The Dayton Jewish International Film Festival offers outstanding world cinema that promotes awareness, appreciation and pride to the diversity of the Jewish people and to the community at large. Our goal is to educate and entertain through evocative, narrative and documentary films that portray the Jewish experience from historic to current global perspectives.
Ticket Prices and Season Passes (both in-person and virtual):
• Opening Night Single Ticket $18.00 — (Opening Night film and reception)
• Individual Ticket for films $12.00 — (films other than Opening Night and An American Tail)
• Season Pass $95.00 — (includes Opening Night film and reception, and all additional films ~ click the Season Pass Button to purchase!)
Tickets also available for purchase at the door as space allows.
Questions? Contact Laura Smith, JCC Administrative Assistant, at lsmith@jfgd.net.
JCC International Jewish Film Festival Opening Night – The Catskills
Thursday, May 30 at 7:00 p.m.
The film will be followed by guest speaker Dr. Jenny Caplan, and a dessert reception
The Roger Glass Center for the Arts
(29 Creative Way, Dayton, OH 45479)
Cost:
Opening Night Reception + Individual Ticket $18
Season pass $95 (includes Opening Night)
(United States, 2023, 86 minutes) Documentary
The Catskills is a delightful account on the rise and fall of the Borscht Belt and the powerful women who made it happen. With a trove of lost-and-found archival footage and a cast of characters endowed with the gift of gab, this charming documentary journeys into the storied mountain getaway north of New York City that served as refuge for Jewish immigrants and affluent Jewish families alike. Stand-up comedians share their best shtick while former waiters, entertainers, and dance instructors recount tales of the family-run resorts and bungalows. Punctuated with expert commentary—including from Dayton’s Dr. Jenny Caplan!—The Catskills is where nostalgia and memory meets the American Jewish experience.
Jennifer Caplan is Associate Professor and The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati Chair in Judaic Studies at University of Cincinnati. Her first book Funny, You Don’t Look Funny: Judaism and Humor from the Silent Generation to Millennials was published by Wayne State University Press in 2023, and she is a co-editor of the forthcoming book No Respect: Themes and Trends in Global Jewish Humors. Currently she is working on Unmasked: Jewish Characters in DC and Marvel, which looks at the history and evolution of Jewish comic book characters.
Home
Tuesday, June 4 at 7:15 p.m.
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Season pass $95
(Israel, 2023, 111 minutes) Crime/Drama
Home, nominated for nine Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film, is a portrayal of the tensions between religious power and personal ambition in an ultra-Orthodox enclave. Yair opens a computer store in his Jerusalem neighborhood, instigating the scrutiny of the rabbis who police the boundaries between the secular and the sacred. His wife’s distinguished family has doubts, but the stream of customers interested in “kosher” electronic products says otherwise. Yair’s success clashes with the gatekeepers of propriety in this insular community. Based on the personal story of writer-director Benny Fredman, Home’s dynamic performances and tremendous cinematography places us in the heart of contemporary Jerusalem.
An Evening of Short Films
Thursday, June 6 at 7:15 p.m.
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Season pass $95
FEATURING THE FOLLOWING FILMS:
Sevap/Mitvah
(United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2023, 20 minutes)
In 1941 Nazi-occupied Bosnia, a Muslim woman risks her life to save her Jewish friends and is saved by them in turn 50 years later. Inspired by a true story.
BrownWhite
(Israel, 2022, 10 minutes)
BrownWhite explores how skin color influences the development of identity. Weaving Israeli biracial kids’ life experiences with findings from academic research, the film reveals the dilemmas of identity in the blended family – a world that’s more complicated than black, white, or brown.
Mazel Tov Cocktail
(Germany, 2020, 30 minutes)
Dima is a charismatic, tough Russian-Jewish teenager living in Germany. Breaking the fourth wall he passionately and ferociously talks about his views, the Jewish condition in Germany, and about the tolerant, but hypocritical ways in which his world works.
Call Me Alvy
(United Kingdom, 2017, 10 minutes)
Brian Silver – almost 13 and preparing for Bar Mitzvah – has been obsessed with Woody Allen ever since his older brother introduced him to the film Annie Hall. Does his mother have a reason to worry, or is it just a phase?
Jack and Sam
(United States, 2023, 20 minutes)
A poignant film about two Holocaust survivors who were miraculously reunited after 80 years and are now spending time rekindling their friendship and teaching others about the dangers of hatred. NOTE: After the war, Jack Waksal moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he lived until 1992.
The Interpreter
Monday, June 10 at 7:15 p.m.
(also available virtually June 10 and 11)
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Virtual Access Ticket $12
Season pass $95
(Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, 2018, 113 minutes) Drama/Comedy
What happens when you seek revenge but find friendship? Eighty-year-old Jiri believes he has located the former SS officer who executed his parents but finds instead the man’s wastrel middle-aged son. The bittersweet odd-couple journey to meet surviving witnesses of war and to come to some resolve about history and guilt and wisdom about life and loss. Variety’s Jessica Kiang writes “the subtlety of the film’s elegant craft, the restraint of well-known Slovakian director Martin Šulík’s characterful screenplay, and the superb chemistry between the two lead actors gives The Interpreter a respectful, quiet resonance.”
All About the Levkoviches
Sunday, June 16 at 7:15 p.m.
(also virtually June 16-18)
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Virtual Access Ticket $12
Season pass $95
**First 50 dads get in FREE!! Use code DAD50 at checkout**
(Code only available for in-person screening; can only be used one time per transaction)
(Hungary, 2024, 85 minutes) Drama
“Tamas doesn’t believe in God.” “What does he believe in?” “Boxing.” Can a shiva mend a broken spirit? Tamas, a genial but gruff Budapest boxing coach, has to navigate a new relationship with his estranged son, now a Hasidic Jew living in Israel. Reunited after a tragedy, Tamas negotiates a relationship with his young grandson Ariel. Are the spirits of the departed guiding Ariel’s mischief? A moving family drama told with mordant humor and genuine warmth. “Breier’s film is masterfully acted and directed, maintaining a perfectly balanced tone between comedy and pathos.”
Remembering Gene Wilder
Tuesday, June 18
Reception at 9:30 a.m. (sponsored by Hadassah)
Film begins at 10:00 a.m.
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Season pass $95
(United States, 2023, 92 minutes) Documentary
In iconic roles from Leo Bloom to Willy Wonka, and in comedy classics like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, Gene Wilder (born Jerome Silberman) charmed audiences with his neurotic charisma and manic energy. Wilder also faced personal tragedy, losing his wife, comedian Gilda Radner, and later battling Alzheimer’s. A “disarmingly lovable documentary” award-winning filmmaker Ron Frank has gifted us a “captivating, insightful and profoundly moving” account of one of our great comic actors. With rare never-before-seen home videos and memorable scenes from our favorite Gene Wilder films, this winning documentary reveals intimate insights detailing his life and career with many astonishing surprises. An audience favorite at more than a dozen film festivals, do not miss the timeless comic genius of Wilder on the big screen.
Nathan-ism
Thursday, June 20 at 7:15 p.m.
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Season pass $95
(United States, 2023, 79 minutes) Documentary
Shortlisted for the International Documentary Association’s best films of 2023
For decades Nathan Hilu has been unable to stop drawing: his years during and after World War II, his Syrian-Jewish family, his Yiddish New York. His quirky drawings—part underground comix, part Jean-Michel Basquiat, all Nathan—have the attention of archivists, galleries, and historians. Tablet Magazine described him as the “most significant Jewish Outsider artist you’ve never heard of.” But doubts arise: was Nathan really a guard at the Nuremberg Trials? What is memory and what is invention? A compelling documentary with twists and turns of the creative spirit. Do not miss the spectacular visual kaleidoscope of urgency as Nathan races against the clock to document history.
An American Tail
Sunday, June 23 at 3:00 p.m.
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
No charge (seating is limited)
(United States, 1986, 80 minutes) Animated Family Musical
An animated cinematic feast, not to be missed on the big screen! Steven Spielberg helped produce this now-classic tale of a young mouse named Fievel Mousekewitz who, with his family, emigrate from Russia to the United States by boat after their home is destroyed by cats. Separated from his family but aided by a team of new-immigrant ethnic mice, Fievel explores the new world, facing adventure, hardship, and reunion. An entertaining, sensitive, and unforgettable tribute to the immigrant experience, An American Tail will sensitize another young generation to the challenges of many of our forebears.
In partnership with PJ Library
Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara
Sunday, June 23 at 7:15 p.m.
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Season pass $95
(Italy, France, Germany, 2023, 134 minutes) Historical Drama
A captivating depiction of the controversy that shocked the world: the 1858 forced removal of a Jewish child, Edgardo Mortara, from his family by agents of the Inquisition, approved by the Pope himself. Brought to the screen with historical accuracy and striking cinematography, Kidnapped narrates a turning point in the history of Italy in general and the Jews in Europe in particular. This is the story Steven Spielberg considered filming, now brought to life by acclaimed Italian director Marco Bellocchio. Don’t miss this full-tilt drama “with the passionate vehemence of Victor Hugo or Charles Dickens” (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian).
Less than Kosher
Tuesday, June 25 at 7:15 p.m.
(also available virtually June 25-27)
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Virtual Access Ticket $12
Season pass $95
(Canada, 2023, 67 minutes) Musical Comedy
Can the pizzazz of pop and the chutzpah of the digital age capture the spirit of tradition? At 20, Viv was a promising young singer. At 30, her failing music career has forced her back into her mother’s basement. But when this self-proclaimed “Bad Jew” lands ass-backwards into a job as a Cantor at her family’s synagogue, she’s thrown into a wild ride of illicit affairs, drug trips, family drama, self-discovery and some serious Jewish bops. It’s Shiva Baby meets A Star is Born. Modern Jewish wit and viral Hebrew Electro-Pop. Don’t miss the delightful performances which earned Less than Kosher the Audience Award at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival.
Stella. A Life.
Thursday, June 27 at 7:15 p.m.
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Season pass $95
(Germany, 2023, 121 minutes) Historical Drama
In extraordinary times, betrayal becomes ordinary. During wartime Berlin, some Jews found ways to evade Nazi round-ups, living surreptitious lives through guile and chutzpah. But standing in the eye of the storm had its risks. This powerful film is based on the true story of Stella Goldschlag, a young German Jew who became a “catcher” for the Gestapo. Stella explores how one can transform from survivor to snitch; a portrait of how ordinary souls become corrupted by dark circumstances. With award-winning actress Paula Beer as Stella, this beautifully filmed account of complexity and loyalty will stimulate audience discussions as few films have.
My Neighbor Adolf
Sunday, June 30 at 7:15 p.m.
The Neon
(130 E. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402)
Cost:
Individual Ticket $12
Season pass $95
(Israel, Poland, Colombia 2022, 96 minutes) Comedy/Drama
In the shadow of the capture of Adolf Eichmann, Polsky, a grumpy Holocaust survivor living in the countryside begins to have suspicions about his secretive new neighbor Mr. Herzog (played by German cult-actor Udo Kier). Piecing together clues and cues, Polsky goes to risky lengths to investigate. Might his portrait-painting, dog-loving nemesis be that Adolf? In order to verify, he will have to engage and entertain his neighbor, but at what costs to his loneliness? A comedy of misrecognition and misanthropy, My Neighbor Adolf is a charming and gripping black comedy, a hit for festival audiences worldwide.
Ticket Prices and Season Passes (both in-person and virtual):
• Opening Night Single Ticket $18.00 — (Opening Night film and reception)
• Individual Ticket for films $12.00 — (films other than Opening Night and An American Tail)
• Season Pass $95.00 — (includes Opening Night film and reception, and all additional films ~ click the Season Pass Button to purchase!)
Tickets also available for purchase at the door as space allows.
Questions? Contact Laura Smith, JCC Administrative Assistant, at lsmith@jfgd.net.
Virtual Tickets – Questions and Answers
For more information or help please contact Laura Smith, JCC Administrative Assistant, at lsmith@jfgd.net.
When are virtual films screenings?
Films will be available to view virtually with the following schedule
| The Interpreter | Available June 10 – June 11 |
| All About the Levkoviches | Available June 16 – June 18 |
| Less Than Kosher | Available June 25 – June 27 |
How do I play the film on my TV?
If you have an Apple TV, Chromecast (3rd gen or later), or a smart TV enabled with AirPlay or Chromecast, set your computer, mobile device or browser to “AirPlay” or “cast” to the TV device. Unlock the program on Eventive Virtual, then set your player window to full-screen using the icon at the lower right.
See our detailed instructions for our dedicated Apple TV and Roku apps below.
Chromecast will work on select Android devices, see instructions above. Chromecast on iOS devices are not compatible with the Eventive platform.
Important note: Due to content protection restrictions, the Screen Mirroring feature on Smart TVs and other devices cannot be used. Many browsers built into Smart TVs and other devices will NOT allow protected content to play.
You can also directly connect a laptop or computer using an HDMI cable by doing the following:
- Make sure your computer is close enough to your Television for the HDMI cable to reach between them safely.
- Connect one end of the HDMI cable into an available HDMI port on the TV. Take note of the HDMI input number it is being connected to.
- Plug the other end of the cable into your laptop’s HDMI out port
- Set the TV to the HDMI Input port that the computer is connected to using the source or display button on your TV remote.
- If your computer’s display does not automatically appear on your television screen, you may need to have the computer manually detect the display.
- Windows: Right-click on the desktop > Display Settings > Click Detect > Click the “Multiple displays” drop-down box and select “Duplicate these displays”) > Click Apply.
- Mac: Go to the Apple Menu > choose System Preferences > Choose the “Displays” panel > Hold down the “Option” key to show the “Detect Displays” button – note that it replaces the ‘Gather Windows’ button > Click on “Detect Displays” while holding down Option to use the function as intended.
I’m seeing a black screen where the film should be, but audio plays normally.
If you are using an external display, try disconnecting the display. Your display may not support the encryption necessary to securely stream your content. If you cannot detach the external display and are using Safari on a Mac, try switching to Google Chrome. If you are on a mobile device, try letting the film play for 15 seconds.
My film won’t play! (General troubleshooting steps)
Please confirm that you are not on a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Eventive’s content protection protocol does not allow VPN access.
Are you logged in with the correct account? Please check your login status at the upper right of the Eventive window. If you are logged in you will see a circle with the initials of the account holder. To switch accounts, click on the circle and select “sign out”, then login (using email address or facebook login) to the preferred account.
If you are not logged in, you’ll see the word “login” at the upper right of the window. Click “login” and enter the desired account credentials.
You may also login directly from the order pop-up if you click “unlock movie” while logged out.
If all you see in the player window is a black screen, please click or tap on the window to activate the player controls.
How do I use the Eventive TV app on my Apple TV device?
Please download the “Eventive TV” app from the Apple TV App Store (accessible via your TV). You must have at least a generation 4 Apple TV to access the App Store.
When you open the app for the first time you’ll see an activation code. On another device, please navigate to watch.eventive.org/tv, then login if necessary and use the code to connect your account. Now, select from the available channels on the Eventive Apple TV app to begin watching. All of your unlocked content will be available on the app. If a program has not already been unlocked, you’ll have to unlock it on another device such as a laptop or mobile device first.
If you ever need to re-activate the TV app, you can select TV app setup by hovering over the login ID circle at the upper right of the device screen.
How do I access the Eventive TV app on Fire TV or Firestick?
Open your Firestick or Fire TV app and navigate to the magnifying glass icon to search. Enter EVENTIVE TV in the search field and select EVENTIVE TV when it appears, next press the down button on your remote to navigate to “Apps and Games” where you will find the EVENTIVE TV app. You can also add the Eventive TV app to your Amazon Fire TV via the Amazon website by clicking here.
Select the app and install on your device. Once installed you will then see a 6 character code you will enter into your account settings at watch.eventive.org/tv
Once you have entered the code your Fire TV will show all of the content you have unlocked for viewing via another device such as a laptop or mobile device.
How do I access the Eventive TV channel on Roku?
Search for “Eventive TV” in the Roku Channel Store on your Roku. You can also add the Eventive TV app to your Roku via the Roku website by clicking here.
Once you have installed the app, open it and follow the instructions to login. All of your unlocked content will be available on the app. If a program has not already been unlocked, you’ll have to unlock it on another device such as a laptop or mobile device first.
Thank you to our 2024 Film Festival Sponsors!
hidden to close toggle
Studio Executive ($2,500+)
Sam Levin Foundation
Bernard Rabinowitz
hidden to close toggle
Actor ($250+)
Ruth and Enrique Ellenbogen
Gary and Irene Fishbein
Marni Flagel
A Friend
David and Lynn Goldenberg
Debby and Bob Goldenberg
Linda and Steve Horenstein
Marsha and Joseph Johnston
Mark and Helen Jones
Marc Katz and Julie Liss-Katz
Ed and Marcia Kress
Judy Lipton
Carole and Donald Marger
Jim Nathanson
Marlene and Terry Pinsky
Alice and Burt Saidel
Ann Schenking and Michael Herrlein
Judy Schwartzman and Michael Jaffe
Norman and Mary Rita Weissman
Peter and Joan Wells
hidden to close toggle
Director ($1,000+)
Douglas Hauer and Jack Gilad
Irvin and Gayle Moscowitz
hidden to close toggle
Supporting Actor ($100+)
Joan R. Ackerman
Beth Adelman
Matt and Elaine Arnovitz
Ann and Skip Becker
Jack and Maryann Bernstein
Ken and Lisa Blum
Stanley and Connie Blum
Buck Run Doors & Hardware, Inc.
Libby and Ken Elbaum
Adam and Tara Feiner
Lynn Foster
Bella Freeman
Neil D. Friedman
Felix Garfunkel
Shelley and Kim Goldenberg
Arlene Graham
Judi and George Grampp
Garry and Mindy Greene
Jane and Gary Hochstein
Meredith Moss Levinson
Cheryl and Franklin Lewis
The Levy Family
Beverly A. Louis
Judy D. McCormick
Linda Novak and Jerry Kuhr
Elliot Ratzman
Robert and Suzanne Thum
Mack VanAllen and Patricia Drake
Joni and Ralph Watson
Donald and Caryl Weckstein
Barbara and Jim Weprin
hidden to close toggle
Screen Writer ($500+)
Renate Frydman
Michael and Rochelle (z”l) Goldstein
Susan and Joe Gruenberg
Lisa Hanauer and Sue Spiegel
Robert and Vicky Heuman
Gary M. Holstine – Stifel Investments
Susan and David Joffe
Barbara Mendelson
Andrea Raizen
Stephen Renas
The Rubi Girls
hidden to close toggle
Crew ($18+)
Barbara Blauman
Frieda Blum
Dena Briskin
Eva Clair
Judy and Alan Chesen
Phil and Louisa Dreety
Judith B. Fergus
Paula Gessiness
Helene Gordon
Fannie Groveman
Hindy Gruber
Henry Guggenheimer
Helen Ostreicher Halcomb
Neil Katz and Karin Hirschkatz
Jon Holt
Kim and Candy Kwiatek
Teri Clark Linden
Edie Pequignot
Cherie Rosenstein
Nick Schmall and Bobbie Weaver
Celia and Jeff Shulman
Laura K. Smith
The 2024 Dayton Jewish Film Festival is dedicated in memory of David London ~ longtime Film Festival committee member and friend.
The 2024 Dayton Jewish Film Festival is dedicated in memory of David London ~ longtime Film Festival committee member and friend.
2024 Dayton Jewish International Film Fest Committee
Elliot Ratzman – Chair
Judy Schwartzman – Past Chair
Jack Bernstein
Connie Blum
Mike Caruso
Alan Chesen
Enrique Ellenbogen
Ruth Ellenbogen
Marc Jacob, JCC Executive Director
Laura Smith, JCC Administrative Assistant
Renate Frydman
Felix Garfunkel
Michael Goldstein
Michael Herrlein
Gary Hochstein
Susan Joffe
Marc Katz
Ryan Levin
Meredith Levinson
Gayle Moscowitz
Bernie Rabinowitz
Andrea Raizen
Steve Renas
Marci Vandersluis
