This beautifully shot documentary offers a rare glimpse into the unique community of the African-Hebrew Israelites.
Archives
Colliding Dreams
Colliding Dreams recounts the dramatic history of one of the most controversial, and urgently relevant political ideologies of the modern era. The century-old conflict in the Middle East continues to play a central role in world politics. And yet, amidst this fierce, often-lethal controversy, the Zionist idea of a homeland for Jews in the land of ancient Israel remains little understood and its meanings often distorted. Colliding Dreams addresses that void with a gripping exploration of Zionism’s meaning, history and future. Told through the remarkable lives and voices of Jews and Palestinians living in the Middle East today, Colliding Dreams weaves together past and present, ideas and passions, wars and peace talks, brilliant minds with the voices of ordinary citizens to develop a film portrait of unprecedented depth and sensitivity.
Junction 48
Junction 48 is the love story of two young Palestinian hip-hop artists who use their music to fight against both the external oppression of Israeli society and the internal repression of their own crime-ridden, conservative community. It depicts a new generation of young Arabs who seek normality through their love and music – and against all odds.
Aida’s Secrets
Isaac and Shfisil, two brothers born in a DP camp after World War II, lived in the shadow of secrets hidden from them all by their closest relatives. When they were babies, they were separated and did not know anything about each other. Investigate the mysterious history of family reunion after six decades, gives a rare glimpse of life in the DP camps in Germany after World War II: a lively social life and communities flourished wild young survivors, a period that is hardly spoken about on the screen.
Foreign Land
An Arab actor and a Jewish journalist sense social upheaval and search for a place where they can belong. Ophir Award Winner for Best Documentary.
Fire Lines
Fire Lines tells the story of the Palestinian and Israeli firefighters who join forces to battle the historic Mount Carmel forest fire of December 2010.
Watchers of the Sky
Four modern stories of remarkable courage while setting out to uncover the forgotten life of Raphael Lemkin, the man who coined the term ‘genocide’. Inspired by Samantha Power’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, ‘A Problem From Hell’, ‘Watchers of the Sky’ traverses time and continents to explore genocide and the cycle of violence.
Oma & Bella
Oma and Bella is an intimate glimpse into the life of two dynamic elderly Jewish women in Berlin. The film follows them as make elaborate dishes recalled from their childhoods, before the Holocaust. Through the cooking of the sumptuous meals, they retain a part of their past past while remaining very much engaged in the present.
Kabbalah Me
Kabbalah Me follows a personal journey into the titular spiritual phenomenon of ancient tradition. Rooted in the Torah and Talmud, Kabbalah has been studied by leading Judaic scholars for many centuries. However, many Jews are unaware or uninformed about Kabbalah and its significance. The film tells the story of how co-director Steven Bram, feeling a spiritual void in his life, immerses himself into the world of Kabbalah.
Raised in New York as a secular Jew without much interest in organized religion, Steven grew up to lead a conventional life marrying a nice Jewish woman from the suburbs, fathering two beautiful daughters, living on the Upper West Side, and working at a sports/entertainment company. But after 9/11, he felt a longing for a deeper and more fulfilling spiritual life. This longing leads Steven on a five year journey that includes reconnecting with his Hasidic family members, studying with Judaic scholars, and a eventual pilgrimage to Israel – where he immerses himself in the history and traditions of the Holy Land and meets with charismatic Rabbis, Talmudic scholars and spiritual leaders.
As Steven’s spiritual journey progresses, the mystical and complex world of Kabbalah, with its varying interpretations and myriad rituals and lessons, slowly unfolds – which leads to profound changes in all aspects of his life.
Sukkah City
When best-selling author Joshua Foer (Moonwalking With Einstein) began to build his first sukkah—a small hut that Jews build and dwell in every fall for the holiday of Sukkot—he wanted to move beyond the generic plywood boxes and canvas tents that have become the unimaginative status quo. He discovered that while the bible outlines the basic parameters for what a sukkah should look like and how it should function, it leaves plenty of room for variation and interpretation. It is here Foer asks: what if contemporary architects and designers were challenged to design and construct twelve radical sukkahs? What would they come up with? Hence the design competition and exhibition known as “Sukkah City” was born.
In the vein of the Maysles Brothers documentation of architects Christo & Jean Claude, Sukkah City tracks the process of the competition and the minds behind it—from the start of jury day, which includes an all-star cast of architects, academics and critics (Thom Mayne, Paul Goldberger, Ron Arad) that debate the merits of the 600 submissions; to the construction, installation and exhibition of the twelve winning structures in New York City. The two-day exhibition drew a critical and popular response from some of the 200,000 attendees.
The film explores the artistic process of the architects, documenting how an ancient traditions can be reinvented for the 21st Century, and revealing the meaningful tale behind the innovative architecture.
