PROGRAMMERS' PICKS
HELEN ZUKERMAN
I picked this film because not only have we never had a Finnish film before but I want to honour the Jewish man who could have gone about his life in safety as a Finnish Jew, but instead committed himself to saving the Jewish refugees that had sought safety in his country.
Stuart Hands
One of the most interesting and moving films to be made about the Holocaust in the immediate postwar years. A vital and significant piece of film history that deserves the attention it has received from scholars for its layered and self-conscious approach to its subject.
JEREMIE ABESSIRA
A dazzling debut from the daughter of celebrated filmmaker Avi Nesher, this first feature announces a bold new voice in Israeli cinema. Visually stunning and emotionally resonant, the film masterfully weaves the personal and the universal. The two leads deliver unforgettable performances, bringing raw intensity and nuance to every scene.
VANESSA BERENSTEIN
I loved how this quirky dramedy balances dark humor, sharp wit, and emotional depth while exploring the complexities of loss and family bonds in a ‘typical’ Jewish Buenos Aires family. This honest, moving, and quietly powerful story made me laugh and touched me deeply, all brought to life by a standout ensemble cast.
GILAD COHEN
A moving and eye-opening portrait of a Colombian family whose conversion to Judaism is met with rejection and bureaucracy. Their story exposes the human cost of institutional barriers to religious identity and belonging.
ANDERS GATTEN
The infamously unseen The Day The Clown Cried is a white whale among cinephiles. While we still may never see this beguiling holocaust drama in full, From Darkness To Light provides an encompassing portrait of the film that began as Jerry Lewis’s labour of love only to become his Waterloo.
GILLIAN HELLFIELD
This eerily prescient fiction film, released just before October 7, offers a powerful absurdist take on the tragedy of war and its impact on the latest generation called into action. When a young Israeli soldier’s panicked flight from battle in Gaza and subsequent disappearance is mistakenly construed by his superiors as a hostage situation, it ignites a national crisis, and a terrible moral dilemma.
RANI Sanderson
Danae Elon’s Rule of Stone is the kind of film that teaches you something, makes you think, and is beautiful to look at. All the things I want from a documentary! This film is important and timely, and a must-see.
SUSAN STARKMAN
What appears to be a cramped fitting room assumes the role of a confessional in Michal Cohen’s uplifting documentary that explores women’s relationships with their breasts. From a teenager trying on her first bra to women who have had their breasts augmented, reduced or even removed, this film is a celebration of the female form in every shape and size.
Maxim Volovik
It’s easy to feel cynical about film nowadays. It often feels like everything has already been done, and there’s no room left for surprises. But then something like King Khat comes along and completely blows your mind with how original and audacious it is—the story of a guy from Haifa who accidentally became one of the most notorious drug barons in the world. It’s a reminder of why we love movies so much.
