The Michiana Jewish Film Festival offers superb, cutting-edge, and award-winning films from around the world to the Michiana region for a multifaceted exploration of Jewish identity, community, culture, and history.

Festival Lineup:

Monday, May 13, 2024

5:30 PM: The Catskills

Directed by Lex Gillespie

Evoking the golden era of the Borscht Belt, this affectionate and nostalgic homage vibrantly showcases the humor, heritage, and spirit of the Jewish-American saga at the iconic Catskills summer resorts. Over the 20th century, the mountains north of New York City became lively havens for Jewish families, both working-class and affluent, famed for lavish buffets and nightclubs that fostered rising comic and musical talent. Entertaining anecdotes from performers, waiters, and resort guests, plus a wealth of archival material, evoke the vintage spirit of these iconic retreats, symbols of Yiddishkeit heritage and refuges from antisemitism. This delightful time capsule highlights the Catskills as a cultural touchstone and a crucible of the Jewish-American saga.

8:00 PM: Kidnapped

Directed by Marco Bellocchio

This provocative, richly staged period drama, set in 19th-century Italy and based on true events, re-counts the abduction and forced Christian conversion of a Jewish boy by Papal decree, igniting global outrage. In 1858 Bologna, young Edgardo (Enea Sala) is taken from his family and sent to Rome to become Catholic. Despite his parents' desperate pleas and public furor, Pope Pius IX (Paolo Pierobon) stands firm. The struggle to reclaim their son echoes Italy's burgeoning nationalism and challenges the Vatican's power. Directed by the legendary Marco Bellocchio, this epic uncovers a dark chapter of tyranny in the Church, artfully contrasting clashes of faith with a nation teetering on revolu-tion.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

5:30 PM: All About the Levkoviches

Directed by Ádám Breier

An aging boxing coach's affecting journey of reconciliation unfolds in contemporary Hungary as he reu-nites with his estranged offspring after a family tragedy. Following his wife's unexpected passing, Mr. Levkovich reaches out to his Orthodox son, now living in Israel, unearthing old wounds and religious discord. The funeral reignites familial tensions, with the stubborn atheist father seeking peace with his devout son and endearing young grandson. In shared sorrow, they confront longstanding disputes and seek healing, inspired by the memory of Mrs. Levkovich, once the unifying force in their lives. This mul-tigenerational dramedy poignantly explores the complexities of family, faith, and forgiveness, brought to life by a talented ensemble cast.

8:00 PM: Seven Blessings

Directed by Ayelet Menahemi

In this bittersweet dramedy sweeping the Israeli Academy Awards with 10 wins, including Best Film, a boisterous Moroccan-Jewish clan reunites for a cross-cultural wedding that surfaces festering se-crets. In early ‘90s Jerusalem, a diverse family celebrates a Moroccan-Jewish bride and French-Ashkenazi groom’s union, infusing the occasion with joy, laughter, and a vibrant mix of languages. Yet, as the Seven Blessings ritual unfolds—a week of festive meals honoring the newlyweds—the facade cracks, exposing deep-seated wounds rooted in ancient tradition. With a top Israeli cast and inspired by the filmmaker's multiethnic background, this authentic, enveloping tale delves into a complex web of relationships, culture, and forgiveness amid clashing interpretations of shared memories.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

5:30 PM: Vishniac

Directed by Laura Bialis

Unveiling the man behind the lens, this exquisite photobiography honors a renowned Russian-American polymath, immortalized by haunting photos of 20th-century Eastern European Jewry. From vibrant Berlin streets to simple shtetl life, Roman Vishniac's pre-war black-and-white images capture the 1930s with grainy realism, a poignant pictorial record of soon-to-be-obliterated Jewish communities. Also a scientist, teacher, and art aficionado, he significantly advanced biology and microscopic photography. Mirroring his enigmatic persona, daughter Mara, the custodian of his work, candidly relates their fraught yet devoted history. Iconic photos and cinematic reenactments emphasize the profound significance of historical memory and Vishniac's contributions as a preserver of the past.

8:00 PM: The Monkey House

Directed by Avi Nesher

Set in the 1980s, this epic tale revolves around Amitay, a struggling writer living near a monkey park from which the movie gets its name. Envious of his more celebrated colleagues and yearning for Tamar, his childhood love now widowed, Amitay conceives a plan to revive his literary reputation. To orchestrate this comeback, he must find a young and ambitious researcher, or at least someone capa-ble of pretending to be one. Enter Margo, a failed actress residing at her sister's home, who eagerly seizes this mysterious job opportunity. So begins the unlikely meeting of a desperate author and an eccentric young woman, a fateful encounter destined to change both of their lives.

Thursday, May 16, 2024

5:30 PM: Shari and Lamb Chop

Directed by Lisa D'Apolito

Hailing from a Jewish Bronx family, Shari Lewis rose from playful beginnings in the ‘50s with her engaging children's variety shows, leading to the debut of iconic Lamb Chop on Captain Kangaroo. Over the course of her extraordinary career, she amassed an impressive collection of accolades, including 13 Emmys and a Peabody, and authored 60+ children's books, becoming an adored star recognized for her sundry talents as a ventriloquist, singer, dancer, and even a magician. In a male-dominated industry, Lewis, a spunky perfectionist, transformed children's television with an inno-vative, empowering style, and through Lamb Chop, voiced new notions for the women of her time. Despite setbacks, including the cancellation of her NBC shows and health challenges, Lewis demonstrated resilience and enduring relevance.

8:00 PM: Running on Sand

Directed by Adar Shafran

In this feel-good dramedy of resilience and belonging, a young Eritrean refugee on the brink of depor-tation is mistaken for a professional soccer player, bringing hope to a struggling Israeli team. Dodging immigration authorities at the airport, asylum seeker Aumari is erroneously assumed by Maccabi Net-anya fans to be a Nigerian soccer star. With no sporting talent but hailed as a hero, he unites and up-lifts the floundering squad, while hiding his true identity. Amid their quest for victory, he finds himself falling for the team owner's endearing daughter, all while risking exposure. Starring Congo-born Chancela Mongoza and other African migrant actors, this Israeli Academy Award Best Film nominee sweetly melds humor and heart, shedding light on the unseen and unheard in Israeli society.

Fest Date: May 13 - 16, 2024

Location: DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, 100 Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556

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