The 27th Annual Rutgers Jewish Film Festival - We Met at Grossinger's, The Darkest Light & The Soun

WE MET AT GROSSINGER'S

Country: USA
Year: 2026
Director: Paula Eiselt
Run Time: 104 minutes
Language(s): English

Grossinger's Resort was the most talked about destination in the Jewish Catskills -- once known as the Borscht Belt --where Jewish families could vacation, escaping rising antisemitism in the mid-1900s. Paula Eiselt's charming documentary unearths decades of Grossinger's history, reframing its legacy as not only a pop culture hotspot, but also a trailblazing feminist enterprise and a haven for Jewish-American identity and acceptance.

Official Selection, DOC NYC, 2025

THE DARKEST LIGHT

Country: USA
Year: 2026
Director: Simon Mendes
Run Time: 77 minutes
Language(s): English, German, and Hebrew with English subtitles

NEW JERSEY PREMIERE

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and his music left an indelible impact on the modern Jewish world, but when multiple women accused him of sexual abuse after his death in 1994, the merits of his legacy were thrown into question. Told with the participation of Carlebach's daughter, Neshama, and several survivors, The Darkest Light subverts traditional discourse over cancel culture and asks how one's reverence for Carlebach's music can coexist with a desire for justice for his victims.

THE SOUNDMAN

Country: Belgium
Year: 2026
Director: Frank Van Passel
Run Time: 118 minutes
Language(s): Dutch with English subtitles

On the brink of the German invasion of Belgium in 1940, introverted but passionate sound artist Berre begins interning at an acclaimed radio station in Brussels. There, he meets Elza, an aspiring Jewish voiceover actress who is navigating rising antisemitism. As sparks fly, their passion for radio offers a beacon of hope in dark times. Featuring uniquely breathtaking sound design, this immersive drama is a testament to the power of storytelling. Official Selection,

Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2026

Presented by: The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life with support from The Karma Foundation