The landmark 25th edition of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is set to happen this February. The festival will explore the global Jewish experience and its connections to the world’s diverse communities. The AJFF will be held in select metro area theatres in Atlanta from February 19 to March 6, and select films will be available for streaming between March 7 and 16.
Highlights
- The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival 2025 will be conducting its landmark 25th edition this year.
- The festival will be a celebration of Jewish Experiences and explore the interaction of the people with the larger world.
- The event will take place across the six venues, and select movies will also be available for streaming.
AJFF – A Celebration of the Diversity of Jewish Experiences
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will showcase 50 feature films, which include 22 documentaries and 28 narrative works. This year’s film lineup not only showcases stories that deeply connect with Jewish life but also challenges and expands the definition of a ‘Jewish’ film.
The films will cover LGBTQIA+ stories, women’s empowerment, intersectionality, and global conflicts. That said, the festival welcomes audiences across various backgrounds, as it does not have an agenda of political or religious advocacy. The full list of films that will be presented at the festival is available.
The festival’s Opening night screening will feature the Atlanta Premiere of “Bad Shabbos.” During the festival, the world premiere of Charles Grodin: Rebel with a Cause and the North American Premiere of Eid will also happen. AJFF will also celebrate Jerry Lewis’s brilliance with two special screenings: the Southeast premiere of the 2024 documentary “From Darkness to Light” and a digitally restored version of “The Bellboy.”
Young Professionals Night on February 22 will be a special 20th-anniversary screening of “When Do We Eat?” followed by a conversation with director Salvador Litvak and writer Nina Litvak. The Field Trip Screening on February 27 will bring students across metro Atlanta to attend the Atlanta premiere of Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire, featuring a discussion with director Oren Rudavsky. Closing Night & Awards Show on March 5 will celebrate the festival finale with Jury Awards, a dessert reception, and the Atlanta premiere of Cheers to Life with cast and crew.
Notable artists and creatives from the film industry will make appearances at various times throughout the festival. Some of the talents that can expected at the festival are Janis Ian (Janis Ian: Breaking Silence), Radu Mihăileanu (Live and Become), Sandi Simcha DuBowski (Sabbath Queen), Steven Pressman (Moses Ezekiel: Portrait of a Lost Artist), Jonathan Gruber and Matthew Lieberman (Centered: Joe Lieberman) and Tom Nesher (Come Closer).
Kenny Blank, executive and artistic director of AJFF, said that this milestone edition of the festival represents a quarter-century of fostering connections and understanding through the transformative power of cinema. The lineup of the films will portray the intersection of Jewish experiences with the broader world and create a space for meaningful dialogue and connection between communities, he added. He also said that the organizers take pride in offering a Festival that is inclusive, welcoming, and reflective of our shared humanity.
Venues
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will happen across the following venues:
- Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
- The Springs Cinema & Taphouse
- Georgia Theatre Company Merchants Walk
- The Plaza Theatre
- Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center
- Tara Theatre
Opening Night and Other Special Events
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Opening Night Gala will happen at 5 PM on February 19. The gala will be exclusive to sponsors, members, and guests and will feature drinks and bites from Atlanta’s top chefs. The Film screening of “Bad Shabbos” for opening night will commence at 7:30 PM.
Schedule and Tickets
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival’s schedule is on the official website. Attendees can check it and choose the films they want to see.
Tickets for all the screenings are being sold online and are available to purchase now.
Attendees of the festival may download the AJFF app to have easier access to all the information they need.
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival remains a vital platform for storytelling, fostering cultural understanding through cinema. A diverse range of films are showcased, exploring Jewish life, history, and identity but also embracing universal themes. The richness of Jewish experiences and the power of film to connect, educate, and inspire are celebrated at this festival.
