Malvin and Greta Roesch New Jersey Jewish Film Festival

The Floaters
Thursday, March 5 • 7-9:30 p.m.
Post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers
Director: Rachel Israel
2025, USA, 101 minutes
English with English subtitles
Feature

The Floaters is the next classic summer camp comedy, about misfits coming together to save their camp in a winner-take-all Maccabiah. Filmed at Camp Tel Yehuda, with a cast of veteran comic actors (Aya Cash, Seth Green, Steve Guttenberg) and hilarious up-and-coming teenage actors, The Floaters offers multigenerational perspectives on Jewish summer camp with affection for all the ways camp shapes identity–Jewish and otherwise.

This film is powered by One Happy Camper NJ. Learn more about free summer camp advisory services here.

Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round
Sunday, March 8 • 3-5:15 p.m.
Post-screening Q&A with director Ilana Trachtman on Zoom
Director: Ilana Trachtman
2024, USA, 89 minutes
English with English subtitles
Documentary 

In 1960, Black students and a community of progressive Jews united for America’s first interracial Civil Rights protest. Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round tells the little-known story of the first organized interracial Civil Rights protest in U.S. history. This rousing film features interviews with many living participants, never-before-seen archival footage, and voiceover reenactments from Jeffrey Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Lee Grant, Dominique Thorne, and other stars of film and television. 

This film is powered by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), the advocacy and public affairs arm of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.

The Future Awaits 
Monday, March 16 • 7-9 p.m.
Director: Nils Tavernier
2025, France, 91 minutes
French with English subtitles
Feature 

In 1942 Paris, 13-year-old Tauba and her family must hide in a six-square-meter room to survive the Nazis. Based on a true story, The Future Awaits is a suspenseful drama of hope and resilience, centered on a remarkable performance by Violette Guillon as Tauba. Winner of the Holocaust Representation Award at the 2025 Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival. 

This film is powered by Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ’s Holocaust Education Department, which provides resources and information to educate our community about the Holocaust.

Ethan Bloom
Thursday, March 19 • 7-9:30 p.m.
Post-screening Q&A with director Herschel Faber, screenwriter Maylen Dominguez, and lead actor Joshua Malina on Zoom
Director: Herschel Faber
2025, USA, 95 minutes
English with English subtitles
Feature

13-year-old Ethan (Hank Greenspan, The Neighborhood) lives a double life: one moment, he might be helping his priest, Father Diaz, clean up after mass as an altar boy, and the next moment, he is having Shabbat dinner with his family. His father, Gary (Joshua Malina, Scandal & The West Wing), is trying to be understanding of Ethan’s spiritual wanderings while they are both still grieving the death of Ethan’s mother, but Ethan’s bar mitzvah is coming up. Full of heartfelt, funny performances by veteran television actors Ethan Bloom speaks to seekers of all ages and faiths.  

This film is powered by Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.