Jewish Film Festival Berlin Brandenburg Unveils 2025 Lineup

by

On Thursday, the 31st Berlin Brandenburg Jewish Film Festival (JFBB), Germany’s biggest Jewish film event, revealed its program, highlighting independent films from Israel, America, and Europe that showcase Jewish stories from a worldwide angle.

The festival begins on May 6th, starting with Daniel Robbins’ “Bad Shabbos,” a dark comedy revolving around an unruly New York Shabbat dinner that was first shown at Tribeca last year and stars Kyra Sedgwick, David Paymer, and Method Man. Other notable features include Dani Rosenberg’s “Of Dogs and Men,” a docudrama exploring the aftermath of October 7th, following a woman who goes back to her kibbutz mere weeks after the attacks in search of her lost dog; and Iveta Grófová’s “The Hungarian Dressmaker,” which tells the story of a Hungarian widow hiding a Jewish boy from a fascist militia. This film was Slovakia’s submission to the 2025 Oscars for the best international feature category.

Once again, Israeli cinema graces the JFFB with a diverse selection this year. Highlighted features include Maya Dreifuss’ “Highway 65”, where a small-town police officer delves into a local mystery, and Tom Nesher’s “Come Closer”, which follows the journey of a young woman as she navigates her grief following her brother’s demise. Additionally, “Eid” from Yousef Abo Madegem tells the compelling story of a Bedouin man challenging societal norms and traditions, marking it as the first Israeli feature directed by a Bedouin filmmaker.

At the documentary competition, the JFFB plans to showcase three films: “Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny,” directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jasmila Žbanić (known for “Quo Vadis, Aida?”), which tells the story of Shoah survivor and entrepreneur Emerik Blum; “Jacob De Haan: A Voice Out of Time,” directed by Zvi Landsman, which delves into the life and assassination of Jewish, gay, pacifist poet Jacob De Haan, who was killed by Zionist paramilitaries; and “Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse,” directed by Molly Bernstein and Philip Dolin, offering insights into the life and career of renowned graphic novelist Art Spiegelman, author of “Maus.

For years, I’ve been an avid attendee of the Jewish Film Festival Berlin (JFFB), a cherished institution within the German-Jewish community and beyond. However, recent events – the tragic October 7 attacks and the escalation of the Israeli-Gaza conflict – have given this festival a renewed importance.

Although the JFFB primarily showcases films, it’s become clear that discussions on the surge of antisemitism in Europe, debates about accusations of war crimes against Israel in Gaza, and other related political matters will inevitably arise. These are crucial conversations that need to be had, even as we immerse ourselves in the power of film.

The 2025 JFFB event takes place from May 6th to 11th, spanning both Berlin and Brandenburg. On April 15th, you can find the complete schedule at jfbb.info.

Read More

2025-04-10 10:54