What to expect at this year’s Atlanta Jewish Film Festival 

The 26th Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will unfold across the city between February 18 and March 3. Over the course of two weeks, the AJFF will screen 25 narrative features, 24 documentaries, and 16 short films from 20 different countries across the world. 

Intent on showcasing an array of intellectually stimulating movies, regardless of genre, the AJFF’s desire is for viewers to be provoked, challenged, moved, and entertained by what they’ve watched. Recurring themes of the festival include the exploration of the global Jewish experience, the history and impact of the Holocaust, stories from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as rom-coms, documentaries, biopics, and dramas told from a Jewish lens. 

The AJFF kick-offs on February 18 with the Atlanta premiere of Once Upon My Mother, a French comedy set in 1963 based on the autobiography of Roland Perez. Born with a clubfoot, his Sephardic Jewish mother was determined that his disability wouldn’t hold him back. Perez will be in attendance to help kick off the festival.

Photograph courtesy of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor will also be at the festival to mark the world premiere of My Friend Sam, a documentary about her friendship with Holocaust survivor Samuel Marder that screens February 23. Producer Nancy Spielberg, the sister of legendary director Steven, will be present for the documentary A Letter To David. An ode to David Cunio, one of the Israeli hostages taken on October 7, 2023, this updated version of the 2025 film includes footage added after Curno was freed in October following two years in captivity in Gaza. 

Photograph courtesy of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

The 25th anniversary of Kissing Jessica Stein, the acclaimed indie rom-com, will be celebrated on Saturday, February 21, with a special screening and Q&A featuring writer and star Jennifer Westfeldt. Olympic swimmer Michele Kupfer will also debut her documentary Parting The Waters, which she directed. A member of the 1980 Israeli Olympic swimming team, it tells the story of Kupfer’s return to competitive swimming for the 2022 Maccabiah Games after suffering huge personal loss. 

Photograph courtesy of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Other highlights include the Atlanta premiere of the Oscar-nominated Animated short Butterfly To Screen; documentary The Day After, about Israelis and Palestinians traveling to Northern Ireland to try and learn lessons from the Irish peace process; and the Atlanta premiere of the SXSW winner Fantasy Life. Written, directed, and starring Matthew Shear, who will be interviewed after the screening, the romantic comedy tells the story of a young lawyer and out-of-work actress bonding together. It also stars Amanda Peet, Judd Hirsch, Andrea Martin, and Bob Balaban.

Photograph courtesy of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Mahler In New York, a documentary on composer Gustav Mahler’s final years in New York, will also fascinate Atlantans, as it includes contributions from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Director Hilan Warshaw will follow the film’s Atlanta premiere with a question and answer session. 

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival’s screenings are held at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, Plaza Theatre, Tara Theatre, and The Spring Cinema & Taphouse. Cinephiles unable to get to these locations will be able to stream the films at home between March 6 and March 15. 

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