Filmmaker Sandi Simcha DuBowski and Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie sit with Eric Goldman to discuss "Sabbath Queen," their epic documentary that follows Lau-Lavie’s 20-year journey from radical drag queen to influential Rabbi of a God-optional, artist-driven synagogue.
Elan Golod, a former IDF soldier and director of Nathan-ism, relates the history behind the making of his documentary about a Jewish soldier who chronicled the Nuremberg Trials through a self-invented art form.
Géza Röhrig, Hungarian poet and “Son of Saul” actor, joins discusses “After: Poetry Destroys Silence,” the experimental film from artist Richard Kroehling about the critical need for poetry as a means of remembering and addressing trauma.
Nathan Silver discusses his ninth feature film, “Between the Temples,” starring Jason Schwartzman as a cantor facing a crisis of faith when his former music teacher returns as an adult bat mitzvah student.
Israeli writer/director Tom Nesher discusses her debut feature film “Come Closer,” the poignant drama that explores depths of grief and celebrates those who choose life, even after unthinkable pain and loss. The film won first prize in the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival's "Viewpoints" competition honoring "boundary-pushing, rule-breaking new voices in independent film."
Eric is joined by Israeli-American writer, producer, director, and reserve duty captain in the IDF Dan Gordon, who wrote the Broadway play and now the film “Irena’s Vow,” the unbelievable true story of Irena Gut-Updike who hid twelve Jews in a cellar below the quarters of a Nazi officer during World War II.
Eric Goldman is joined in discussion with director James Hawes, Nicholas Winton’s son, Nick Winton, and one of “Nicky’s Children,” Eva Paddock, a woman who was saved as a child from certain death in the Holocaust by Nicholas Winton. “One Life,” which stars Anthony Hopkins , is about the man who rescued over 600 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.
Documentarian Ron Frank talks about "Remembering Gene Wilder," his film about the legendary comic actor’s life, his legacy, and battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Wilder was a larger than life individual captured so effectively by the filmmaker.
Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv speaks about ‘Golda,' his highly anticipated film about the fourth prime minister of the State of Israel, starring Helen Mirren and Liev Schreiber. Nattiv speaks about how he chose to focus the film on her decision-making during the Yom Kippur War and her legacy today.
Laura Bialis, producer and director of "Vishniac," speaks about her documentary, a film that explores the life and work of Roman Vishniac, one of the foremost photographers to capture pre-war Jewish life in Eastern Europe.
Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein, co-directors with Ken Burns of the PBS documentary series, "The U.S. and the Holocaust," speak about the challenges and difficult decisions they had to make in developing their three-part six-hour documentary.
Directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine discuss "Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song," their documentary that explores the life and career of Jewish singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn.
Acclaimed filmmaker Barry Levinson (Liberty Heights, Avalon) chats about his HBO film, "The Survivor," which tells the true story of Holocaust survivor Harry Haft, who becomes a professional boxer years after being forced to fight in Auschwitz by sadistic Nazi guards.
Shortly before the death of A.B. Yehoshua in 2022, director Yair Qedar delved into many facets of the author 's life. Considered by many to be the greatest living Israeli writer of the day, Qedar discusses how in his film "The Last Chapter of A.B. Yehoshua," Yehoshua dealt with illness and widowhood, but ultimately chose love as he embarked on his final journey.
Shira Haas, award-winning Israeli actress and star of “Shtisel” and “Unorthodox” is joined by writer-director Ruthy Pribar to discuss “Asia,” their new film that tells the universal and timeless story of maternal love and loss.
Morris Ben-Mayor talks about "Queen Shoshana," his award-winning new documentary film about Shoshana Damari, Israel's greatest female singer. Widely known as the "first Israeli diva," Damari graced local and international stages, stirring millions with her beguiling voice and spectacular performance. Yet behind the larger-than-life persona and her memorable songs was a woman about whom we know little.
Eran Kolirin's "Let It Be Morning," won Israel's Ophir Award in 2021 for best feature film, thereby becoming Israel's submission to the Oscars. Kolirin speaks about working with Palestinian actors on a film that challenges its audience. He also talks about his earlier success writing and directing "The Band's Visit."
Avi Nesher is one of Israel’s foremost film directors, whose films include "Turn Left At the End of the World" and "The Troupe." His latest film “The Other Story" raises important questions about the world of the ultra-Orthodox Jew
Filmmaker Eytan Fox ("Yossi and Jagger", "Walk on Water") sits down with Eric to discuss “Sublet,” his latest drama about a sorrowful American travel writer brought back to life by a younger man and the city of Tel Aviv.
Veteran Israeli actor Sasson Gabai, three-time winner of Israel's Ophir Award for Best Acting, discusses playing the lead role in “The Band’s Visit” in both the movie (Best Actor - Israeli Ophir Award) and as Tony Shalhoub's replacement in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show.