Storytelling Through Film

The Columbus Jewish Film Festival In Celebration of Andrew Ethan Stern is committed to presenting cutting-edge international films and ancillary programming that reflect a myriad of Jewish experiences. Festival goals include engaging Jewish individuals and groups in the production of the Festival; building and inspiring new audiences; facilitating dialogue among diverse communities; promoting Tikkun Olam and social justice; and enriching Jewish culture and the Columbus arts community. Film screenings, educational programs, social events, celebrations and community collaborations are tools used to accomplish these goals.

The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue

Wednesday, March 4 @ 7:00pm | $12

In a harrowing real-life story that echoes Taken , the feature documentary The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue follows retired Israeli general Noam Tibon, who on October 7, 2023, received a desperate text from his son: terrorists had stormed his home, and he, his wife, and their two young daughters feared for their lives. With no time to spare, Noam and his wife, Gali, embarked on a ten-hour mission across a country under siege to save their family.

Relying only on his instincts and military training, Noam navigated ambushes,roadblocks, and a collapsing security system in a relentless race against time. Directed by acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich, the film retraces every step of that day, blending intimate firsthand testimony with the raw urgency of a survival thriller.

Set against the backdrop of one of Israel’s darkest days, The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue is both a gripping cinematic retelling of an extraordinary rescue and an unflinching look at the failures and resilience revealed on October 7. At its core, it is a profoundly human story about courage, family, and the power of love in the face of unimaginable terror.

AES Short Film Showcase

Sunday, April 19 @ 5:00pm | $15

The AES Showcase is a selection of the best Jewish short narrative films of the past year- comedies, dramas, and animated films- from Israel, France, the UK, and the US.

COCOLOCO

Directed by Cella Armony & Dylan Joseph, Israel, Hebrew, 15 min
A mysterious beep disturbs the rest of Eli, a lonely young woman from Tel Aviv. In the attempts to locate the source of the noise, she discovers that she is the only one who hears the beeping.

papillion

Directed by Florence Miailhe, France, French, 15 min
The story of Olympic swimmer Alfred Nakache, whose dreams of Olympic glory were crushed by the Nazis. 2026 Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short.

Serenity Live

Directed by Shimon Engel & Ofer Winter, Israel, Hebrew, 3 min
Anna uses social-media livestreams to spread calm and kindness, while her sister Gogo faces a far more urgent crisis. In a world ruled by glowing screens, both must confront what truly matters.

The Holiness

Directed by Daniel Moreshet, Israel, Hebrew, 17 min
When a religious couple is caught by their children committing a terrible sin– watching TV on Shabbos– family tensions bubble to the surface.

Kosher Test

Directed by Rikki Rotter, Israel, Hebrew, 16 min
In an ultra Orthodox family, a suspicion arises that the daughter was raped. Her father takes her to the hospital for an examination to determine the status of her virginity.

Sinai

Directed by Yuri Baranovsky, USA, English, 17 min
After centuries of inherited trauma, a Jewish man decides he no longer wants to be Jewish. But when neither a Rabbi nor a white supremacist accept his “resignation,” he decides to seek help from… more magical sources. But what does it mean to give up something so deeply woven into his self?

Become a sponsor

Thank you to our 2025-26 Sponsors

Underwriter

Rozanne & Jerry Stern

Producer

Columbus Jewish Foundation Lenore Schottenstein & community arts eNdowment fund  

DeeDee Glimcher

Director

Congregation beth Tikvah

Lewin/Madison/Tuckerman Families

Linda and Frank Kass

The ticho fund

lisa newmark and arnie good

Screenwriter

Jennie and Seth Cammeyer

Julie and Doug Cohen

Melissa and Ronnie Conn

Carol and Jeff Folkerth

Miriam Freimer and Ed Levine

Debby and Ira Kane

Clemy and Bob Keidan

Melton Center for Jewish Studies at OSU

Andrew Smith and Lavea Brachman

Dr Jeff and Bethanne Tilson

Joan Wallick z”l

Connie and Sandy Meizlish

STACY AND HOWARD LEVIN

Emily and keith schuss

lesli and mike mautz

Temple Israel
Sarah and rick meizlish

Denise and mike klapper

janice and clayton rhodes

Ohio holocaust & genocide memorial and education commission

nancy and thomas luri

sara froelich and paul wolfson

miriam and bernie yenkin

Bernie rabinowitz

Gale and steven klayman

Stephanie weber & andrew blazar

Dr. Kurt and Leslie Malkoff/Matrix Psychological & Visualopathy

karen and jon meyer

Film Enthusiast

Carol and Stephen Handler

Rebecca and Joel Luck

Linda and Howard Schottenstein

Hilary and Mike Talis

Sheila Torch

Marilyn and Roger Friedman

Valerie and Jeff Milgrom

Laurie and Larry Abramson

Carole and Nelson Genshaft

Ireena and Alan Weinberg

greta and daniel zidel

sunny and mark masser

Debbie and Jeff Meyer

Joyce and Chuck Shenk

Jody and Joel Altschule

Jean Krum and David Neubauer

joy and michael gonsiorowski

cathy levine & jonathan groner

katherine and eric zidel

marcy and mark ungar

Ruth and joe sniderman

Supporter

Vicki Canter

Steven and Bridget Dritz

Joyce Edelman and Neal Hoffman

David and Julie Fishman

Julie and Andrew Glassman

Lee Hess and Irene Levine

Jonathan Petuchowski and Leslie Yenkin

Sandy and Bernie Senser

Sheryl and Philip Heit

Gwen and Howard Werman

DAWN BALOPOLE AND BOB MANSOOR

Stuart Mangel and Rebecca Gurk

tobi and kenneth gold

Al Friedman

Marilyn Fais

shelly and barry igdaloff

Susan rubin

Updated 11.11.25

2026 CJFF Comittee

Festival Chair

Lesli Mautz

Steering Committee

Morris Allen, Dawn Balapole, Ayelet Ben-David, Vicki Cantor, Cheryl Dritz, Steve Dritz, Ted Fons, Carol Galssman, Shelly Igdaloff, Clemy Keiden, Joanne Kesten, Stacy Leeman, Alan Lichtcsien, Paul Wolfson

Past Festival Chairs

Melva Schottenstein z”l, Jody Altschule, Ayelet Ben-David, Marjie Coopersmith, Cheryl Dritz, June Frankel, Gigi Fried, Carole Genshaft, Carol Handler, Hani Hara, Debby Kane, Linda Katz, Sandy Meizlish, Paul Wolfson