FREE SHORT FILM SPOTLIGHT #3

Animated France (2013) 14 minutes

This animated short is a story about the eternal search for home. Hollow Land begins, as all such searches must, with the dream of utopia. Solomon and Berta are two seekers who arrive—their treasured bathtub improbably in tow—in a land that promises respite from their many journeys. From the first optimistic moments after their arrival, to the final haunting scene at sea, Hollow Land captures the state of being displaced—whether by circumstance or by choice.

Director: Michelle & Uri Kranot

Animation Israel (2013) 5 minutes | English

Tel Aviv’s history comes alive through a story of its first ever cinema: The Eden.

Director: Ofer Kapota, Hadar Sitruk, Natali Chen

TRAVELOGUE TEL AVIV

Animated Switzerland (2017) 6 minutes

This is Tel Aviv as seen through the eyes of a Swiss student who spends six months in the city, documenting his experiences in an animated journal. His sensitive drawings capture more than just the local color, characters and attractions. Underneath it all, he manages to grasp the city’s personality and ever-changing mood.

Directed by Samuel Patthey

Comedy USA (2011) 12 minutes | English

Rachel is a neurotic, lovesick, thirty year old woman. Months have passed since her fiance broke it off and yet Rachel remains emotionally paralyzed, unable to take off her engagement ring. Her deceased ancestors, to whom she has always felt an unexplainable connection, decide something must be done, not only for Rachel, but for the posterity of their entire family. On Yom Kippur day, the holiest day of the year for Jews, Rachel's deceased relatives going back several generations show up to visit her in temple. With love and some nudging they remind her that she has the strength to move forward with her life. By showing her where she came from they are able to renew her faith in where she is going.

Director: Rachel Fleischer

Comedy Canada (2018) 10 min | English

As the sundown on the Sabbath approaches, Leizer races to drive Chaimie home in, while construction drives Chaimie and Leizer crazy. Featuring a very special appearance by babka, Jews, and (non-German) cars..

Created by Jamie Elman & Eli Batalion

Drama Poland (2014) 15 minutes | Polish w/ English Sub

A man, while hunting a wolf in a forest, is startled by the sound of guns firing. Suddenly, in an explosion of movement there are people running, one of whom, a small boy, gets lost. Even the wolves are overwhelmed by a sense of the impending danger.

Director: Andrzej Cichoki

Family, Music | USA (2014) 18 minutes | English

After the sudden passing of his wife, Stan (Richard Kind) finds himself in a state of shock. He tries to ignore his pain but finds himself followed by inescapable grief, or rather, followed by the inescapable What Cheer? Brigade, a 20-piece brass and percussion band drowning out his world with boisterous, ear-numbing song.

Director: Michael Slavens

Documentary | Israel, USA (2015) 13 min | English

Batman, Homer Simpson, a New York Yankees logo – you’re likely to see any of these logos on the yarmulke of a Jewish boy in modern Jewish communities today. "Reverence" dissects the meaning and context behind branded kippahs and the concept of faith in a modern world while exploring the societal and religious norms that these garments may challenge, focusing on the notion of "fitting in" and "standing out" within the Reform and Conservative Jewish communities.

Director: Collin Kornfeind

Documentary USA (2012) 10 minutes | English

Like jazz, the comics are a truly American art form, chock-full of the dreams of Jewish kids. Sam Ball provides a look at the birth of the comics, and you may be surprised at who gave birth to Clark Kent and how the funnies went from thrilling pulp to respected graphic novel. Directed by Sam Ball

Director: Sam Ball

Comedy Israel (2008) 11 minutes | Hebrew w/ English Sub

Gali's family has long-lasting tradition. Every budding bride must prepare gefilte fish for the wedding party, to guarantee a successful marriage. When Gali's mother and grandmother give her a living carp to cook, Gali is torn between her need to abide tradition and her sympathies for the fish. Whether you're rooting for Gali, for the carp, or for both, we dare you not to laugh along with this charming Israeli comedy.

Film by Shelly Kling

Comedy Israel (2015) 8 minutes | Hebrew w/ English Sub.

A dark comedy about guided tours of terror attack sites on Jerusalem’s Jaffa Street, a single street that has been targeted by the most terror attacks in the world.

Director Yossi Atia

Drama UK (2014) 15 minutes | English

A Jewish boy, nurturing a secret romance with a Muslim girl is unaware that he is being stalked. This is an intriguing tale of love, obsession and unyielding prejudice.

Director: Shekhar Bassi

Comedy Israel (2016) 23 minutes | Hebrew w/ English sub

It's 1973, war time in Israel, and all that 15 year old SHERRY wants is a boyfriend. A letter exchange with an unknown soldier makes her believe that it's going to be her first love. But what will happen when the imaginary soldier becomes real?

Written and Directed by: Noa Gusakov | Based on a short story by Sherry Shapira Gusakov

Comedy USA (2015) 16 min | English

When David's train gets delayed he is forced to sprint through New York City to make it to his blind date on time. When he gets there however, he sits down across from the wrong Sarah. Or was she really the right one?

Director: Soon By You

Music UK (2020) 3 minutes | Yiddush

A re-imagining of the classic Yiddish song, Almonds with Raisins, from innovative British vocal group Mosaic Voices.

Music Director: Michael Etherton

Documentary USA (2013) 10 min | Yiddush, English

Yes, Leonard Nimoy speaks Yiddish. Learn more about Leonard (Leyb) Nimoy from his Jewish roots in Boston's heymish West End neighborhood to his brief stint working with famous Yiddish theatre maven Maurice Schwartz in these video highlights from the Wexler Oral History Project's interview with the man made famous by his role as Spock on Star Trek.

For full interview: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/collections/oral-histories/interviews/woh-fi-0000483/leonard-nimoy-2013

Archival photographs courtesy of the West End Museum, the Jules Aarons Estate, and Leonard Nimoy's personal collection.