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Of the lineup’s 25 films, 11 are short films that are a part of the festival’s two short film series, the Animated Shorts program and the FreshFlix Short Film competition, which marks the 15th time the festival has offered shorts by up-and-coming Jewish filmmakers. “There’s a lot of films about people using their individual voices to bring light to causes that are important to them,” said Joey Katz, artistic director of Boston Jewish Film, which programs screenings and events throughout the year and organizes the festival. “My programming philosophy is to show that Judaism isn’t a monolith.” The festival highlights stories and filmmakers from 10 countries, including the United States, Japan, Argentina, and Israel. The festival will also premiere three films created by Boston locals, including “Fantasy Life,” a romantic comedy about a paralegal-turned-baby-sitter (writer-director Matthew Shear) who falls for his married client (Amanda Peet), from Boston-based producer Philip Keefe; “For the Living,” a documentary about a cyclist retracing the journey of a Holocaust survivor, from Sara Robin, a Boston-based producer; and “Of the Heart,” a short documentary film about four pairs of intergenerational friends, from director Alex Salsberg, a filmmaker and professor at Lesley University. While the festival’s mission is to lift up Jewish voices, this year’s festival has a special focus on showing films with themes of social justice and advocacy more broadly, with films featuring LGBTQ+ narratives, disability rights, and more. One of the films Katz recommends audiences seek out is this year’s centerpiece film, “All God’s Children.” Directed by Ondi Timoner, the documentary follows Rabbi Rachel Timoner (Ondi’s sister) and Baptist Rev. Robert Waterman, a pair of religious leaders in Brooklyn who form a partnership between their congregations to create dialogue, understanding, and unity between the two groups. Making its New England premiere on Nov. 12 at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, the documentary screening also features a performance from the Boston Community Gospel Choir and a conversation between the Timoner sisters and Waterman. “A film like ‘All God’s Children’ is great on its own,” said Katz. “But [we also] have the opportunity to elevate it with music and community connection.” Another standout picture, according to Katz, is the festival’s opening film, “The Most Precious of Cargoes,” a French-language animated film that tells the story of a Polish woodcutter and his wife raising an abandoned Jewish baby during World War II. The story, which is told through hand-drawn animation, reflects on loss, resistance, and the power of community and connection. “It’s told with such care and earnestness. … I found it very poignant and powerful,” Katz said. “People will leave the theater very affected.” Alongside the movie showings, the festival will also host a number of interactive events for audience members to engage with filmmaking and Jewish stories. After a Nov. 6 screening of “Charles Grodin: Rebel With a Cause,” about the late comedic actor, attendees can enjoy a conversation between former longtime Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr and journalist Ken Shulman. Additionally, Jacob Geller, a video essayist and critic who is known for his YouTube analysis videos of video games, will discuss Jewish representation in video games at the “What Even Is a Jewish Video Game?” event held at Somerville’s Arts at the Armory on Nov. 11. The non-film activities are just another way he and executive director Susan Adler want to engage a wider audience this year through more than just movie-making. “We think it’s a wonderful time for our community to gather together, to experience culture, to be entertained, [and] to learn,” said Katz. BOSTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Ticket prices vary per event from $16 to $25. In person from Nov. 5-16, virtual from Nov. 17-19. Various locations. bostonjfilm.org
