13th Annual
2026
Nov 18 - 22, 2026
our "Bar Mitzvah" year
13th Annual Atlantic Jewish Film Festival: Our Bar Mitzvah Year
Wednesday, November 18 - Sunday, November 22: Bronfman Theatre, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
2026 Line-up
Opening: Wednesday, November 18: 7PM
The Floaters, 2025 | USA | 101 minutes | English | reception to follow.
The Floaters is a laugh-out-loud, multi-generational comedy that celebrates the joy, absurdity, and heart of summer camp life. The Floaters reunites audiences with the all-star talents of screen legend Steve Guttenberg and comedy icon Seth Green. When struggling musician Nomi is abruptly kicked out of her band on the eve of a European tour, her childhood best friend Mara convinces her to take a last-resort job as a fill-in counselor at Camp Daveed. With the camp’s survival on the line in a high-stakes Maccabiah Games challenge against wealthy rival Camp Barak, Nomi is tasked with directing the campers’ theatrical performance. Rejecting a predictable rendition of Fiddler on the Roof, she encourages the misfit troupe to create an original production sparking chaos, hilarity, and moments of unexpected brilliance.
Thursday, November 19: 7PM
Heaven and Earth, | 2025 | Israel | 106 minutes | Hebrew with English subtitles | reception to follow.
Heaven & Earth blends mystery and intimate drama to explore how far people will go to protect those they love. Heaven & Earth is a suspenseful and emotionally charged Israeli drama. Maya and Aviv Berger have built a seemingly perfect life, a stable relationship, successful careers, and a son they love more than anything. But when a series of medical tests reveals a shocking secret, their world begins to unravel. As Maya delves deeper in search of the truth, she uncovers strange inconsistencies and half-truths that lead her back to an event from years ago. What begins as a medical challenge soon transforms into a gripping mystery, one that culminates in a stunning revelation.
Shorts Program & Gala Celebration: Saturday, November 21: 8PM
Shorts Program: 7 International films
Bagels in the Blood (Canada, 2016, 5 minutes)
Beshert (United Kingdom, 2025, 19 minutes)
The Father, The Son and the Rav Kalmenson (France, 2023,15 minutes)
War Before Bedtime (Israel, 2024, 3 minutes, animated)
Half a Date (Israel, 2025, 24 minutes)
Happy BirthGay (Israel, 2022, 16 minutes)
We Have Sinned Before You (Israel, 2024, 20 minutes)
Closing: Sunday, November 22: 6:30PM
The Wedding Entertainer (or the Tale of Moishe Badhan) | 2026 | Feature | Israel, United States | 111 minutes | Hebrew, Yiddish with English subtitles | reception to follow.
To get the funds to marry off his own child, a disgraced Hasidic wedding-comedian must fight to reclaim his former glory. Before his battle with addiction, Moishe Striker was the most sought after Badchan (a Hasidic Jewish comedian who MCs weddings) in all of Jerusalem. Now living in disgrace, Moishe must secure one last gig to raise the money required to marry off his daughter, Sarah-Leah. When his childhood best friend returns home for his son’s wedding, Moishe convinces him to let him co-host the ceremony alongside the already-hired Badchan, who is younger and flashier. The co-MCs each bring their own flair to the wedding festivities - however, the proceedings quickly spiral out of control when the seasoned performers clash.
TICKETS: (On Sale October 29)
Wednesday, Thursday, & Sunday Screenings: $12 each.
Saturday Night Shorts Program + Gala: $18.
All-Access Pass - All Screenings Including Saturday Night Shorts Program & Gala: $42
Our 2026 Sponsors
2026 FILM PARTNERS
The Azrieli Foundation | Bishop’s Cellar | The Consulate of Israel | Israel Bonds Canada | Universal Realty Group | WBC Designs |
2026 PRODUCERS
Val MacDonald & Jim Spatz
2026 DIRECTORS
Lois & Ricardo Bessoudo
About The AJFF
The Atlantic Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is presented by the Atlantic Jewish Council (AJC). The festival provides an opportunity for people in Atlantic Canada to experience the Jewish world through film.
The AJFF offers film lovers documentaries, comedies and dramas that otherwise would not screen in our region. We choose films to engage, entertain and educate a diverse, inclusive audience.
We are excited to present another great year of engaging films highlighting Jewish life and culture around the world.
Sharing our values and culture with each other and the broader community through the enrichment that films provide.
Contact: Edna LeVine, Director of Community Engagement (AJC)
AJFF Committee: Lynn Rotin, Chair | Yoram Abisror (AJC) | Lisa Baida | Jon Goldberg | Anna Hazankin | Linda Law | Edna LeVine (AJC) | Jordan Schelew | Schuyler Smith | Ann Thaw | Howard Thaw | Peggy Walt
About the Atlantic Jewish Council
The Atlantic Jewish Council (AJC) has been the cornerstone of Jewish life in the Atlantic Canadian provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland & Labrador) since 1975, acting as the organized Jewish community’s representative and program/service provider for non-religious matters. With only a small staff complement and a modest budget, the AJC relies on the support of over 100 volunteers across Atlantic Canada to move the needle on our eight strategic priorities:
- Building a sense of Jewish community across Atlantic Canada;
- Strengthening Jewish identity amongst the Jews of Atlantic Canada, especially our youth;
- Reinforcing the regional identity of the Atlantic Canadian Jewish community;
- Supporting and connecting Atlantic Canadians to Israel;
- Educating about the Holocaust and human rights;
- Helping those in need in our community;
- Fostering relationships with and representing the Atlantic Jewish population to all levels of government, academic institutions, and Jewish and general organizations at both the national and local level; and
- Educating the community of Atlantic Canada at large about Judaism.
The AJC is happy to once again present the Atlantic Jewish Film Festival.
