The Long Beach Jewish Film Festival Premieres November 12 Free Family Movie November 8

The official selection of the Long Beach Jewish Film Festival feature covers the gamut of movie genres with comedy, drama, crime, war, and one free family film to precede the red-carpet premiere night on November 12. The curtain opens at the Alpert Jewish Community Center (Alpert JCC) from November 8 through November 16.

The free admission family movie is “Up,” the Disney animated film featuring the voice of Ed Asner as the accidental leader of an adventure like no other beginning with a ride on a house balloon. The show starts at 5:30 on Saturday, November 8. Arrive early for playtime on the playground, crafts, and pizza for purchase at 4:00 PM.

The Premiere Night reception on November 12 includes a walk on the red carpet, a gourmet popcorn bar, live music, drinks, and desserts before the premiere of the 2025 Long Beach Jewish Film Festival, featuring the comedy “Matchmaking 2” (Hebrew/English subtitles), about a matchmakers assistant’s pursuit to be married.

“The Ring,” a comedy drama (Hebrew/English subtitles) screens at 7:00 pm about the son of a Holocaust survivor searching for his mother’s ring that saved her life.

At 7:00 pm on Saturday, November 15, “The Stronghold” reenacts the drama of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 when Israeli soldiers were trapped in Sinai (Hebrew/English subtitles). A cocktail reception begins at 6:00 pm.

Two movies round out the festival on Sunday, November 16. At 1:00 pm “Yaniv,” a dramatic comedy (English) about a teacher deciding to earn funds for his school’s drama department by cheating at a card game called yaniv—"the blackjack of the Jewish people.” Followed by the closing reception beginning at 3:00 pm with cocktails and light refreshments, and showcasing the final movie, “Home,” a crime drama (Hebrew/English subtitles) based on a true story will begin at 4:00 pm.

Admission for individual films is $20 ($14 AJCC members), $25/$18 for the Premiere Night event. A Festival Pass is available for $100 ($86 AJCC members) and grants entrance to all six films, priority entrance, and complimentary drinks and refreshments at the film receptions.

For more details and to buy tickets, visit JewishLongBeach.org.

OFFICIAL FESTIVAL SELECTION (Descriptions from IMDB):

Saturday, November 8, 4 pm

UP (Comedy/Adventure)

78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to South America in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.

Language: English

Wednesday, November 12, 6 pm

MATCHMAKING 2 (a sequel) (Comedy)

After breaking box office records with their first film, the characters from Matchmaking return with this endearing romantic comedy set against Ashkenazi and Sepharic cultural tensions.

Language: Hebrew, English Subtitles

Walk the red carpet at 6 pm and enjoy live music and refreshments.

Thursday, November 12, 7 pm

THE RING (Comedy/Drama)

Arnon Noble is a religious man with a strong bond to his mother, a Holocaust survivor. When the mother's health deteriorates, he travels to her old hometown, Budapest to search for the mythological ring that saved her life in the past.

Language: Hebrew, English Subtitles

Saturday, November 15, 6 pm

THE STRONGHOLD (Drama/War)

Israeli soldiers trapped in Sinai during 1973 Yom Kippur War face annihilation. Lieutenant and doctor weigh final stand against risky gambit, potentially compromising values. Intense siege drama based on actual events.

Language: Hebrew, English Subtitles

Sunday, November 16, 1 pm

YANIV (Comedy/Drama)

After funding is cut for the school musical, a high school teacher resolves to earn it back by cheating at an underground card game run by the Hasidic Jewish community.

Language: English

Sunday, November 16, 3 pm Closing Reception.

HOME (Crime/Drama)

Yair’s modern electronics shop clashes with the Geula Committee in charge of enforcing the neighborhood’s religious character.

Language: Hebrew, English Subtitles

All Long Beach Jewish Film Festival events are held at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus (3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach). Please buy tickets in advance by visitingJewishLongBeach.com for the official selection.

Jewish Long Beach serves the Jewish and broader communities through strategic grant-making, development of emerging leaders, advocacy, and management of the community’s philanthropic funds. The Alpert Jewish Community Center, part of Jewish Long Beach and the focal point of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus, seeks to inspire community by improving lives, building bridges of understanding and inclusion.

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