Nov 1, 2021

Kristallnacht Hybrid Program

This year, even more than ever, we are honored to mark Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) and keep the memories alive of our Survivors and their stories. In an effort to commemorate Kristallnacht together amidst the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are hosting a hybrid program featuring a specially curated selection of acclaimed Holocaust-themed movies that are available to stream online for free as well as presented in-person outdoors.

Highlights from the program include virtual presentations of several MJFF 2021 acclaimed films, including The Invisible Line, Cafe Zelig, and the audience award-winning film Finding Manny, which will be presented on Sunday, November 7 and available to stream for free for the public. In this acclaimed documentary, a chance discovery of an article sends a Holocaust survivor on an unexpected trip to visit the orphanage where he was rescued to after the war. Presented in partnership with the Screening the Holocaust series, the virtual event will be accompanied by a live conversation with director Kacey Cox, producers Cindy Drukier & Jan Jekielek, and Temple Beth Sholom’s director of congregational engagement Mark Baranek.

Other notable selections in the program include a special outdoor screening of The Song of Names that will be accompanied by a live violin performance on Monday, November 8 at the Miami Beach JCC. Based on the novel of the same name and starring Clive Owen and Tim Roth, this sweeping historical drama follows a man searching for his childhood best friend — a violin prodigy orphaned in the Holocaust — who vanished decades before on the night of his first public performance. The event is hosted in partnership with the Five Star Cinema program at the Miami Beach JCC, which is made possible with the support of the Solomon Family, in tribute to Michael Solomon.

The Kristallnacht program will close at the Miami Beach SoundScape with an under the stars presentation of The Zookeeper’s Wife starring Academy Award-nominee Jessica Chastain. Taking place after the Nazis invade Poland, the film follows Warsaw Zoo caretakers Antonina and Jan Zabinski, who place themselves in grave danger when they began collaborating with the Resistance in an effort to save Jews from the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto. Guests attending the SoundScape screening on Thursday, November 11 are encouraged to arrive early to get a front row lawn seat to enjoy the movie on the 7,000 square foot wall of the New World Center. The event is co-presented with the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

For more than two decades, education has been the cornerstone of the Miami Jewish Film Festival's programming, and we are proud to be able to offer this extensive program to our community for free. If you value this program and all that MJFF provides year-round to our community, then consider supporting us by donating or becoming a Member today so we can continue educating our community through our dynamic programs.

Join us from November 4 through 11 to reflect upon this tragedy, remember those who perished, and honor our Survivors. You can find the complete Kristallnacht hybrid program below:

Cafe Zelig (2020)

Some of the world’s last remaining Holocaust survivors with roots from all over Europe meet every week at Café Zelig in Munich to laugh and celebrate holidays, to argue and discuss the difficulties they had, and finding their way back to life in Germany. Stream the film for free by clicking here.

Finding Manny (2020)

The chance discovery of an article sends a Holocaust survivor on an unexpected trip to visit the orphanage where he was rescued to after the war. RSVP for the live Q&A with director Kacey Cox by clicking here. Presented in partnership with the Screening the Holocaust Series. Stream the film for free by clicking here.

The Invisible Line (2020)

This powerful documentary tells the story of the infamous “The Third Wave” (aka The Wave) experiment created by history teacher Ron Jones at Palo Alto's Cubberley High in 1967, which was intended to teach students about the appeal of fascism and how it gave rise to the Holocaust. Stream the film for free by clicking here.

The Song of Names (2020)

Starring Clive Owen and based on the bestselling book, this sweeping drama follows a man searching for his childhood best friend — a violin prodigy orphaned in the Holocaust — who vanished decades before on the night of his first public performance. Presented in partnership with the Five Star Cinema program, sponsored by the Solomon Family in Tribute to Michael Solomon. RSVP to the free outdoor event by clicking here.

The Zookeeper's Wife

After the Nazis invade Poland, Warsaw Zoo caretakers Antonina and Jan Zabinski place themselves in grave danger when they begin collaborating with the Resistance in an effort to save Jews from the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto. Starring Academy Award-nominee Jessica Chastain. Presented in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach. RSVP to the free outdoor event by clicking here.