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The Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) is honored to present the ninth annual Screening the Holocaust film series, an expanded cinematic program running from October 14, 2024, through September 29, 2025. The series will showcase twelve acclaimed Holocaust interest films, each presented monthly, accompanied by insightful discussions that aim to engage audiences understanding and deeper exploration of this historical event and its lasting impact.
Presented in collaboration with the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, the Holocaust Teacher’s Institute, and The University of Miami’s Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies, this groundbreaking program offers free screenings open to the public. Each film serves as a catalyst for reflection, encouraging dialogue on one of history’s darkest periods while highlighting the resilience and humanity’s capacity for goodness in the face of adversity.
The series opens on Monday, October 14, with the Academy Award-winning Son of Saul at O Cinema South Beach. This gripping portrayal of the Holocaust sets the stage for a year of emotionally profound and acclaimed films designed to deepen audiences understanding of this historical event and its impact. In November, Jake Paltrow’s June Zero, which premiered at the 2024 Miami Jewish Film Festival, will be featured as part of a special Holocaust Education Week event hosted annually by the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach. The screening will take place outdoors at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, followed by an intimate post-film conversation with Jake.
Other highlights include the festival’s recent Trailblazer Award winner The Boy in the Woods, a powerful saga of courage and survival based on the true story of South Florida resident Maxwell Smart, who will be present at the screening. In January, the series will showcase iMordecai, a Miami-made film that won the festival’s Audience Award in 2022, with director Marvin Samel participating in a post-screening discussion. Another local connection will be celebrated in April with My Survivor, a moving documentary that premiered at the festival in 2019, with director Jerry Levine and producers Dr. Mindy Hersh and Helen Chaset participating in the accompanying panel discussion.
The Screening the Holocaust series has gained recognition for its thought-provoking selection of films that offer diverse perspectives on Holocaust history, bringing personal narratives to life while honoring the memory of those who lived through these harrowing events. This year’s program is no exception, with a lineup that includes both new releases and critically acclaimed favorites, all chosen to educate, inspire, and reflect on the complexities of the human experience during one of history’s most defining periods.
“We are deeply honored to present this year’s Screening the Holocaust series, an expanded program that seeks to illuminate one of history’s most profound and painful chapters through the power of cinema. Each film offers a unique perspective on the Holocaust, encouraging audiences to reflect, engage in meaningful dialogue, and connect with the stories of survival, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. At a time when antisemitism and hatred are on the rise, it is more important than ever to provide a platform for these critical conversations. We hope this series serves not only as a remembrance but as a reminder of our collective responsibility to stand against injustice in all its forms,” said Igor Shteyrenberg, Executive Director of the Miami Jewish Film Festival.
“A dream and vision have come true as we begin our ninth year of this series expanding it to a year-round offering to our community. I am grateful to all mentioned who have made a seed of a thought become a reality. We will be featuring this year an exceptional program with guest directors and commentaries after showings with various community experts,” said Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Founder & Director of the Holocaust Teacher’s Institute.
“The Claims Conference has long supported projects and organizations perpetuating the memory of the Holocaust. Unlike any other creative medium, film takes an audience into a moment they would otherwise not be able to conceptualize. For this reason, films about the Holocaust can educate viewers in ways that no book nor text can accomplish. We are pleased to partner with the Miami Jewish Film Festival given its reputation for excellence and wide cultural impact well beyond even the extensive audiences in Miami. Elevating survivor voices and sharing these critical testimonies through film is how we ensure that the memory of the Holocaust is preserved for and through future generations,” said Greg Schneider, Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference.
“The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is honored to collaborate with the Miami Jewish Film Festival’s Screening the Holocaust series. Together, we weave stories of resilience and remembrance, honoring the lives lost and the lessons learned. Through the power of film, we illuminate the darkness of the past, ensuring that the voices of those who suffered are never silenced, and inspiring future generations to carry forward the torch of compassion and understanding,” said Sheri Zvi, Chief Executive Officer of the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach.
The full schedule for the 2024-2025 Screening the Holocaust series is as follows:
- Son of Saul, Monday, October 14 at O Cinema South Beach
Academy Award Winner for Best International Feature Film
- June Zero, Monday, November 4 at Miami Beach Botanical Garden
Director Jake Paltrow in attendance
- The Boy in the Woods, Thursday, December 19 at O Cinema South Beach
Film subject Maxwell Smart in attendance
Jury Prize Winner of the 2024 Miami Jewish Film Festival
- iMordecai, Monday, January 6 at O Cinema South Beach
Director Marvin Samel in attendance
Audience Award Winner of the 2021 Miami Jewish Film Festival
- Berenshtein, Monday, February 24 at O Cinema South Beach
- When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Monday, March 24 at O Cinema South Beach
- My Survivor, Thursday, April 24 at the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Film subject, director, and producers in attendance
- Chasing Portraits, Monday, May 19 at O Cinema South Beach
- Aida’s Secrets, Monday, June 23 at O Cinema South Beach
Jury Prize Winner of the 2020 Miami Jewish Film Festival
- Chichinette: The Accidental Spy, Monday, July 28 at O Cinema South Beach
- Shalom Italia, Monday, August 25 at O Cinema South Beach
- You Only Die Twice, Monday, September 29 at O Cinema South Beach
The Miami Jewish Film Festival remains dedicated to fostering dialogue and education through the power of cinema. Join the festival for this transformative series, which seeks not only to remember but also to understand and learn from history’s most poignant lessons.
For more information about the Screening the Holocaust series and the full lineup, please visit Miami Jewish Film Festival’s website: https://www.miamijewishfilmfestival.org or contact info@miamijewishfilmfestival.org
