remarkable journey through life's ups and downs.

Price:  $18

Director: Ken Scott
Language: French 
Run Time: 102 min
Genre: Drama
Country/Year: France, Canada 2025

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Grandfather and retired Israeli general Noam Tibon rescues his family from Hamas terrorists invading their home during the October 7, 2023 massacre - a coordinated assault on Israel sparking an ongoing conflict.

 Director, Barry Avrich will be joining for a Q & A after the film

 Price:  $18

Director:  Barry Avrich
Language: English  
Run Time:  95 Min
Genre:  Documentary
Country/Year: Israel 2025

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1970s, Esther, a tormented American in her forties, receives a letter upon the death of her mother: she must find a woman who lived in the 1930s in Palestine and holds a secret about her life. Esther begins her search in Israel helped by Zayde, a university professor with a peculiar past.1930s, a settlers’ village, the atmosphere of a new world. Moshe, a widower with two children, hires a woman to help him out. The arrival of Yehudit changes the life of Moshe and two other men: Yaakov, a romantic farmer, and Globerman, a cattle trader. A playful and tragic love intrigue begins. Tying together the threads that bind past and present, Esther and Zayde will discover a shocking truth.

Best Film Award - Bari International Film Festival

 Price:  $18

Director:  Guido Chiesa
Language:  Italian
Run Time:  117 min
Genre:  Drama
Country/Year: Italy 2025

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The Ring is sponsored by Diamonds Direct.

The Ring is a poignant tale of survival, redemption, and family inspired by true events. In 1944 Hungary, a young Jewish mother saves herself and her infant son from deportation by bribing a soldier with her cherished ring. Decades later in Israel, her son, now an observant Jew and estranged from his daughter, sets out to recover the ring as his mother’s health declines. Their journey to Budapest reveals hidden family secrets, unspoken generational traumas, and the chance for reconciliation. Balancing humor and heartfelt drama, The Ring offers a moving exploration of love, identity, and the unbreakable bonds of family.A heart-warming dramady about three generations and the family history that reconnects them. The Ring is based on Adir Miller's Holocaust survival story.

Price:  $18

Directors: Adir Miller, Doron & Yoav Paz
Language: Hebrew and Hungarian with English subtitles
Run Time: 122 min
Genre:  Drama Comedy
Country/Year: Israel 2024

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During the Second World War, François Touraine, a young piano prodigy, has no choice but to go and play in Germany to save the woman he loves. Because Rachel is Jewish in an age that no longer allows it… A great story of love, music and resistance through time and the horrors of the Occupation and Nazism.

 Price:  $18

Director: Jacques Otmezguine
Language:  French, German with English Subtitles
Run Time: 105 Min 
Genre: Drama
Country/Year: France 2025

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Ethan Bloom is sponsored by Temple Beth El

After losing his mother, thirteen-year-old Ethan finds solace in the Catholic church—a refuge that feels like home, even though he was born into a Jewish family. When his father insists on a bar mitzvah and Ethan’s secret unravels at his girlfriend’s confirmation party, the young seeker must confront the lies he’s told and the grief he’s been running from. Through the wisdom of an unconventional rabbi, the love of his complicated family, and his first romance with a cowboy-boot-wearing girl who can put him in a headlock, Ethan discovers that faith isn’t about choosing sides—it’s about honoring all the messy, beautiful pieces of who we are.

 Price:  $25

Director: Herschel Faber
Language:  English
Run Time: 95 min
Genre: Comedy
Country/Year: United States 2025

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