A scene from Eid. Credit: Courtesy of the Cleveland Jewish Film Festival
Some 33 films from nine different countries will screen at the 19th Annual Cleveland Jewish FilmFest slated to take place from Sept. 4-14 at the Cedar Lee Theatre, the Maltz Museum, the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque and the Mandel JCC. Select films, along with the Israeli series Kugel (a prequel to Shtisel), will also be available to stream on demand.

An opening night party takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Murch Auditorium. It features the award-winning French drama Once Upon My Mother. A dessert reception follows the screening.

“This is our largest festival to date,” says Deborah Bobrow, Manager of Arts and Culture at the Mandel JCC, in a press release. “We reviewed hundreds of films and are excited about the rich, diverse lineup. These stories challenge perspectives and bring people together through culture and dialogue.”

A slew of significant special events will accompany the screenings. Filmmaker Yael Melamede will participate in a Q&A following her film Ada: My Mother the Architect, a documentary about her mother’s groundbreaking career. Former Clevelander Simcha Shtull will be on hand to present her short film, The Windows on Rue Saint-Dominique.

Another highlight, Eid, centers on a young man from Rahat who dreams of becoming a playwright. Shadi Mari won an Israeli Academy Award for his role in the film. It screens at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque.

A limited number of weekday 1 p.m. matinee screenings are free for adults age 60 and older.

Find a complete schedule on the website.

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This article appears in Cleveland SCENE 7/30/25.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.