Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival

Celebrate With Us Through Ritual, Art, Magic, Music, And Good Company Under The Stars As We Celebrate A World That Honors All Life!

Schedule Of Events:

Avenue of the Giants

6:00PM
Beautiful performances from Stephen Lang (Avatar) and Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade) anchor a tale of personal strength and sacrifice in this cinematic masterpiece inspired by true events about a man harboring a haunting secret as a Holocaust survivor. Set in locations as disparate as Terezín, Prague, and the Avenue of the Giants drive in California's Humboldt Redwoods State Park, this is an inspiring story about the transformative power of friendship and healing. For more than 50 years, Auschwitz survivor Herbert Heller (Stephen Lang) kept his memories of the Holocaust secret — even from his wife and children. But when he meets Abbey (Elsie Fisher), a troubled teen dealing with her own unspoken pain, Herbert decides it's time to talk and finally open his heart. Through sharing their personal traumas, Herbert and Abbey become the unlikeliest of friends, allies in healing whose bond brings them a previously undiscovered sense of purpose. With stunning reenactments of Herbert's struggles to survive during WWII, this touching film demonstrates that hope and redemption can come from anywhere if we're open to it.

8:30PM
Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella
DocumentaryView all films tagged "Documentary"
A Holocaust survivor's daughter becomes Canada's first female Jewish Supreme Court judge, reshaping the legal world with landmark decisions on inclusivity, diversity, and equity. Rosalie Abella studied law in Toronto, achieving success as an attorney before being appointed as a judge at the age of 29 in 1976. Her historic appointment to Canada's highest court came in 2004, capping off a long and distinguished career. Her remarkable journey, marked by intelligence, accessibility, and a spirited nature, established her not only as a respected jurist but as a national treasure, often compared to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This edifying, inspiring profile provides candid insights into both her arc from refugee child to profoundly impacting Canadian human rights, and her marriage to famed historian Irving Abella, featuring interviews with a diverse array of admirers who celebrate her lasting legacy.