A lifetime of silence. A buried past. A daughter’s search for the truth.
That mystery lies at the heart of “My Underground Mother,” the opening film of the 24th annual Jewish Film Festival at the Jacob Burns Film Center, beginning March 24. The deeply personal documentary, directed by New York Times journalist Marissa Fox, sets the tone for two weeks of films exploring Jewish culture, history, and identity.
In the film, Fox turns the camera on her own family, unraveling secrets her mother kept for decades. Raised to believe her mother had been an early settler in Israel, Fox ultimately uncovers a hidden past tied to the Holocaust. After seven years of research and interviews, she reconstructs a story that deeply reshapes her understanding of her mother and herself.
For curator David Schwartz, the film perfectly captures the festival’s mission.
“This film deals with an important historical story, but it’s told through the perspective of a deeply personal one,” he said.
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with Fox.
Schwartz, an award-winning New York–based film curator and writer, previously served as chief curator at the Museum of the Moving Image and has long been involved in programming films throughout the region, including at the Emelin Theatre. A former Tarrytown resident, he said he has a particular affection for the Burns.
“It’s been incredible to watch it grow into what is now one of the best theaters in the country,” he said.
Asked what defines a “Jewish film,” Schwartz emphasized the breadth of the category.
“It could mean a lot of different things,” he said. “A Jewish film festival is a celebration of resilience, tradition, community, and family bonds — and also an exploration of a long history marked by conflict and trauma.”
That wide lens is reflected in this year’s lineup, which ranges from deeply personal documentaries to historical explorations and comedy.
Among the selections is “A Letter to David,” which follows David Cunio, taken hostage during the Oct. 7 attacks, and the months of uncertainty his family endured. Directed by Tom Shoval, the documentary carries an eerie resonance: a decade earlier, Cunio and his brother appeared in Shoval’s fictional film about a kidnapping set on their kibbutz. After Oct. 7, the director returned to Israel to document the real-life crisis, creating a film that moves between past and present. An updated ending reflecting recent developments will premiere at the Burns, followed by a virtual conversation with the director.
“A Letter to David”
For a lighter counterpoint, the comedy “Fantasy Life,” directed by Larchmont native Matthew Shear, brings a recognizable Jewish family dynamic to the screen. The film stars Amanda Peet alongside Judd Hirsch and Bob Balaban.
One of the festival’s most ambitious offerings is a rare screening of “Shoah,” Claude Lanzmann’s landmark nine and a half hour Holocaust masterpiece. Widely regarded as one of the greatest documentaries ever made, it is rarely shown in its entirety.
“It’s an amazing thing to experience,” Schwartz said. What makes it groundbreaking, he explained, is its method. The film uses no archival footage from the 1940s, relying instead on present-day testimony from survivors, perpetrators, and historians, alongside contemporary images of the locations themselves.
Complementing that screening — earlier that week — is “All I Had Was Nothingness,” a new documentary about the making of “Shoah.” Schwartz paired it with “Night and Fog,” a haunting short Holocaust documentary that runs under 30 minutes and incorporates archival footage from concentration camps.
“It’s tough … it’s a tough film to watch,” Schwartz said. “But it’s essential.”
For moviegoers who can’t attend everything, Schwartz recommends prioritizing screenings that feature visiting filmmakers.
Among those events are “Sapiro vs. Ford: The Jew Who Sued Henry Ford,” about a young Jewish lawyer who sued the notoriously antisemitic industrialist; “The Last Spy,” chronicling the life of Peter Sichel, a Nazi Germany refugee turned master American spy; and “Death & Taxes,” a documentary about a family’s long-running estate tax battle. That screening will include a Q&A with the film’s central subject, Joy Schein.
“The Last Spy”
Programming for the festival begins months in advance. Schwartz starts by surveying the broader Jewish film festival circuit, including prominent events in New York, Miami, and San Francisco.
“The first thing I do is pay attention to the lineup and what films are out there,” he said. From there, he watches as many projects as possible that might fit the Burns’ audience.
One example is “When Caesar Was King: How Sid Caesar Invented Comedy,” a lively illustrated talk with author David Margolick, who will share clips and discuss Caesar’s enormous influence on American comedy. The program also carries a strong local connection: Caesar grew up in Yonkers.
Festivalgoers can also stop by the JBFC’s Take 3 Wine Bar for New York–style egg creams, a nostalgic nod to Jewish culinary tradition.
For a schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit the Jacob Burns Film Center website.
