Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema Encore Film Festival

Join us for our Encore Mini Festival! We have FIVE Israeli films available to stream as part of our festival, and YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS OUT!

Among Neighbors-
Combining magical realism and evocative hand-drawn animation with revelatory interviews and verité footage, Among Neighbors examines the story of a small, rural town, Gniewoszow, Poland, where Jews and Catholics lived side by side for centuries before World War II. The film brings the Polish response to the Holocaust to life through the last living eyewitnesses, revealing both love and betrayal as it zeroes in on the only living Holocaust survivor from the town, and an aging eyewitness who saw Jews murdered there — not by Nazis, but by her own Polish neighbors.

Kichka-
Celebrated Belgian-Israeli artist Michel Kichka, a Knight of French Arts and Letters and godfather of Israeli caricature, approaches retirement at the height of his career. In this intimate portrait, Kichka reflects on his family’s tragic story as a second-generation Holocaust survivor, using his powerful drawings to trace the impact of his father’s trauma on his own life and on Israeli society today.

The New Jew: Days of War- (With an exclusive pre-recorded interview with Guri Alfi and Moshe Samuels)
Israeli comedian Guri Alfi embarks on a journey to explore the profound impact of October 7 on the identity, security and status of Jews in the United States. Through intimate personal stories—from families of hostages and individuals confronting rising antisemitism to young Jews grappling with intergenerational divides on Israel—the film makes these complex issues accessible to a broader audience. It delves into key developments after October 7, including the isolation felt by many American Jews, the rise in hate crimes and the growing quest for renewed belonging within their communities. Guided by Guri Alfi’s signature mix of empathy and humor, the film masterfully balances deep emotional resonance with moments of levity, offering a message of hope in challenging times. This film serves as a sequel to the critically acclaimed 2021 TV miniseries The New Jew, which earned widespread praise in Israel and at film festivals across the United States.

Labors of Love- (With an exclusive pre-recorded interview with Abby Ginzberg)
This heartfelt film brings long-overdue recognition to Henrietta Szold, a Jewish American humanitarian whose legacy includes advocating for cooperation between Jewish Palestinians and their Arab neighbors and founding Hadassah. Born in 1860 in Baltimore, Szold was an exceptional student who assisted Jewish immigrants and established English-language night schools. A visit to Palestine in 1909 following a personal heartbreak sparked her most lasting contribution to provide aid to the region. Then, as the Nazis rose to power in Europe, Szold launched initiatives that saved the lives of over 11,000 Jewish children.

The Ring-
In 1944 Budapest, a young mother clutching her baby boy saves both their lives by bribing a fascist soldier with a gold ring. In 2001 Israel, that same woman is ill; her son and his estranged daughter return to Budapest to find the ring, hoping it will save her life again. Their journey, based on the true story of Adir Miller’s mother and grandmother, raises a number of burning issues that are still relevant today–the tension between remembrance and forgiveness, between survivor guilt and self-acceptance, between parents and children—and deals with them with sensitivity, grace, and a rich vein of humor. Featuring three of Israel’s brighest stars, each of whom has appeared memorably, multiple times on-screen at the Festival.