Mix of animated films and works inspired by award-winning graphic novels includes ‘Legend of Destruction,’ The Most Precious of Cargoes,’ ‘Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse,’ and ‘The Property.’
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) has revealed the lineup for its 25th anniversary edition, which runs February 19 - March 16. This year’s festival will present 50 films (22 documentaries and 28 narrative works) that celebrate the diversity of Jewish experiences around the globe.
The festival will kick off with the Atlanta premiere of Bad Shabbos at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Special guests include stars Kyra Sedgwick, Jon Bass, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Milayna Vayntrub, Meghan Leathers, and Theo Taplitz; writer/director Daniel Robbins; and producer Adam Mitchell.
Appearances by film talent and creatives include Janis Ian (Janis Ian: Breaking Silence); Tom Nesher (Come Closer); Sandi Dubowski (Shabbos Queen); Steve Pressman (Moses Ezekiel: Portrait of a Lost Artist); Jonathan Gruber and Matthew Lieberman (Centered: Joe Libeberman); and Radu Mihaileanu (Live and Become). This year’s lineup includes the world premiere of Charles Grodin: Rebel with a Cause and the North American premiere of Eid, the first major feature by a Bedouin-Israeli filmmaker.
Highlighting themes such as LGBTQIA+ stories, women’s empowerment, global conflicts, and intersectionality, the Festival explores the global Jewish experience and its connections to the world’s diverse communities.
Michel Hazanavicius’ ‘The Most Precious of Cargoes (La Plus Précieuse Des Marchandises).’
AJFF 2025 will feature a mix of animated films and works inspired by award-winning graphic novels that showcase the power of visual storytelling, which include:
- Legend of Destruction, directed by Gidi Dar – In this illustrated historical epic, the Jewish revolt against the ancient Romans is vividly retold through original paintings and an all-star voice cast. Nominated for 7 Israeli Academy Awards including Best Film, with wins for Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Music.
- The Most Precious of Cargoes, directed by Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) – In this hand-drawn, watercolor-style animated wartime fable, a childless couple in a snowy French forest adopts a Jewish infant abandoned by a train bound for Auschwitz. Cannes Palme d'Or and Annecy International Animated Film Festival Best Feature nominee.
- Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse, directed by Philip Dolin and Molly Bernstein – A compelling documentary on the cartoonist behind Maus, highlighting his resistance to fascism and transformative impact on comics
- The Property, directed by Dana Modan – In this adaptation of the award-winning graphic novel, a grandmother brings her granddaughter to reclaim family property in Warsaw, uncovering hidden family secrets. Nominated for 4 Israeli Academy Awards including Best Screenplay.
This year also marks the launch of the Kenny Blank Vision Initiative, an expansion that transforms the Festival into a year-round hub for film, education, and industry leadership. The initiative will expand programming in education and community relations, as well as launch a Filmmaker Fund to empower the next generation of storytellers.
“Our 25th anniversary represents a quarter-century of fostering connections and understanding through the transformative power of cinema,” said Kenny Blank, executive and artistic director of the AJFF. “This year’s lineup not only highlights stories that resonate deeply with Jewish life but also redefines what it means to be a 'Jewish' film. It’s about the intersection of Jewish experiences with the broader world, creating space for meaningful dialogue and connection between communities. We’re proud to offer a Festival that is inclusive, welcoming, and reflective of our shared humanity. We look forward to uniting film lovers from all walks of life to celebrate this milestone year.”
Festival Highlights and Special Events include:
- Opening Night & Reception (February 19) - Begin the festival with an exclusive Members-Only Gala and a screening of Bad Shabbos.
- Young Professionals Night (February 22 at the Plaza Theatre) - The night includes a 20th anniversary screening of When Do We Eat? (2005). Director Salvador Litvak and Writer Nina Litvak wil hold a post-screening conversation.
- Field Trip Screening (Febraury 27 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, February 28 at the Tara Theatre) - An educational initiative welcoming students from across metro Atlanta to experience the power of film and dialogue at an Atlanta premiere of the documentary Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire, which will include a conversation with director and writer Oren Rudavsky.
- Closing Night & Awards Show (March 5 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center) - Celebrate the festival with Jury Award presentations, a dessert reception, and the Atlanta premiere screening of Brazil’s Cheers to Life to cap off this milestone event. Director Cris D’Amato and producer Julio Uchoa will be in attendance.
- Spotlight Screenings - AJFF celebrates the brilliance of Jerry Lewis with the Southeast premiere of the 2024 documentary From Darkness to Light and a digital restoration of The Bellboy (1960). Jerry’s son, Christopher J. Lewis, joins for Q&As and book signings.
A 10-day streaming window from March 7-16, offers 21 features and 14 shorts. Tickets are on sale now for both AJFF members and the general public.
Source: The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
