JEWISH FEDERATION OF EASTERN CONNECTICUT

2026 Jewish FilmFest

32nd Annual Jewish FilmFest of Eastern CT

Presented by the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut & The Garde Arts Center of New London

FEBRUARY 22 – APRIL 19, 2026

The Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut (JFEC) is proud to present Eastern Connecticut's 32nd Annual Jewish FilmFest of Eastern CT, celebrating 32 years of Jewish history, culture, and identity. The FilmFest will run from Sunday, February 22 through Sunday, April 19, 2026. This year, JFEC is excited to announce that we are partnering with the Garde Arts Center in New London to bring five exceptional stories of Jewish life to watch the way they were meant to be seen—on the giant screen of the historic Garde Movie Palace, presented with 4K digital projection, 8-channel surround sound, and open seating across orchestra, loge, and balcony!

Tickets can be purchased through the Garde Arts Center only, as part of the Garde Arts Winter Cinema Series. Tickets are $15 per film or $75 for the full Winter Series Pass. Tickets can be purchesed online on the Garde's website or at the door at the Garde's box office. To purchase your ticket(s) in advance, visit: gardearts.org

 

ELEANOR THE GREAT

United States, 2025, Drama/Comedy/War, English/Yiddish, 98 minutes

Sunday, February 22, 3:00pm, Garde Arts Center

 

June Squibb brings to vivid life the witty and proudly troublesome 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who, after a devastating loss, tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own. Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut is a comically poignant exploration of how the stories we hear become the stories we tell.

 

NUREMBERG

US/Hungary, 2025, Biography/Drama/History/Thriller/War, English/German, 148 minutes

Sunday, March 8, 3:00pm, Garde Arts Center

 

NUREMBERG chronicles the eponymous trials held by the Allied Forces against the defeated Nazi regime. The film will center on American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley, who is tasked with determining whether Nazi prisoners are fit to stand trial for their war crimes and finds himself in a complex battle of wits with Hermann Göring, Hitler's right-hand man.

 

HOLDING LIAT

US/Israel, 2025, Documentary/Drama, English/Hebrew, 97 minutes

Sunday, March 22, 3:00pm, Garde Arts Center

 

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Israeli-American Liat Atzili and her husband Aviv were at home when Hamas attacked their kibbutz. By nightfall, Liat and Aviv are captives in Gaza along with 250 other people - 12 of whom, like Liat, are American citizens. Through the intimate lens of a family's experience, HOLDING LIAT poses complex questions of identity across generations, as the family is thrust into the epicenter of a global conflict rapidly unfolding in real-time.

 

MIDAS MAN

United Kingdom, 2024, Biography/Drama/Music, English, 112 minutes

Sunday, April 12, 3:00pm, Garde Arts Center

 

MIDAS MAN is the first, last and most respectful filmic portrait ever painted of Brian Epstein. From an original story, MIDAS MAN tells the personal tale of a man who struggled to find his place in the world. Brian Epstein is recognized today as the man who signed amongst others: The Beatles, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Cilla Black, Billy J Kramer, and The Dakotas and in doing so, created the blueprint for music artist management.

 

999: THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS

US/Sweden, 2024, Documentary/Drama/War, English, 90 minutes

Sunday, April 19, 3:00pm, Garde Arts Center

 

999: THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS chronicles the lives of nearly one thousand young Jewish women and teenage girls deported from Slovakia to Auschwitz on March 25, 1942—the first official transport to the camp. Many were told they were being sent to work for the government. Instead, they became witnesses to, and victims of, the earliest phase of the Nazi extermination system.​ Through survivor testimony, rare archival footage, and meticulous historical investigation, the film restores identity and voice to women whose experiences were largely erased from the historical record.

 

2026 FilmFest Sponsors

The Jewish FilmFest of Eastern CT committee wishes to send a heartfelt “Todah Rabah” to the members of our community who continue to annually support the FilmFest. Your support enables us to bring exceptional films that explore life experiences as well as dynamic speakers who engage our audience.

Ticket revenue accounts for a portion of the FilmFest’s budget. We rely on our sponsors to bridge the difference and help us create an outstanding Festival for all!

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a 2026 or 2027 Jewish Film Fest sponsor, please contact [email protected].

The Jewish FilmFest of Eastern CT is made possible by the generous support of donors like you. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law.

 

Thank you to our 2026 Jewish FilmFest Sponsors...

 

Executive Producer

Sayet & Seder

Director

Carol Curland

 

Leading Actor

Kim & Kenn Fischburg

Supporting Cast

Cecile & Barry Feldman

Karen & Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg

Rick & Myra Gipstein

Stanley & Karen Bloustine

 

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