The Israeli and Jewish Film Festival presents a diverse and inspiring lineup of award-winning films and engaging, educational programming that connects to both Jewish and Israeli stories.

Schedule of Events

January 18, 2024

7pm - Farewell Mister Haffmann at Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Avenue

Written and Directed by Fred Cavayé
France, Belgium I Narrative I 2022 I 115 Min

Farewell Mister Hoffman is part of our 15th Annual Israeli and Jewish Film Festival from January 18 to 28, 2024. Experience a diverse lineup of award-winning films and engaging programming that celebrates Jewish and Israeli stories.

Occupied Paris, 1941: all members of the Jewish community are instructed to come forward and identify themselves to authorities. Dedicated jeweller Joseph Haffmann, fearing the worst, arranges for his family to flee the city and offers his employee François Mercier the chance to take over his store until the conflict subsides. But his own attempts to escape are thwarted, and Haffmann is forced to seek his assistant's protection.

January 21, 2024

2pm - Remembering Gene Wilder at Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.

Directed by Ron Frank

United States I Documentary I English | 2023 I 115 Min

He was born Jerome Silberman to an assimilated Milwaukee Jewish family, and his childhood buddies called him Jerry—but the world would come to know Gene Wilder (1933 – 2016) as an endearing comic genius through an extraordinary string of film roles that seem to grow deeper, funnier and more humane with time: from the timid Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks' The Producers to the strange and magical title role in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, from his inspired on-screen partnership with Richard Pryor in movies like Silver Streak to the comedy classics of Blazing Saddles, The Frisco Kid and Young Frankenstein.

Now, in Ron Frank's affectionate and touching biographical documentary, the full measure of Wilder's gifts is on display, not only as a comedic actor but as a writer, director, and a mensch.

January 23, 2024

7:00 PM - Matchmaking at Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Avenue

Directed by Erez Tadmor
Israel I Comedy I 2022 I 98 Min

When Moti Bernstein, an Ashkenazi from a “good family”, handsome and smart, reaches the right age, he begins to hear that he is the ultimate match. However, Moti wants the one he can never have.

January 24, 2024

7:00 PM - Irena's Vow at Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Avenue

By Dan Gordon
Canada-Poland I Drama I English | 2023 I 121 Min

In her early 20s, Irene Gut Opdyke was hired by Wehrmacht Major Eduard Rügemer to work as the housekeeper in the Polish villa he had requisitioned. Risking her life, Irene hid 12 Jews in the cellar… and when Rügemer found out, she bought his complicity by agreeing to become his mistress. Opdyke later won the Nations Medal for her immense courage, and her story became a Broadway play by Dan Gordon in 2008, and now a film, directed by Louise Archibault (And the Birds Rained Down; Gabrielle).

Former child actress Sophie Nélisse (The Book Thief; Yellowjackets) truly comes of age, here, with her heartrending portrait of a young woman whose moral conscience compels her to risk everything to thwart the evils of fascism. Dougray Scott (Ever After: A Cinderella Story; Mission: Impossible II) portrays the German officer.

January 27, 2024

7:30 PM - Paris Boutique at Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Avenue

By Marco Carmel
Israel – France I Romantic Comedy I 2022 I 82 Min

Nominated for six Israeli Academy Awards (Ophirs) and starring Nelly Tagar (MJFF films Zero Motivation and The Art of Waiting), Paris Boutique is a delightful romantic comedy about love and friendship. French-Jewish lawyer Louise takes a break from planning her lavish wedding in Paris to go on a short business trip to Jerusalem, where she hopes to seal a multimillion-euro property deal. Landing in Israel, she has the misfortune of being met at the airport by Neta, a broke (and heartbroken) cab driver, who tries to swindle her wealthy client out of just enough money to cover her debts. What starts as a hellish visit, serendipitously ends with both women becoming not only fast friends but also head over heels in love – this time, with the right men.

January 28, 2024

2:00 PM - Exodus 91 at University of Richmond, Jepson Alumni Center, 442 Westhampton Way

Directed by Micah Smith
Israel I Documentary I 2022 I 90 Min | Hebrew, Amharic, English, English subtitles

A hybrid docudrama film that follows Israeli diplomat, Asher Naim, on a seemingly insurmountable mission to bring 15,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel. As Asher learns more about these African Jews, he finds himself between worlds and facing a crisis of faith in himself and his country.

Free to University of Richmond Students!

Date: January 18-28, 2024

Cost:
Members: $12
Nonmembers: $15
All Films Pass (Members): $60
All Films Pass (Nonmembers): $75

Locations:
Virginia Museum of History & Culture, 428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220
Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221
Jepson Alumni Center, 442 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23229

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