The Worcester JCC is home to the Central Mass International Jewish Film Festival, a film festival featuring films that span a variety of genres and topics including historical and modern Jewish experiences, from Jewish creators, directors, and screenwriters. Showings take place at theaters around Central Mass, including the Worcester JCC Auditorium.
The Central Mass International Jewish Film Festival is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts.
Stay Tuned for More Information for the Following Films:
Midas Man, Saturday, March 21, 6:30pm, Worcester JCC, $18 in advance $20 at the door
Midas Man chronicles the life and career of “Fifth Beatle” Brian Epstein, the visionary manager who propelled the Fab Four from Liverpool club band to global stardom. The film delves into his unwavering belief in the Beatles’ star power and significance, his innovative approach to artist management, and his personal search for connection and belonging while facing societal and familial pressures due to his identity. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd delivers a compelling performance as Epstein, capturing the complexities of a man who was both a cultural trailblazer and a figure battling inner demons. A sharp supporting cast—including Emily Watson, Eddie Izzard, and Jay Leno—helps bring the swinging ’60s to life with style and wit. Midas Man balances emotional insight with rhythm and flair, offering a vibrant look at a music industry on the cusp of transformation—and the man who helped spark it.
Swedishkayt: Yidlife Crisis in Stockholm, March 8, 3:00PM, Worcester JCC (tentative), $10 in advance $15 at the door
Get ready to laugh and kvell with Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm as self-proclaimed international Yiddish-ish icons YidLife Crisis—comedy duo Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman—bravely step onto Swedish soil to unearth a hidden treasure trove of Jewish culture. From the moment they arrive in Stockholm, our heroes, like gefilte fish out of water, prepare for a big live show while unraveling the little-known history of Sweden’s Jewish community in their hilarious and heartfelt journey.
Through meshugenah encounters and eye-opening revelations, they explore tales spanning 250 years, from the earliest Jewish immigrants to discovering how Yiddish, an almost forgotten language, became a protected government-recognized language in Sweden—yes, THAT Sweden! Along the way, they dive into a cultural revival that’s as unexpected as it is joyous.
Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm is a warm and funny portrait of a community that thrives on resilience and reinvention, celebrating the quirky, surprising ways that language and identity continue to evolve. It is a love letter to Jewish happiness, unity, and the delightful discoveries waiting just beyond our comfort zones. With their unique blend of humor and heart, Eli & Jamie also remind us that sometimes the most exciting connections pop up where you least expect them—and that Jewish joy is truly universal!
Resistance – They Fought Back, With Q & A with Paula Apsell, Director and Writer, April 26, 3PM, Worcester JCC, $10 in advance, $15 at the door
We’ve all heard of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, but most people have no idea how widespread and prevalent Jewish resistance to Nazi barbarism was. Instead, it’s widely believed “Jews went to their deaths like sheep to the slaughter.” Filmed in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Israel, and the U.S., Resistance – They Fought Back provides a much-needed corrective to this myth of Jewish passivity. There were uprisings in ghettos large and small, rebellions in death camps, and thousands of Jews fought Nazis in the forests. Everywhere in Eastern Europe, Jews waged campaigns of non-violent resistance against the Nazis.
Film will be followed with Q & A by Paula Apsell