The Malvin and Greta Roesch International Jewish Film Festival is committed to bringing you a diverse and enriching cinematic experience from Jewish communities around the globe, featuring films that celebrate Jewish culture, heritage and stories told through the lens of film.
Join us on our journey as we bring together community through the power of international films that showcase the mutual interests of the Jewish spirit, culture, traditions and humor.
Lights, Camera, Conversation
Join us after the credits roll for Lights, Camera, Conversation – a welcoming space for movie-lovers to reflect, share perspectives and dive deeper into the themes, characters and emotions sparked by the film. Whether you're a casual viewer or a cinema enthusiast, this is your chance to connect, process, and keep the story going.
All films will be shown at the Cranford Theater 25 North Avenue W in Cranford
Ticket Prices:
All tickets at the door: $18
Advance Ticket Price: $15.30/member, $18/community member
About the Film:
A nostalgic journey through the rise and fall of a legendary Catskills resort becomes a vivid portrait of how a hillside haven grow into a sanctuary and proving ground for American Jewish life.
Founded in the late 1910’s by Austrian Jewish immigrants shut out of mainstream vacation culture, Grossinger’s became the crown jewel of the Borscht Belt – an all-inclusive escape where Jewish identity of thrived openly, without apology. More than a resort, it was a world unto itself. At its heart was Jennie Grossinger, the formidable matriarch who transformed a humble boarding house into an iconic institution. A trailblazer in hospitality, Jennie welcomed everyone, from Eleanor Roosevelt and Jackie Robinson to Hollywood stars and future comedy legends, advancing inclusion, women’s leadership, and cultural influence decades ahead of her time.
Luminous archival footage and affectionate interviews with family descendants, former staff, devoted guests, historians, and cultureal figures including Judy Gold, Joel Grey, and Jackie Hoffman bring the heyday roaring back to life – Catskills nights buzzing with laughter, ardor ignited, and careers launched, where overflowing kosher tables mattered as much as the shows, swims, and swinging dance florr. From immigration and postwar optimism to assimilation and gradual decline driven by changing travel habits and lifestyles, this communal dram reflects the arc of a changing America.
Celebratory and deeply human, this lovingly crafted time capsule restores Grossinger’s to its rightful place, where the mountains were alive with possibility … and the proof that belonging, once found, truly never wanes.