The Saint John Jewish Film Festival started in 2014 and serves as the major fundraising event for the year. We rely on our sponsors and ticket-holders to make the festival a success. The six-day event brings in Jewish-themed films from around the world, including dramas, comedies, and documentaries. Our opening night film is by invitation only as a special thank you to our sponsors, with the remaining five nights open for viewing by sponsors and the general public. Look for our 2025 line-up, coming in June 2025.
GENERAL INFORMATION
If you wish to become a Film Festival sponsor, Please contact the Jewish Historical Museum at:
Phone: 506-633-1833
The opening film on Saturday, October 26 is a private screening of The Story of Annette Zelman for event sponsors. The evening will be dedicated to the memory of the late Lloyd Goldsmith, who founded the Jewish Film Festival as a fundraiser for the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum.
Tickets for individual films can be purchased for $10/film from the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum in advance or at the door each evening. Passes for the entire series of five films are available from the Museum for $40.00 each. Payments can be accepted by cash, cheque or credit card.
Ticketholders may choose to attend the screenings in person at the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum or online with a unique non-transferable link for each film selected. To assist with processing time for on-line viewing, tickets should be purchased by October 23, 2023. Tickets will also be available at the door for those wishing to attend in person. Screenings will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. each evening.
The proceeds from the film festival will support the work of the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum to preserve the Jewish history of Saint John.
the lineup for the Festival:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 (SPONSORS ONLY)
The Story of Annette Zelman
2022 France – 1 hour 33 minutes – subtitles
Annette Zelman, a Jewish art student living in Nazi-occupied Paris in the early 1940s and her Catholic classmate, Jean, fall in love and dream of a life together. Jean’s parents oppose the match and his father, Hubert, reports Annette to the Gestapo. A guilt-ridden Hubert risks his own life to save her but he’s too late and Annette is deported to Auschwitz. A tale of love and resistance that plumbs the depths of human passion, prejudice, and betrayal.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 27
Running On Sand
2023 Israel – 1 hour 44 minutes – subtitles
Aumari is a young Eritrean refugee living in Israel, about to be deported back to his home country. After a spontaneous escape attempt at the airport, he is mistaken for a Nigerian soccer striker, who is supposed to arrive at the same time. He seizes the opportunity and benefits from his new identity as the key acquisition for the team of Maccabi Netanya. Despite any soccer talent, he is able to cover-up and heal the divisions of his struggling team.
MONDAY OCTOBER 28
Golda’s War Diaries
2023 Israel – 1 hour 13 minutes – subtitles
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Israel’s National Archive released the protocols of Prime Minister Golda Meir’s office during this time. Despite the conventional image of “Golda” and the myth of her shortcomings, these documents show how she managed the war effort, convincing the U.S. to send military aid, saving Israel from defeat, and bringing about its victory. Israel’s achievements made it possible, five years later, to reach a peace agreement with Egypt.
MONDAY OCTOBER 28
Telling Nonie
2022 Israel – 50 minutes – English and Hebrew
At 88, Geizi Tsafrir reflects on his days in the SHABAK (The Israeli Security Agency) and his involvement in an assassination carried out by Israel in the 1950’s Gaza Strip. The target’s daughter, Nonie Darwish, lives in Los Angeles and he writes to her without telling her about his role. As he reunites with his partners in the operation, he uncovers new and unsettling information and decides to take action – to reveal all he knows about her father’s death, hoping it will ease his conscience.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 29
This is My Mother
2023 France – 1 hour 44 minutes – subtitles
Pierre, a successful 33-year-old florist, has his life turned upside down by the sudden arrival of his mother Judith, whom he hasn’t seen for two years. Mercurial and extravagant, she suffers from bipolar disorder and has escaped from a clinic. Pierre has only one idea: bring her back as quickly as possible so his life can get back on track. But nothing happens as planned. Their unexpected reunion, as funny and explosive as it is heart-wrenching, will transform Pierre and Judith forever.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 30
Yaniv
2023 United States – 1 hour 20 minutes
Two high-school teachers from the Bronx become embroiled in a high-stakes caper. Their misadventure begins with noble intentions, as they try to secure funding for a spring musical for their students. Their unconventional solution? Infiltrate an underground card game called “Yaniv” run by an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group, hoping to claim the prize money. Despite their best-laid plans, chaos ensues, resulting in a riotous, comedic unraveling with moments of profound depth and warmth.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 31
Auction
2024 France – 1 hour 31 minutes – subtitles
Andre Masson, an auctioneer at the famous Scottie’s auction house, receives a letter that a painting by Egon Schiele has been discovered in Mulhouse at the home of a young worker. Skeptical, he makes the trip and faces the truth: the painting is authentic, a masterpiece gone missing since 1939, confiscated by the Nazis. Andre sees this discovery as the pinnacle of his career but also the beginning of a struggle that could jeopardize it. Fortunately, he will be assisted by his ex-wife and colleague Bertina, and by his eccentric intern Aurore.
Thank you
to our 11th Annual Saint John Jewish Film Festival Sponsors
Executive Producer
Ken Craft & Katherine Biggs-Craft–in memory of Jerry and Marcia Koven
Producer
- Dr. Joseph Arditti
- Dr. Richardo and Lois Bessoudo
- Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception
Associate Producer
- Anne Baker
- Phillip and Diane Bloom
- Lana and Gary Davis
- Signe Gurholt
- Dianne Ormandy
Director
- Lorie Cohen Hackett
- Mark and Teresa Goldsmith
- Grant Heckman and Dr. Sandra Bell
- Richard and Felicity Osepchook
- Michael and Janet Richard
- Janet and Michael Shore
- Brenan’s Funeral Home
- John Walker Insurance
- The Bra Room
Editor
- Dr. Gordon Chapman and Ellen Tucker
- Amos Friling and Ilanit Bokur-Friling
- Ian Hamilton
- Susan Isaacs-Lubin
- Andrew and Lynn Koven
- Barbara Lee-White
- Dr.Gerald and Colleen Maloney
- Regina Mantin
- Derek and Jacqueline Oland
- James Streeter
- Michael and Margaret Wennberg
- Anonymous