It's time for the Jewish Film Festival

The 26th annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival will delight the senses and stir much thought. Running from Saturday night, Nov. 2 through Monday evening, Nov. 4, six very different films will bring laughter, tears and contemplation. An overriding theme of all six films seems to be choices made and relationships broken or kept. Here is the lineup:

Saturday, Nov. 2, 7:45 p.m. at the Orlando Science Center Digital Adventure Center

The Performance

Laced with beautiful 1930's music, songs, and incredible tap dancing (What ever happened to the lost art of tap dancing?), "The Performance" is based on a short story by Arthur Miller about a New York tap dancer and his group who are invited to Berlin to perform for a large sum of money. They are given the royal treatment: the best hotels, best foods and drinks - a lifestyle they have only dreamed of attaining. Then the shoe drops. Slowly all unravels.

This film was first runner-up for the Best Feature Audience Award at the Miami Film Festival.

In English, German, Yiddish and Hungarian with English subtitles, 112 minutes, directed by Shira Piven.

Sunday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. at the Enzian Theater

Unspoken

Florida premiere

Teenage angst, friendships, dating, sexuality. What's it all about? Add to the identity insecurities, Noam searches for a person his recently deceased grandfather knew as a young man before the Holocaust who might help him fit the pieces together. His only clue is a love letter and a photo of his grandfather with another man. "Some things are better kept secret," his mother tells him. But was there a secret? On his quest to learn more, Noam learns more about himself.

This film was Winner-Best Narrative Film at the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival.

In English, 91 minutes, directed by Jeremy Borison

Sunday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m., at the Enzian

Stay With Us

Gad Elmaleh, who stars in and directs this semi-autobiographical comedy, is on a spiritual path that may lead him to conversion to Catholicism. Visiting with his family (played by his real-life parents and sister), he struggles with what path to take. He is inspired by French Cardinal Jean-Maria Lustiger who realized the connection between Catholicism and Judaism and chose to remain Jewish even though he was a Catholic Cardinal.

In French with English subtitles, 93 minutes.

Sunday, Nov. 3, preceding the feature film at 2 p.m.

Judy-Ism

This is the southeast premiere of this film short, written by and produced by Emily Nash, who also plays the part of Judy. Emily Nash will be in attendance for a Q&A following the film.

Weddings and bat mitzvahs are pretty significant events in a woman's life, but perhaps not so for everyone. As Judy prepares for her nuptials, an apple cake forced upon her suddenly thrusts her back in time to when she was 13, preparing for her bat mitzvah. Apparently, Judy does not like apple cake or her pushy mother. It's a good thing Nash will be here to answer questions after the film because I have lots!

In English, 11 minutes, directed by Emily Lerer.

Monday, Nov. 4, 4:15 p.m. at the Enzia

All about the Levkoviches

Like father, like son - sort of. The father, a boxing coach in Budapest, and his son, an Orthodox Jew who lives in Israel with his wife and son, don't see eye to eye about anything. The loss of the wife/mother brings father and son together. The only common ground is their love for the wife/mother and grandson/son.

Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2024 Sofia International Film Festival, this heart-warming comedy brings the participants to reconciliation through the obsession of the grandson that his grandma's spirit is still in the house!

In Hungarian and Hebrew with English subtitles, 85 minutes, directed by Adam Breier.

Monday, Nov. 4, 6:45 p.m. at the Enzian

Shoshana

This is the finale of the Central Florida Jewish Film Festival, and as with the other films in this series, it delivers a thought-provoking punch. This is Israel when it was still called British Mandate Palestine, under the rule of the British. Set in 1938, many Israeli fighters (often called terrorists) against the Arabs also had to contend with the British Palestinian police. Writer-director Michael Winterbottom took 15 years to complete his historical drama based on real people and events, interwoven with a love story. Does love cover a multitude of sins?

In English, Hebrew, Arabic and Russian with English subtitles, 119 minutes.

Individual tickets are $14 per film; Mensch Pass is $118 (limited quantity) includes all five shows, first-priority seating, doors open 30 minutes early; Series Pass, $65 (limited quantity) Includes all five shows, discounted admission, second-priority seating.

Passes and individual tickets can be purchased online at enzian.org or in person at Enzian's box office.

The Central Florida Jewish Film Festival is produced by Enzian and the JCC of Greater Orlando as part of the Cultural Festival Circuit and supported by United Arts of Central Florida with funds from the United Arts Campaign and by the State of Florida, Dept. of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.