Mexican director Isaac Ezban came to New York to speak at the First Mexican Jewish Film Festival, to show his new film, "Evil Eye," and to promote Mexican filmmaking. Isaac also speaks about and screens one of his early short films, "Kosher Spaghetti."
Eric is joined by first-time Israeli director Orit Fouks Rotem and lead actress Dana Ivgy to discuss "Cinema Sabaya," winner of the Ophir Award for Best Picture of 2022. It's a film about a group of Arab and Jewish women who attend a documentary workshop where they learn to challenge preconceived beliefs and come together as mothers, wives, and women through filmmaking.
Eric is joined by Sandra Schulberg, producer of “Filmmakers for the Prosecution,” a riveting documentary adapted from Schulberg’s eponymous monograph which retraces the hunt for film evidence that was carried out by her father and uncle, Budd and Stuart Schulberg in order to convict Nazi leadership at the Nuremberg Trials.
Dana Modan, creator, writer, and starring actress of "Significant Other," speaks about her award-winning, sophisticated, romantic comedic drama series about two lonely apartment neighbors, set in Tel Aviv.
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.
Lebanese writer/director Oualid Mouaness discusses his award-winning film "1982," a harrowing portrait of one of the most cataclysmic moments in Lebanon’s history- told through the lens of a child and his vibrant imagination.
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."
Director Alon Schwarz discusses “Tantura,” his controversial documentary. The film investigates disputed events at the Palestinian village of Tantura in 1948, where survivors claimed to witness a massacre of civilians by Israeli troops.
It's 1933 Berlin and nine-year old Anna's life changes from the ground up. Her father, a well-known Jewish journalist, must flee in the middle of the night, with Anna and her family to follow. Writer-Director Caroline Link (Nowhere in Africa) speaks about her challenge to adapt Judith Kerr's beloved children's book.
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.
Keith Thomas and lead actor Dave Davis talk about the new Jewish-themed horror movie, "The Vigil." Based on the Jewish ritual of keeping "vigil" with a corpse overnight, the film features Yiddish as the primary language spoken and is a first for the horror film genre.
Writer/Director Roberta Grossman talks about her documentary film focused on Dr. Emanuel Ringelblum and the Oyneg Shabes archive that was created during WWII in the Warsaw Ghetto to preserve the story of Jews during the Holocaust
Mike Burstyn sits down with Eric to discuss his film directorial debut, "Azimuth," about the Six Day War. The discussion also touches on Burstyn's long-ranging show business career, which includes his childhood roles in theater and many films, like "Two Kuni Levels," in which he had starring roles.