When it comes to local film events, none are bigger than the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF). Known for its programming and its numerous guests, the festival always celebrates diversity, and has an impressive slate of LGBTQ+ films for the 2025 event.
“Sabbath Queen” is one of the most high-profile offerings. The film premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, and out director Sandi Simcha DuBowski is well-known for his acclaimed 2001 film “Trembling Before G-d.”
Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, the subject of the documentary, is a spiritual leader, a father, a drag queen, and so much more. DuBowski met Lau-Lavie when he was in Jerusalem making “Trembling Before G-d,” and asked him to be in the film. Lau-Lavie wasn’t able to appear, but the two became friends, building a trust and deep bond. Some time after, they began shooting “Sabbath Queen.” It’s a project more than 20 years in the making.
During that time, DuBowski was intent on learning about his subject and making sure he captured everything that made him who he is.
“It was about deep listening and about being patient, running an ultra-marathon but not even knowing I was going to run a marathon,” DuBowski said. “It was allowing a story and life to unfold before my eyes and in some ways – I am his official biographer. He has his Radical Faerie queer life, he is a queer bio gay dad, he has this intense Holocaust history and is from 38 generations of rabbis. He has really forged a difficult and unique path that came out of a lot of tough religious pressure. He’s from a dynasty – they are like the Kennedys of Judaism. There are so many dimensions of his kaleidoscopic identity that it took a long time to be able to touch all the different worlds he is part of.”
The director spent six years editing the film, trying to figure out how to weave it all together. In total, he had 1,800 hours of original footage and 1,100 hours of archival footage.
At screenings all over the world since Tribeca, DuBowski has seen a convergence of positivity and hope and people being inspired by the tenacity of Lau-Lavie’s struggle. The director finds the film very non-binary.
“There is something about it that is really questioning a lot of our polarization and toxicity that we are living in now, where we are under attack – queer people, trans folks,” he said. “The patriarchy is rearing its ugly head. I think there is a roadmap here to spirituality and politics to a way of life that is about freedom and liberation. I can see audiences are so raw and tender now as I travel this around, whether it’s post-Oct 7, post-election, the fires in Los Angeles. There is so much on people’s shoulders.”
DuBowski and Lau-Lavie will be present for the AJFF screening on Feb. 23.
Another standout AJFF feature is Tom Nesher’s “Come Closer,” screening Feb. 22. It was Israeli’s official submission for the 97th annual Academy Awards and was nominated for 13 Israeli Academy Awards, taking home wins for Best Film and Best Director.
In the film, Eden (Lia Elalouf) is a young woman who is close to her brother Nati (Ido Tako). When Nati dies unexpectedly, Eden realizes there are things she did not know about Nati, such as his secret girlfriend Maya (Noa Koler). Eden hunts Maya down and begins a friendship that goes a bit deeper than either anticipated.
“Come Closer” is a tale of grief and understanding. Elalouf makes her debut, and Eden is a fascinating character. The bond between the two women isn’t easy to describe. Is it a real attraction, or healing with someone who understands what the other is going through? The film is alternately sad and disturbing, enhanced by a talented ensemble and a script that goes some unexpected places.
Another big title at this year’s AJFF is Varda Bar-Kar’s documentary “Janis Ian: Breaking Silence,” which is playing on Feb. 26 with Ian in attendance. The closing night film, Cris D’Amato’s “Cheers to Life,” also features LGBTQ+ themes, and is playing March 5.
Tickets for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival are on sale now. The festival runs from Feb. 19 to March 16.