Festival dates:
April 30 – May 10
Matchmaking 2 Baruchim Tovim 2
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.
Once Upon My Mother Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan
In 1963, Esther gave birth to Roland, who was born with a clubfoot that prevented him from standing. Against everyone's advice, she promised her son that he would be able to walk just like everyone else. Spanning decades of hardships and miracles, this film is the story of an incredible destiny and a mother's unwavering love for her child.
One Thread
Through personal stories and historical reflection, ONE THREAD weaves a portrait of Jewish resilience, exploring how a people dispersed by centuries of persecution have stayed connected through culture, faith, and shared identity.
Schächten
In the 1960s, Victor, a young Jewish Austrian businessman, witnesses how the prosecution of a Nazi crime perpetrated against his family unjustly fails in the courtroom. He loses faith in the system and pursues matters via a different path.
Sheitel – Beauty in the Hidden
Filmed in Jerusalem, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax , this insightful documentary offers a unique exploration of the cultural, religious, and personal significance of hair covering among Jewish women within Orthodox and Hasidic communities.
Son of a Seeker
A deeply personal documentary that follows local filmmaker Kai Balin’s journey to unravel what it means to continue being Jewish in the 21st century. That journey spans three continents, including stops in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Italy, and Israel, but also in Vancouver, Kai’s hometown.
The Blond Boy from the Casbah Le petit blond de la casbah
This enchanting semi-autobiographical drama recreates the vibrant Mediterranean city of the late 1950s - early 1960s. Passionate filmmaker Antoine travels to his birthplace, Algiers, with his young son to present his new film: an account of his childhood in mid-20th century Algeria during the country’s civil war.
The Conspiracy
An animated film about the biggest lie ever told: Jews are plotting to take over the world. Filmmaker Maxim Pozdorovkin employs a host of talented voice actors, including Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Jason Alexander, and Ben Shenkman, to connect the dots of hate and fear, walking us through almost 250 years of antisemitic ideology, focusing on how times of uncertainty give rise to anxieties in marginalized populations.
The Floaters
This offbeat comedy captures the rich diversity of a Jewish summer camp and explores the conflict between leaving one’s mark and building connection.
The Ring HaTabaat
Based on the true story of the Miller family, this deeply touching and personal film intertwines an important historical subject with a heartfelt family drama spanning three generations.
The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue
Set against the backdrop of one of Israel's darkest days, this gripping documentary is a cinematic retelling of an extraordinary rescue and an unflinching look at the failures and resilience revealed on October 7. At its core, it is a profoundly human story about courage, family, and the power of love in the face of unimaginable terror.
The Sea Ha’yam
Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from a Palestinian village, travels to the sea for the first time during a school trip. But at the military checkpoint, he is denied entry and sent home. Determined, Khaled sneaks into Israel and embarks on an epic journey to the sea.