The Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival will take place from December 5 – 10, 2026 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. The festival will open with Visitation, the latest film by Oscar-winning German director Volker Schlöndorff, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Schlöndorff will travel to Israel as the festival’s Guest of Honor and receive an award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the art of cinema. Now in its 28th edition, the festival will feature over 40 films from 15 countries, presenting contemporary perspectives on Jewish identity, history, and culture. The program will also feature talks, workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and special events. Tickets for the opening event are available on the festival website, tickets for all other screenings will go on sale Sunday, November 22, 2026.
Closing the festival will be the documentary Am I Cancelled Yet?, which explores the personal story of American actor and comedian Michael Rapaport, who has become one of the most prominent voices in support of Israel in recent years. Rapaport, who also serves as producer of the film, will attend the gala screening at the Jerusalem Cinematheque alongside the film’s director, Ruth Berdah-Canet, and participate in a post-screening Q&A with the audience.
Roni Mahdav-Levin, CEO of the Jerusalem Cinematheque, and Daniella Tourgeman-Glass, Artistic Director of the Jewish Film Festival: “We are honored and delighted to open the 28th Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival with two exceptional international guests, each representing different and fascinating voices in the world of cinema. Volker Schlöndorff, one of the leading figures in European cinema, will join us with his latest film and receive an award in recognition of his longstanding contribution to the art of filmmaking. We will close the festival with Michael Rapaport, an actor and comedian who has become one of the most prominent voices in support for Israel, and a documentary that reveals his personal story. Though vastly different in style and cinematic language, both films explore, in their own ways, questions of identity, memory, belonging, and the challenges of navigating a changing reality. Together, they embody the spirit of the festival, which seeks to showcase thought-provoking, artistic cinema and create meaningful conversations between filmmakers and audiences through stories that reflect the many facets of the Jewish experience.”
Opening Event: Visitation
Germany 2026 | 118 min. | German | Hebrew, English subtitles
The film focuses on a plot of land and its different inhabitants through 70 years of German history, from the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era to WWII, the Soviet occupation and reconstruction, to the fall of the GDR. On the shores of a lake near Berlin stands a charming little home, surrounded by lush greenery and a magical path leading down to the water. Over the decades, its walls and garden bear witness to the sweeping history of Germany and the world: from the German architect who builds the home for his family, to the Jewish neighbors forced to flee, and finally, to new residents arriving from a wounded yet recovering land, bringing with them the hopes for a better future. In his latest film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Volker Schlöndorff (The Tin Drum) creates a richly layered world spanning generations, weaving together memories, struggles, love, pain, and a world in constant transformation.
An additional screening of the film, followed by a conversation with the director, will take place on Sunday, December 6, at 17:00. Post-screening conversation to be moderated by Benjamin Tovias, film critic for Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynet.
Closing Event: Am I Cancelled Yet?
USA 2026 | 88 minutes | English & Hebrew | English & Hebrew subtitles
Since October 7, 2023, Michael Rapaport has been on an emotional rollercoaster, reconnecting with his Jewish identity while facing backlash for his outspoken support of Israel. Am I Cancelled Yet? blends outrageous comedy with heartbreaking reality, following Rapaport as he visits the sites of the October 7 massacres, meets survivors and hostage families, and confronts the personal and professional consequences of speaking out. Moving between laughter and grief, bravado and vulnerability, this funny, raw, and deeply human documentary asks one question: What happens when shutting up is NOT an option?
The closing event will take place on Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 20:30 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. To be followed by a discussion with Michael Rapaport and the film’s director, Ruth Berdah-Canet.
The 2026 Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Azrieli Foundation Israel, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Jerusalem Foundation, the Jerusalem Development Authority, Yad Vashem, Hélène Schoumann, various institutes and embassies, among them: Austrian Cultural Forum, Goethe-Institut Israel, German Films, Italian Cultural Institute, Embassy of the Netherlands in Israel, Irgun Olei Holland, Polish Institute in Tel Aviv.
