MIAMI — With a lineup of 133 films from 25 countries — including 20 world premieres — the Miami Jewish Film Festival returns to South Florida for its 28th year.

The film festival, which opens Thursday, has long been a project that celebrates Jewish storytelling while bringing people together through the power of film. It’s a mission that, organizers say, is even more relevant this year, at a time when Americans face deep divides.

“At its heart, the Miami Jewish Film Festival is about building bridges—between communities, cultures, and generations—through the universal language of film.” said the festival’s executive director, Igor Shteyrenberg.

The festival — which now has screenings in eight different Miami locations — has expanded its reach over the years.

In 2013, the film festival attracted around 4,000 people. Last year, it brought in an audience of nearly 50,000, which organizers say makes it the largest film event of its kind in the world.

This growth can be attributed to the festival’s ability to include a wide variety of voices and stories on screen, while attracting both newcomers and long-time festival goers to participate, Shteyrenberg said.

Screenings take place this year at art house cinemas like O Cinema South Beach and Coral Gables Art Cinema, as well as nontraditional venues like Jewish Community Centers and Miami synagogues.

“We not only honor our roots within the Jewish community but also encourage a broader audience to discover the rich stories and artistry that our festival showcases each year,” Shteyrenberg said.

The festival also comes at time when the war between Israel and Hamas has caused divides in the world of arts and culture.

Last year, some international film festivals — including one in Sweden and Amsterdam — became fraught with controversy over their handling of Israeli and pro-Palestinian filmmakers, according to The Forward, a Jewish news publication. In the fall of 2024, a pro-Palestinian group, the Philly Palestine Coalition, called for the Israeli Film Festival to be canceled, claiming the event was sponsored by Israel Bonds.

“Many Israeli filmmakers have faced exclusions at other international festivals ...,” Shteyrenberg said. “it’s clear that these actions create significant barriers for artists who are already navigating immense personal and professional challenges.”

In response, the Miami Jewish Film Festival is premiering more than 30 Israeli films, as a way to provide a platform for the filmmakers, said Shteyrenberg.

“We hope other festivals around the world will join us in standing by these stories and promoting understanding within their communities — Jewish and non-Jewish alike,” Shteyrenberg said, adding that the Miami festival remains committed to allowing freedom of expressions while also elevating “filmmakers whose stories need to be seen and heard.”

He said the war and controversy only bring more urgency to the stories the festival is trying to uplift, including the thirteen films addressing the attacks on Oct. 7 through survivors stories and documentaries.

He listed a few films he considers standouts:

—"The Stronghold", a gritty and thrilling war film that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. The event at Miami Theater Center in Miami Shores will include an appearance from renowned Israeli actor Michael Aloni, who will introduce the film and participate in a Q&A after the screening. “With its intense story and Aloni’s magnetic presence, this film is a must-watch for fans of high-stakes action and exceptional acting,” Shteyrenberg said.

—"Tatami", a Venice Film Festival winner and co-directed by Israel’s only ever Oscar winner, Guy Nattiv, and Iranian filmmaker Zar Amir Ebrahimi, the film follows an Iranian judo fighter’s decision to defy her government’s ultimatum which puts her freedom and her family’s safety at risk. The event — at Miami Theater Center — marks the film’s East Coast premiere.

—"The World Will Tremble", directed by Oscar-nominee Lior Geller and starring Oliver Jackson-Cohen ("The Haunting of Hill House"), tells the true story of the first Holocaust survivors to escape the Chełmno extermination camp. The film will be making its world premiere at the Miami Theater Center on Jan. 16. “As Holocaust survivors dwindle and antisemitism rises, "The World Will Tremble" presents a vital reminder of the importance of preserving history and honoring those who resisted,” Shteyrenberg said.

—"Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm" brings some humor and lightheartedness to the festival. The film follows the Jewish comedy duo “YidLife Crisis” on a journey to Sweden to uncover hidden Jewish culture and surprising Yiddish quirks, “proving that Jewish joy — and kvelling — knows no borders.” The screening event features a live performance and a Q&A from comedians Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman.

—"Sabbath Queen", a film made over 21 years that follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, the heir to 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis, as he reconciles his ancestral legacy with his queer identity. The premiere event will take place under the stars at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, with both Sandi and Amichai in attendance to share their stories.

Film classics will also be celebrated, including a 30th anniversary screening of Martin Scorsese’s "Casino," starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci, at the Bill Cosford Cinema.

Made in Miami films

One “must-see” world premiere, according to Shteyrenberg, also happens to kick off the two-week festival.

"Soul of a Nation," directed by Venezuela-born filmmaker Jonathan Jakubowicz, is a documentary about Israel in the turbulent aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.

“Choosing 'Soul of a Nation' as the opening film was no accident — it’s a deliberate and essential statement,” Shteyrenberg said about the film, which is premiering on Jan 9 at the Miami Beach Bandshell.

“It offers an unflinching yet hopeful look at how a nation on the brink of collapse can rediscover its strength through unity and resilience,” he said.

The festival also spotlights local talent with films that share Miami stories or were made by Miami natives.

"Miami Schmatta," for example, is a documentary that tells the story of the immigrant legacy that helped shape the American garment industry, set in a post-World War II Miami and expanding through the 1980s.

In "Milk & Honey, Blood & Tears," Miami-based filmmaker Leslie Benitah, chronicles the resilience and recovery of Kibbutz Be’eri, an Israeli community near the Gaza border, following the Oct. 7 attacks. The film contrasts the kibbutz’s peaceful past with the harsh realities of healing and surviving a tragedy.

Another film from a Miami native, called "October H8te," premieres at The Hub at Temple Beth Am, Pinecrest, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12.

The documentary by Wendy Sachs explores antisemitism on college campuses following the Oct. 7 tragedy. Sachs was born in South Miami and went to Temple Beth Am growing up, according to a Miami Herald article.

“I grew up at the day school — from preschool when I was 4 years old until I was in sixth grade,” Sachs told the Miami Herald. “It’s really a full circle moment.”

If you go

What: The 28th edition of the Miami Jewish Film Festival

When: Thursday, Jan. 9, through Thursday, Jan. 23

Where: Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; Michael-Ann Russell JCC, 18900 NE 25th Ave., North Miami Beach; Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive; Miami Beach JCC, 4221 Pine Tree Drive; O Cinema South Beach, 1130 Washington Ave.; Miami Theater Center, 9806 NE Second Ave., Miami Shores; The Hub at Temple Beth Am, 5950 N. Kendall Drive, Pinecrest.

Cost: $54, opening night; $36 closing night; $15 general admission for all other films. $325 for all access.

Information: https://miamijewishfilmfestival.org/

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This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.

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