The Challenge of Programming the Boulder Jewish Film Festival After October 7

Last year, tickets to the Boulder Jewish Film Festival went on sale on October 6^th. The next day, Jews were subjected to the worst violence since the Holocaust, rendering “Never Again” meaningless.

While staggering in its brutality, the Hamas attack was not entirely unexpected. But the tidal wave of antisemitism unleashed by the assault and the widespread support for those who perpetrated the massacre came as a complete shock.

The Jewish community was still reeling when the festival took place a month after the October 7 massacre, and the films that had been programmed months earlier took on new meaning as audiences viewed each one through a horrifying new prism.

This year, as tragic and traumatic events continued to unfold, film festival programmers have grappled with difficult decisions about how to respond to the crisis – what to show and what not to show.

As Elie Weisel famously said of the Holocaust: “How can we talk about it? How can we not talk about it?”

Serious soul searching and much conversation took place among those of us planning festivals. All of us eagerly sought out positive, warm-spirited titles that illustrate our shared humanity and offer audiences some much-needed comfort.

I decided not to show any brutal Holocaust films – nothing set in the camps, for example. I selected the inspiring and informative “Here Lived” because it deals with the importance of commemoration, while also detailing the relatively unknown story of Holland’s fate during the Shoah.

While heart-wrenching, “Stella: A Life” also depicts a true story not often shown on screen. This German drama, which has been playing at many festivals, depicts a desperate young Jewish woman caught in a terrible moral dilemma.

“Auction” deals with the Holocaust only obliquely. Set in the art world of modern Paris, this French feature film illuminates the repercussions of the Third Reich that continue to haunt the world.

Similarly, “A Real Pain” is only tangentially about the Holocaust. Set in the present, this bracing comedy features quarrelling cousins (Kieran Culin and Jesse Eisenberg) who honor their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, but making a pilgrimage to Poland.

Another decision I made was to find Israeli films that reveal the true character of the country. Six of our 13 titles are focused on Israel.

“Call Me Dancer,” a touching film about an aspiring Indian ballet dancer and his Israeli mentor, shows how Israelis around the world effect positive change and promote diversity.

“Running on Sand,” while tacking the tricky topic of refugees in Israel, is a heartwarming fable also celebrating diversity.

“Seven Blessings,” which won 10 Israeli Oscars, also highlights the multicultural nature of the Jewish homeland by focusing on a large Moroccan family gathered for a wedding.

The documentary “Telling Nonie” struck me as highly relevant, focusing on Israel’s decades-old struggle with Gaza. It also reveals the humanity of the brave Israelis charged with protecting Israel’s security.

The American documentary “Israel Swings for the Gold” is highly relevant because it reveals the anti-Israel sentiment that was on the uptick even before October 7. This baseball underdog story also swells with Jewish pride, highlighting the importance of Jewish identity. Ryan Lavarnway, a major league catcher who appears in the film and will appear at the screening, calls the experience of playing on Team Israel at the Olympics “transformational.”

In the wake of October 7, which shut down the Israeli film industry as many filmmakers were called up to serve, those filmmakers who were able to work shifted their focus to documenting all aspects of their shattered country. Numerous documentaries and short films have now been released, and I have watched them all. Nothing felt right, however, until – just as the schedule was being finalized – I previewed the newly released “Song of Ascent.”

With the charismatic singer Matisyahu as our guide, the documentary takes us on a journey through post-October 7 Israel, with his music serving as the haunting soundtrack. “Song of Ascent” also covers the appalling antisemitic backlash here at home as his concerts are abruptly cancelled. (Meow Wolf in Santa Fe cancelled hours before a concert because of pressure from activists and their own staff.)

With heavy hearts and much weighing on our minds, the festival offers an opportunity to come together to laugh, talk, and share our thoughts and feelings. The conversations that follow each film are always my favorite part of the festival. This year, I am especially looking forward to engaging in meaningful discussion with you. We need it now more than ever.

Tickets go on sale October 22.