2025 Dia(s)porama festival: a unique look at international Jewish cinema
Since its creation in 2021, the Dia(s)porama Festival has become an unmissable celebration of Jewish cinema in France and internationally.
For its 5th edition, taking place from January 28 to February 10, 2025, the festival returns with a rich and diverse program, mixing never-before-seen fictions, captivating documentaries, and heritage films.
Organized by the Centre for Art and Culture – Espace Rachi and the United Jewish Social Fund, Dia(s)porama is part of a cultural transmission initiative and a fight against prejudice.
2025 Dia(s)porama festival: An exceptional program
This year, 16 films, including 8 fictions, 7 documentaries, and one heritage film, will be screened in 18 cities across France and online.
Never-Before-Seen Fictions
Premiere! A Real Pain (United States, 2025, 90 min)
Directed by Jesse Eisenberg
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin
Synopsis: David and Benji, cousins with opposing personalities, return to Poland to honor their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. What begins as a family pilgrimage soon evolves into a tumultuous exploration of their past. Buried tensions surface, highlighting the complexities of Jewish heritage and shared memories. This film skillfully navigates between sharp humor and poignant moments, offering an intimate look at family relationships and the weight of history.
Premiere! Le Choix du Pianiste (France, 2024, 98 min)
Synopsis: This film explores the dilemma of a talented young pianist caught between his art and his family responsibilities.
Opening film of the 2025 Dia(s)porama festival: Yaniv (United States, 2023, 80 min)
Directed by Amnon Carmi
Synopsis: A high school teacher passionate about theater sees his dream of producing a musical collapse after his funding is cut. In a desperate act, he recruits a colleague, a mathematician and compulsive gambler, to rig a secret card tournament within the Hasidic Jewish community. But nothing goes as planned, and the events that unfold reveal a hilarious and touching story about community, creativity, and perseverance.
Checkout (Israel-Ukraine, 2023, 92 min)
Directed by Jonathan Dekel
Synopsis: Dov, a Mossad agent nearing retirement, seeks to prove he can be as formidable as his colleagues. In a hotel in Turkey, he tracks down a notorious criminal named “Gilgamesh.” Assisted by a young bartender, he embarks on a mission that is as comedic as it is thrilling. This blend of espionage intrigue and absurd humor is a vibrant tribute to the tradition of spy stories.
Burst the Silence (United States, 2024, 102 min)
Directed by Eric D. Schaeffer
Synopsis: Inspired by a musical, this fable explores family bonds and transmission. Konnie, a Holocaust survivor, struggles to share his memories with his son Robbie. When the latter receives a guitar from his father, an emotional journey begins, with the musical notes becoming a bridge between silence and memory. This touching story questions how traumas are transmitted and transcended through art.
Dieu et le Chameau (Germany, 2023, 120 min)
Directed by Stefan Sarazin and Peter Keller
Synopsis: Ben, an orthodox Jew from Brooklyn, must travel to Alexandria to save a small Jewish community from extinction. But his journey is disrupted when he meets Adel, a grumpy Bedouin in search of his camel. This improbable road movie in the Sinai desert is a lesson in mutual aid, friendship, and bridges between cultures.
Avenue of the Giants (United States, 2023, 102 min)
Directed by Finn Taylor
Synopsis: Herbert Heller, a survivor of Auschwitz, keeps his past secret for 60 years until he meets Abbey, a teenager searching for answers. This delicate film weaves two intertwined stories, showing how past traumas can shed light on present-day challenges.
Closing film of the 2025 Dia(s)porama festival : All About the Levkoviches (Hungary, 2024, 85 min)
Directed by Ádám Breier
Synopsis: This family comedy centers on Tamás, an aging boxing coach, and his son Ivan, who have long been at odds. The death of the family matriarch forces these men to reassess their priorities and rebuild their bonds. A moving story about intergenerational reconciliation.
2025 Dia(s)porama festival: never-before-seen documentaries
Call Me Dancer (United States-India, 2023, 84 min)
Directed by Pip Gilmour and Leslie Shampaine
Synopsis: The incredible journey of Manish Chauhan, who overcomes social barriers to become a classical dancer. Under the direction of Yehuda Maor, Manish pushes his limits in a tale of perseverance and hope.
Four Winters (United States, 2022, 90 min)
Directed by Julia Mintz
Synopsis: A vibrant tribute to the 25,000 Jewish partisans who fought the Nazis, challenging the myth of Jewish passivity. This documentary intertwines inspiring testimonies with poignant archival footage.
Between the Stone and the Flower (United States, 2023, 69 min)
Directed by Roberto Otero Morfa
Synopsis: Genie Milgrom discovers her Jewish roots and confronts her beliefs as she navigates between her Catholic faith and Orthodox Judaism. A story about identity and the courage to change.
Vishniac (United States, 2023, 93 min)
Directed by Laura Bialis
Synopsis: This captivating portrait of photographer Roman Vishniac reveals his iconic images of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe before the Shoah.
Heritage Film
Surrender (L’otage) (United States, 1927, 80 min)
Directed by Edward Sloman
Synopsis: Léa Lyon, the daughter of a rabbi, must choose between sacrificing herself or saving her village during a Russian invasion. Carefully restored, this silent masterpiece explores universal themes of honor and duty.
A prestigious jury
The festival benefits from the collaboration of prominent cinema and media figures, such as Alexandre Arcady, president of the fiction jury, and Ruth Elkrief, president of the documentary jury. Alongside them, critics, directors, and writers lend their expertise, including Pascal Elbé, Radu Mihăileanu, and Rachel Khan.
New this year: a “Student Jury” will allow young arts students to participate in the festival by awarding the “Student Prize” to their favorite film.
Key events
Alongside the screenings, Dia(s)porama offers debates and meetings with filmmakers, journalists, and experts. Highlights include:
- The screening of Colleyville by Dani Menkin, followed by a discussion on the tragic events at the Beth Israel synagogue in Texas.
Colleyville (United States, 2024, 80 min)
Directed by Dani Menkin
Synopsis: A meticulous reconstruction of the hostage situation at a Texas synagogue, exploring resilience and humanity in the face of terror.
- An evening dedicated to testimonies from the October 7th attacks, with screenings of the documentaries Screams Before Silence and Looking for Yotam.
Looking for Yotam (France, 2024, 90 min)
Directed by Caroline Bongrand and Georges Benayoun
Synopsis: This poignant documentary follows the investigation into Yotam Haïm, a young Israeli musician who was kidnapped and killed. Through testimonies and archives, it paints an emotional portrait of a talented artist and the impact of his absence.
Screams Before Silence (United States, 2024, 60 min)
Directed by Sheryl Sandberg
Synopsis: This documentary gives a voice to the victims of the October 7th violence, shedding light on stories ignored by mainstream media.
Commitment to memory and diversity
The festival stands out for its commitment to exploring the many facets of Jewish culture through intimate narratives and universal stories. Gérard Garçon, president of the Centre for Art and Culture, emphasizes the importance of art as a vehicle for memory and resilience.
With screenings in theaters and on VOD, Dia(s)porama 2025 reaches a wide and curious audience. A unique opportunity to discover never-before-seen works, engage in dialogue, and reflect together on history, identity, and humanity.
2025 Dia(s)porama festival official website
2025 Dia(s)porama festival: interview with Lise Benkemoun (podcast)
