The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) has released the lineup for its 25th anniversary festival, which kicks off Feb. 19 and runs through March 16.
According to a press release, this year the festival includes 50 features and 14 short films. AJFF will also be hosting an “Insider Preview” event on Jan. 14 at The Temple at 1589 Peachtree Street to celebrate the release of the lineup.
The festival’s opening night will take place on Feb. 19 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre with the Atlanta premiere of “Bad Shabbos,” a comedy about a Shabbat dinner descending into chaos. The opening night screening will include appearances from stars Kyra Sedgwick, Jon Bass, Method Man, Milayna Vayntrub, Meghan Leathers, and Theo Taplitz, as well as writer/director Daniel Robbins.
The lineup this year includes the world premiere of “Charles Grodin: Rebel with a Cause,” a new documentary about the life of the actor and comedian who passed away in 2021. It also includes the North American premiere of “Eid,” which comes from Bedouin filmmaker Yousef Abo Madegem.
This year, AJFF is launching the Kenny Blank Vision Initiative, which aims to change the festival from a yearly event into a “year-round hub for film, education, and industry leadership,” according to the release. The initiative also includes the launch of a filmmaker fund.
“Our 25th anniversary represents a quarter-century of fostering connections and understanding through the transformative power of cinema,” Blank said in the release. “This year’s lineup not only highlights stories that resonate deeply with Jewish life but also redefines what it means to be a ‘Jewish’ film. It’s about the intersection of Jewish experiences with the broader world, creating space for meaningful dialogue and connection between communities.”
Other movies playing at the festival include the Brazilian film “Cheers to Life,” the documentary “Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire,” and the documentary “From Darkness to Light,” which digs into the mystery behind comedian Jerry Lewis’ lost film “The Day the Clown Cried.”
In addition to in-person screenings at theaters such as Springs Cinema & Taphouse, the Plaza Theatre, and the Tara Theatre, there will be a 10-day streaming window for select films from March 7-16. Twenty-one features and 14 shorts will be available for streaming.
For a look at the full lineup and for more information on tickets, you can visit AJFF’s website.
