New films capture uniqueness of Jewish Australia

Four Australian short films will premiere at this year’s Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF), each responding to the experiences of local Jewish life post October 7. 

The films are supported by the Jewish Australian Screen Fund (JASF), which partnered with JIFF to provide $30,000 to the filmmakers – the biggest grant pool to date. The newly-established fund is the brainchild of Jamie Bialkower, who aims to address the lack of Jewish narratives and creatives being financed in Australia, and to increase Jewish representation on screen.  

“The four films are unique, unexpected, and self-contained but collectively, they are in conversation with each other, offering a nuanced and thought-provoking look at this moment in time we are living through,” Bialkower told The Jewish Independent. 

“Having these films exist is an acknowledgment in itself – we've captured this, with no agenda other than to have our voices heard.” 

The Jewish Independent spoke with each of the four filmmakers about what audiences can expect from their upcoming short productions. 

After reading Sholem Aleichem’s legendary The Railroad Stories – a series of observations following Eastern European Jews riding trains between shtetls – Anita Lester said her short film Crumbs appeared to her quickly.