2026 Boston Israeli Film Series Preview

This year marks a decade since I connected with Boston Jewish Film to cover their amazing festivals and screenings. After a couple of busy years when I couldn't attend them due to other commitments (like last November, when I was having the time of my life on a Honeymoon Israel trip), I'm thrilled to offer a preview of the 2026 Boston Israeli Film Series, which runs from March 22–29.

In the past year, Boston Jewish Film became part of JCC Greater Boston, leveraging the organization's reach for its programming, as it uses film to foster empathy for the Jewish experience, spark conversations, and strengthen Jewish communities. According to its website, "Boston Jewish Film expands cultural understanding and builds bridges across diverse perspectives, aligning with JCC Greater Boston’s mission to nurture connection, enrich lives, and strengthen community bonds."

Riding this wave of fresh energy and support, Boston Jewish Film will be offering four films — two documentaries and two narratives — all with screenings at the Riemer-Goldstein Theater, at Leventhal-Sidman JCC in Newton. All four will also feature engaging post-screening conversations about their themes with the filmmakers or leaders in the Jewish community. I've been lucky enough to watch all four movies playing in this series, so here are my thoughts on each one.

2026 Boston Israel Film Series
Narrative Films

The Property‍ ‍

Written and Directed By: Dana Modan

Based on a Graphic Novel By: Rutu Modan

Starring: Rivka Michaeli, Sharon Strimban, Andrzej Seweryn, Piotr Pacek, Uri Hochman

Languages: Hebrew, Polish, English

The Plot: Regina (Rivka Michaeli) and her granddaughter, Mika (Sharon Strimban), journey to Poland to reclaim their family apartment seized during the Holocaust, but their mission quickly falls apart after they each get sidetracked. First, they both find themselves irritated by a relative (Uri Hochman) who keeps appearing at every turn. Then, while Mika falls for a charming tour guide (Piotr Pacek), Regina secretly abandons their quest to pursue her long-lost love (Andrzej Seweryn), whom she was forcefully separated from 70 years ago. Of course, drama ensues once their respective situations are revealed to one another.

My Take:The Property is a poignant film about missed connections — relationships that never blossomed, family members who never had a chance to meet, and characters who literally cross paths on screen without noticing each other. Dana Modan deftly balances this heartbreak with darkly funny, laugh-out-loud dialogue, luscious cinematography, brightly colored costumes, and earnest, lived-in performances from her actors. Modan also offers smart commentary on how the trauma of the Holocaust echoes through the present, and how the persistent antisemitism in Europe rears its ugly head in big and small ways. Through a particularly unsettling misunderstanding during a historical reenactment, Modan provides a sharp critique of non-Jews in Europe who giddily use the Holocaust as a tourist moneymaking enterprise. In this way, it felt eerily similar to My Polish Honeymoon, an entry from the 2019 Boston Jewish Film Festival, which had much to say on these topics. All that to say, if you don't believe me by now about why it's worth seeing, The Property was also nominated for four Ophir Awards (the Israeli Academy Awards): Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

The Property screens on Sunday, March 22, at 7 p.m.

Following the movie, there is a conversation with Dr. Ofrá Amihay, Visiting Cinema & Media Studies Lecturer at Boston University, moderated by Dr. Lily Rabinoff-Goldman, President/CEO of JCC Greater Boston.‍ ‍

Pink Lady

Directed By: Nir Begman (Here We Are, In Treatment)

Written By: Mindi Ehrlich

Starring: Nur Fibak, Uri Blufarb, Gal Malka

Languages: Hebrew, Yiddish

The Plot: Set in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem, Pink Lady follows Bati (Nur Fibak), who seems to have the perfect life with her husband Lazer (Uri Blufarb) and their three children. However, Bati's world shatters when Lazer is blackmailed, and she discovers his secret affair with his male study partner. Desperate to protect her family, she supports Lazer's attempts to "cure" his homosexuality, but as she discovers more about who she is and what she wants, she must come to grips with whether she can live this way in the long run.

My Take: Many stories about the Orthodox Jewish world are as male-centric as the communities themselves. Some of the most powerful ones, though, like Shtisel and Srugim, focus on the women in those communities, respectfully exploring how they grapple with relationship trials and tribulations through the lens of observant life. Pink Lady does just that, tactfully portraying religious Jewish life and practices, such as niddah, without judgment, while focusing on Bati's innermost thoughts and feelings during her journey of self-discovery. It also provides depth to the Orthodox Jewish experience by showing how other women in her life, like her mother and mother-in-law, suddenly band together to deal with the blackmail crisis, and how she forms an unexpected friendship with a less religious woman (Gal Malka) who visits the mikveh where she works. Nir Bergman's film is emotionally compelling, beautifully shot, and genuinely acted. He delves into uncomfortable topics and situations sensitively, yet unflinchingly, to tell an unforgettable tale. Nur Fibak, adding to Bergman's storytelling, gives a particularly moving performance as Bati, saying so much with her face throughout the movie, giving you a deep window into her character's complicated world.

Pink Lady screens on Sunday, March 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here.

Following the movie, there is a conversation with Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Eshel, Co-Founder and Director of Education, and Idit Klein, VP for Public Engagement at New Israel Fund.‍ ‍

2026 Boston Israel Film Series Documentary Films

Wild Land

Directed By: Gil Arbel

Languages: Hebrew, English

The Plot: Shot over several years, Wild Land is a feature-length documentary that delves into Israel's diverse landscapes and captures its rich wildlife in its natural habitats.

My Take: There are several rote elements you'd expect in a documentary like Wild Land, such as an obligatory disclaimer that no animals were harmed in the making, and introductory and concluding statements on the importance of protecting wildlife for future generations. But there are lots of fascinating bits about the unique animals and birds that call Israel home (at least during migration season). Mainly, I was shocked to discover that half a billion migratory birds fly through Israel a year, but I also enjoyed learning specific facts about birds like the pin-tailed sandgrouse, which absorbs water through its feathers to hydrate its young. I loved seeing the Nubian ibex climbing and jumping across the desert's mountainous terrain (something I sadly didn't get a chance to see in Israel), a herring menacingly trudging through tall grass to eat a dragonfly, and many other visceral shots of nature doing what it does. Documentarian Gil Arbel sometimes leverages slow motion effectively to show fascinating nature shots, but other times it feels repetitive. As much as I enjoyed the proceedings, I wish they were more compellingly edited and paced.

Wild Land screens on Sunday, March 29, at 1 p.m. Ticket information is available here.

Followed by a conversation with Rachel Canar, Executive Director of Nature Israel, and BJF Program Manager Joey Katz.‍ ‍

Nina is an Athlete

Written and Directed By: Ravit Markus

Languages: Hebrew, English, Russian

The Plot:Nina is an Athlete chronicles Nina Gorodetsky's three-year quest to make it to the Paralympics, showing her first and maybe last chance for the wheelchair badminton champion to make it to the games. Training during a surprise pregnancy and fighting against her shrinking window to compete as an athlete, she must figure out whether she has what it takes to realize her dream when the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic brings everything to a screeching halt. The documentary tracks Nina's fight to defy the odds while trying to remain present as a wife and mother.

My Thoughts: While its scenes of athletic competition lack a sense of urgency and clarity about how they unfold in the moment, Nina is an Athlete mines fascinating insights into Nina Gorodetsky's unique experiences as a wife, mother, immigrant to Israel from Russia, and woman with a disability. Its raw, unfiltered conversations about how Nina became paralyzed, what life is like as a disabled mother and athlete, and societal expectations for how her marriage should work, go places people wouldn't go in polite conversation, but hit on real, honest truths. Her journey from becoming pregnant again, qualifying for the Paralympics, and then re-qualifying after she gives birth and trains again is an inspiring one. Even though the film follows her on this multi-year journey, which doesn't end in grand success, it still feels incomplete, especially since it reveals at the end that Nina trained to compete again for the 2024 Paralympics but says nothing about how she did or what else happened in her life.

Nina is an Athlete screens on Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m.

Followed by a conversation with Director Ravit Markus, moderated by Rabbi Elyse Winick.

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