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Boulder Jewish Film Festival celebrates show biz, female accomplishment, and heroes of all kinds
The Boulder Jewish Film Festival returns to the Dairy Arts Center October 25th to November 1st for an eight-day exploration of the Jewish experience on screen. Tickets go on sale October 9 at thedairy.org.
Watch our trailer now!
Despite the exciting diversity of subjects, genres, styles and tones in our slate of films this year, there are an uncommon number of shared thematic concerns among our varied titles. Several connected themes reverberate through our features and documentaries, bio pics, dramas and comedies.
- The prominent role Jews have played in popular culture, reflecting and shaping our cultural landscape.
- Female empowerment and accomplishment.
- Moral and physical courage and the nature of heroism.
- The bond between parents and children and the lengths a parent will go to protect their child.
Join us as we celebrate Jewish life and delve into issues that unite us all.
“Lucky Star” – Community Centerpiece
Sunday, October 25 at Noon
Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Feature/90 minutes/In French/2026
Directed by Pascal Elbé
An accidental French Army deserter’s harebrained scheme to save himself leads to a series of misadventures that turn ever darker. In this serio-comic farce, a bumbling French buffoon pretends to be Jewish to escape Nazi-occupied France. But as he throws his lot in with a group of Jews desperate to reach the Free Zone, he is forced to confront his own prejudices as well as his moral cowardice, eventually stumbling upon his own innate sense of decency. Using humor to confront the harsh realities of life in 1940, “Lucky Star” explores the theme of personal responsibility through its unlikely but not unlikeable hero. Selected by the festival’s Advisory Committee.
“Once Upon My Mother“
Sunday, October 25 at 3 p.m.
Thursday, October 29 at Noon
Feature/102 minutes/In French/2025
Directed by Ken Scott
The enduring strength of a French Moroccan mother’s love makes her a zealous advocate for her disabled son in this high-spirited story of determination and faith. Recently selected by Jewish film festival directors across the world as their favorite film of the year, this heartwarming French drama also won more audience awards than any other title this year. Based on a true story that begins in 1960s Paris and spans decades of challenges and miracles, this big-hearted, exuberant crowd-pleaser was a huge hit at the French box office. Blending humor and pathos, “Once Upon My Mother” both celebrates and questions the extreme lengths parents will go to determine their children’s future.
Short Film Program
Sunday, October 25 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 28 at 3 p.m.
You will laugh, you will cry as you experience the best in short-form cinema, including Oscar-nominated documentaries, animation, and narratives from France, England, Israel and the U.S. Join us for this popular program curated by Judith Dack and the shorts selection committee.
“Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold“
With Director Abby Ginzberg in person
Monday, October 26 at Noon and 3 pm
Documentary/80 minutes/In English/2025
Narrated by Tovah Feldshuh
When the founder of Hadassah died in 1945 at the age of 84 – in the same Hadassah Hospital she helped to build in Jerusalem – the New York Times obituary described her as “the most brilliant woman in America.” Founded in 1912, Hadassah recruited Jewish American women to upgrade health care in Palestine, funded hospitals, a medical school, dental facilities, X-ray clinics, infant welfare stations, soup kitchens and other services for its Jewish and Arab inhabitants. An educator, essayist, editor, Zionist organizer, feminist, politician, and social activist, Szold was a deeply ethical yet pragmatic American devoted to improving life in the nascent state. Although Szold never married or had children, Israel celebrates Mother’s Day on the day that Szold died, in honor of the 30,000 children she rescued from Nazi Europe. Szold continues to be revered as the woman who gave birth to the Jewish homeland.
Filmmaker Abby Ginzberg, a Peabody Award-winning director, has been producing compelling documentaries about the struggle for justice and women’s empowerment for over 30 years. She is the granddaughter of Szold’s first love, Louis Ginzberg, and grew up hearing stories of Szold’s impact.
Opening Night Reception with live music by Jubilee Creek Klezmer
Monday, October 26 at 5 p.m.
“Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthrie“
Monday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Documentary/89 minutes/In English/2026
Directed by Steven Pressman
On the surface, it seemed an unlikely match. Woody Guthrie was a rough-hewn balladeer from Oklahoma who tramped across the country singing his original protest songs. Aliza Greenblatt, who arrived in America from Bessarabia in 1900, was deeply involved in Zionist and Jewish cultural organizations and was already a prominent Yiddish poet when her daughter married the famous folk singer. United by a love of music and the political causes of social justice and anti-fascism, the pair became fast friends and collaborators. Guthrie also fell in love with Jewish culture and observance, as this surprising and engaging documentary from Steven Pressman (“The Levys of Monticello”) reveals through interviews with his children, Arlo and Nora Guthrie.
Join us for a pre-screening reception featuring the foods Aliza would have served her son-in-law in her Coney Island home.
“The Sea“
Tuesday, October 27 at 3 p.m.
Wednesday, October 28 at noon
Feature/93 minutes/In Hebrew/2025
Written and directed by Shai Carmeli-Pollak
Left behind when his schoolmates leave for a class trip to the Mediterranean, a young Palestinian boy impetuously sets off on his own as his father, an undocumented laborer working in Israel, frantically tries to avert disaster. This beautifully crafted and deeply human tale of a father–son odyssey generated political controversy when it swept the 2025 Israeli Oscars, winning best picture, actor, supporting actor and screenplay. An Israeli-Palestinian collaboration filmed just before the Hamas atrocities of October 7, the tender yet provocative drama has garnered wide acclaim for its sensitive handling of the painful realities of the occupation for both Israelis and Palestinians.
“The Road Between Us“
Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m.
Documentary/95 minutes/In English/2026
Directed by Barry Avrich
You may remember the incredible news story that emerged shortly after the October 7 massacre. Hearing about the attack, retired Israel Defense Force General Noam Tibon jumped in his jeep with his pistol and his wife and headed to Kibbutz Nahal Oz to rescue their son, who was trapped in his safe room with his wife and children, surrounded by gunfire. Even more incredibly, he succeeded in rescuing them – and others. This harrowing and inspiring effort, a tribute to parental devotion and personal courage, makes for a real-life, white-knuckle, apolitical thriller that takes an unflinching look at the dangerous reality of life in Israel.
“To Kill a Nazi“
Thursday, October 29 at 3 p.m.
Documentary/101minutes/In French, English, Hebrew/2026
Directed by Boaz Dvir
Narrated by Jason Alexander
In this mindboggling true story, an unsung hero has a chance encounter with fate that inspires an historic act of daring. Michel Cojot, a French businessman tormented by his father’s murder at Auschwitz, is bent on revenge but fails to act when he has his chance. But one year later, he finds himself aboard a plane hijacked by terrorists who force the pilot to land at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. There, he uses his wits, cool resolve and negotiating skills, playing a pivotal role in the famous rescue operation – at great risk to himself and his young son. An astounding tale of redemption and valor, layered with a poignant story of family healing.
“Rosenthal: The Great Showman“
Thursday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Feature/92 minutes/In German/2025
Directed by Oliver Haffner
In 1978, Hans Rosenthal is Germany’s most popular entertainer, a beloved game show host who brought joy to millions. He embodies cheerful optimism for a nation eager to move forward. What his adoring public does not know is that he is Jewish and privately nursing deep wounds from surviving the Holocaust. The great showman faces a moral dilemma when the demands of his career and his Jewish heritage come into conflict. Based on a true story, this German biographical drama portrays a man caught between public popularity and private conscience, an eager-to-please performer facing an agonizing moment of truth.
“A Burning Man“
Friday, October 30 at noon
Feature/103 minutes/In Hebrew/2026
Written and directed by Eyal Halfon
Any parent with a child serving in the military during times of conflict can be expected to experience anxiety and even a sense of dread over their loved one’s safety. In Israel, where military service is mandatory, this excruciating experience is ubiquitous. Filmmaker Eyal Halfon was inspired to create a film that reflected his paternal protective instinct when his eldest son joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In this quiet fable, a father drops his son off at a military base in the Negev. Pausing under an acacia tree just outside the gates of the compound where his son may be preparing for battle, he becomes paralyzed by a profound sense of helplessness. Yonah, beautifully played by acclaimed actor Shai Avivi, is simply unable to leave. Nearby, a rave party all too reminiscent of the Nova Music Festival is about to take place. Winner of the Best Israeli Feature Award and the Best Actor Award at the Haifa International Film Festival, “A Burning Man” takes place almost entirely in one location. Yonah takes comfort in the kindness of a series of passing strangers – who represent a cross section of Israeli society – but there is no cure for the ache in his fearful heart.
Followed by a panel discussion with local parents with children serving in the IDF.
“Tovah“
Friday, October 30 at 3 p.m.
Documentary/58 minutes/In English/2026
Directed by David Serero
Tovah Feldshuh has been a major Broadway star for more than fifty years, earning four Tony Award nominations and two Emmy Award nominations, and has appeared in some 30 films, most recently starring opposite Dustin Hoffman in “Tuner.” Her numerous television appearances include her current role in the hit Netflix show, “Nobody Wants This.” She wowed audiences with her portrayal of Israel’s prime minister in the one-woman show “Golda’s Balcony.” But, as this dazzling documentary reveals, Tovah is much more than an actress extraordinaire. Her commitment to complex, intelligent, and powerful female narratives is legendary. A woman of principle, a cultural icon, and a Jewish force to be reckoned with both on and off screen, Tovah is charming and feisty, a larger-than-life dynamo who richly deserves to be celebrated. Prepare to fall in love.
“You Had to Be There”
Saturday, October 31 at 3 p.m.
Sunday, November 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Documentary/98 minutes/In English/2025
Directed by Nick Davis
In 1972, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy and Martin Short were among a group of unknown performers who were serendipitously cast in the Toronto production of a far-out hippie musical about Jesus. Not only were these cast members about to become major comedy stars, but comedy itself was about to be radically transformed by Second City and Saturday Night Live, which tickled the fancy of young audiences eager for a new, outrageous, improvisational style of humor. A delightful documentary about comedy, “You Had to Be There” also explores the cultural phenomenon of “Godspell,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, featuring Jesus as a clown and his disciples as flower children, with no real plot and a script drawn almost exclusively from the Book of Matthew. The clever cavorting, miming and antics of the very funny people cast in the oddball musical made it a surprise hit. Come prepared to laugh as we open a comedy time capsule sealed for more than fifty years.
“We Met at Grossinger’s“
Saturday, October 31 at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 1 at noon
Documentary/104 minutes/In English/2026
Directed by Paula Eiselt
Built and run by three generations of trailblazing women, the Catskills’ premier resort became the epicenter of American Jewish life, an embodiment of Jewish values, and a breeding ground for a generation of Jewish comics. The real-life inspiration for “Dirty Dancing,” it accommodated 1,000 guests a day and featured a 27-hole golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis, boating, horseback riding, flying lessons on its private airstrip, dancing – and in the winter skiing, sledding and skating – a mountain of food, around-the-clock entertainment, and the best singers and comics in the world. This nostalgic ode to the bygone glory of Grossinger’s is above all a homage to Jennie Grossinger, whose charm, hospitality and business acumen were crucial to the resort’s unrivaled success. Jennie was also a champion of civil rights who used her position to welcome African American athletes and performers, who became personal friends. The Catskill resorts were created to serve the needs of Jews excluded from American life. By welcoming a wide range of celebrities and politicians, Grossinger’s served as a model of inclusion that reflected and shaped a changing America.
“Reading Lolita in Tehran“
Sunday, November 1 at 3 p.m.
Feature/107 minutes/In Farsi/2025
Directed by Eran Riklis
This stirring adaptation of Azar Nafisi’s 2003 memoir, which spent 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, is a testament to resilience, resistance and courage. Acclaimed Israeli director Eran Riklis worked with prominent Iranian actors living in exile to create this exploration of female solidarity in post-Revolutionary Iran. The taut drama chronicles the literature professor’s decision to host a secret book salon in her living room, where her female students read banned Western classics, drawing inspiration from the heroines of Nabokov, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James and Jane Austen. As the Islamic regime tightens its grip on intellectual freedom, this clandestine encounter with transformative stories stokes the ambitions of women enduring misogyny, censorship and religious extremism. The film takes place over two decades, starting in 1979, but could not be more relevant today. “Reading Lolita in Tehran” co-stars Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who co-directed and co-starred in last year’s Audience Award winner, “Tatami.”
