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IMPORTANT: Our 2025 festival will be hybrid. This means we will offer both in-person (live) screenings and virtual screenings.
Please note: In-person screenings will not be offered virtually and virtual screenings will not be offered in-person.
Virtual TIFF 2025 will be available on demand with a pre-recorded talkback.
A Place of Our Own (Ek Jagah Apni)
drama (Subtitles - hindi) - 88 MINUTES
Directed by Ektara Collective
Description: Set in the city of Bhopal, India in current time, Laila and Roshni, a transgender couple, are looking for a house after they are evicted from the place they rented. It soon becomes evident that their search for a home is also their ongoing search for a place in this society. The film explores the lack of understanding about their situation and the discrimination, exploitation, and oppression they face throughout their lives.
Sponsored by Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C
A World Apart - NJ Premiere - Centerpiece
Comedy, drama (subtitles - italian) - 112 MINUTES
Directed by Riccardo Milani
Description: Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Abruzzo National Park, A World Apart follows veteran teacher Michele Cortese as he begins an unexpected chapter in his life. Arriving during a snowstorm to take a post at a tiny rural school on the verge of closure, Cortese finds himself far from the comforts of Rome and faced with a lively, multi-age class. With the support of Agnese, the school’s passionate vice-principal, he gradually sheds his urban habits and rediscovers the true meaning of teaching — rooted in empathy, resilience, and the power of community.
Sponsored by Addie Wijnen
Among Neighbors - NJ Premiere
Documentary (subtitles - polish) - 100 MINUTES
Directed by Yoav Potash
Description: Using beautiful hand-drawn animation to bring the past to life, Among Neighbors investigates the story of a small, rural town where the longstanding peace between Jewish and Polish neighbors was shattered by World War II. Now, in an era where difficult truths about the past are being silenced for political gain, the film focuses on one of the last living Holocaust survivors from the town, and an aging eyewitness who saw Jews murdered there — six months after the Nazis were defeated. It is an evocative and heart-pounding murder mystery with urgent political relevance.
Sponsored by the Jewish Standard
Beyond the Headlines: The NABJ Journey - NJ Premiere
documentary - 40 MINUTES
Directed by James Franklin Blue III
Description: Beyond the Headlines: The NABJ Journey: explores the courageous determination and relentless spirit of African American journalists, reflecting on their critical role in shaping media narratives and confronting racial injustice. Through intimate firsthand accounts of the founding and archival footage, the film delves into the birth and evolution of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), highlighting the struggles, triumphs, and resilience of those who broke racial barriers within newsrooms across the nation. The inspiration for this project lies in the understanding that journalism is a powerful catalyst for social change. By spotlighting pioneering figures such as Max Robinson, Maureen Bunyan, Chuck Stone, and Vernon Jarrett, the film honors their contributions and underscores the necessity of inclusivity in media. We confront the historical oversight and marginalization within American journalism, emphasizing the urgent need for authentic representation and representative storytelling.
Sponsored by Bergen County (NJ) Chapter of The Links, Inc.
Talkback with Producer Allison Davis
Coexistence, My Ass!
documentary (subtitles - hebrew, arabic) - 95 minutes
Directed by Amber Fares
Description: Shot over five tumultuous years, COEXISTENCE, MY ASS! follows Israeli activist-comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi as she creates a comedy show of the same name. Noam’s personal, professional, and political journey is traced alongside the region’s steady deterioration. Raised in a bilingual Israeli-Palestinian village — the only intentionally integrated community in the country — Noam grows disillusioned with traditional peace activism and pivots to stand-up comedy, quickly gaining attention across the Middle East. But as her star rises, everything around her begins to fall apart. With biting satire, Noam challenges her audience to confront difficult truths that may not always be funny but remind us that another reality is possible.
The Disappearance of Miss Scott - Opening Night
documentary, biography - 87 MINUTES
Directed by Nicole London
Description: Hazel Scott was one of the most revered stars of the early 20th century. Not only was Scott a beloved musical sensation, but she also channeled her talents into Hollywood stardom, becoming the first Black American to host her own television show. An early civil rights pioneer, she faced down the Red Scare at the risk of losing her career and was a champion for equality. The film features interviews with Mickey Guyton, Tracie Thoms, Amanda Seales, Adam Clayton Powell III, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as the voice of Hazel Scott.
Talkback with Producer Sheila MacVicar
Sponsored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Bergen / Passaic Chapter
Home: Two (HU)Men, Silent Force, Your Silence is Loud Cecilia - NJ Premiere
dance - 60 MINUTES
Description: Curated and created by interdisciplinary artist Sagí Amir Gros, HOME is a poetic program of short films and performance exploring the fragile and powerful idea of home as memory, body, culture, and longing. Rooted in Sagí’s Jewish and European-Yemeni heritage, HOME transcends borders, offering a deeply personal yet collective experience. Developed through his self-devised philosophy Physical Script, the films reflect on migration, identity, displacement, and the emotional imprint of place. Screening will be followed by a live dance performance by Sagi Amir Gros and an artist talk and Q & A inviting audiences into dialogue around belonging, diversity, and resilience.
The Librarians
Documentary, drama - 92 MINUTES
Directed by Kim A. Snyder
Description: In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQIA+ stories—triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of White Christian Nationalism fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work, the librarians’ rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale.
Sponsored by Friends of the Teaneck Public Library; Teaneck Community Chorus; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Bergen County Alumnae Chapter; Edie and Ray Turkin
Lilly - Closing Night
drama - 93 MINUTES
Directed by Rachel Feldman
Description: Lilly follows the transformation of an ordinary citizen in the face of an issue, illuminating the impact of a single, courageous person. Based on the true story of working-class hero, Lilly Ledbetter, an Alabama tire factory supervisor whose goal is to lift her family into the middle class. We follow Lilly as she battles Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in court. Starring Patricia Clarkson in a powerful performance. A film for this moment, Lilly inspires audiences with hope.
Sponsored by YWCANNJ; Senator Loretta Weinberg; National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section; Women of Wisdom (WOW); Shahanaz Arjumand
Talkback with Director Rachel Feldman
Little Kid Flicks
children age 4 to 8 - 60 MINUTES
Description: Let your little ones discover the magic of the big screen with Little Kid Flicks. Whether searching for the perfect pancake or interviewing a crocodile, these shorts are sure to enchant and delight all audiences (but especially our youngest!). Plus entertainment with Miss Jolie.
Sponsored by the Puffin Foundation, Ltd.; Teaneck Public Library; Barbara Ostroth, Coldwell Banker Realty
Plastic People
documentary - 84 MINUTES
Directed by Ben Addelman & Ziya Tong
Description: The ground-breaking feature documentary investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every bit of plastic ever made breaks down into "microplastics." These microscopic particles drift in the air, float in all bodies of water, and mix into the soil, becoming a permanent part of the environment. Now, leading scientists are finding these particles in our bodies: organs, blood, brain tissue, and even the placentas of new mothers. What is the impact of these invisible invaders on our health? And can anything be done about it?
Sponsored by the Teaneck Creek Conservancy
Saffron Kingdom
drama (subtitles - kashmiri) - 84 MINUTES
Directed by Arfat Sheikh
Description: NJ Premiere! Saffron Kingdom is a drama inspired by true events, following Masrat, a Kashmiri woman who, after her husband’s abduction, escapes to America with her son, Rizwan. Settling in Atlanta, they confront the challenges of displacement and the lingering trauma from their past. The film explores themes of identity, resilience, and the enduring impact of political turmoil on personal lives.
Sponsored by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC)
Sally! - NJ Premiere
biography, history - 103 MINUTES
Directed Deborah Craig
Description: Sally! is a compelling exploration of the life and legacy of Sally Gearhart, a trailblazer in both feminist and queer movements. The film highlights Gearhart’s imaginative spirit and her ability to foster dialogue across ideological divides, making it a crucial watch for today's activists. Along with celebrating Gearhart’s contributions, Sally! serves as a call to action for those committed to social change, reminding audiences of the importance of learning from historical movements to inspire current and future activism.
Sponsored by Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County
Screenagers: Next Chapter
Documentary - 63 minutes
Directed by Delaney Ruston
Description: Filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston uses a personal lens and professional eye to help us all flip the script on stress, anxiety, and depression. We follow Delaney as she finds herself at a loss on how to help her own teens as they struggle with their emotional wellbeing. Ruston sets out to understand these challenges in our current screen-filled society, and how we as parents and schools empower teens to overcome mental health challenges and build emotional agility, communication savvy, and stress resilience.
Sponsored by Children’s Aid & Family Services; NJ4S-Bergen Hub; The Community Chest
Shttl
drama, history (subtitles - yiddish) - 114 MINUTES
Directed by Ady Walter
Description: A filmmaker returns from Kyiv to his rural village to marry the love of his life. He is expected to marry the Rabbi's daughter, which disrupts the balance of the whole town. In one unflinching shot, this film presents a day in the life of a Jewish village before it disappears. SHTTL is the story of the inhabitants of a Yiddish Ukrainian village at the border of Poland, 24 hours before the Nazi invasion, known as Operation Barbarossa. Today, there are no such villages in existence; the production fully reconstructed a traditional 'Shtetl' outside of Kyiv, which is planned to be turned into a museum.
Sponsored by The Jewish Link
Trespass - World Premiere
documentary- 60 minutes
Directed by Kim Watson
Description: Drawn from the personal relationships filmmaker Kim Watson has developed with his subjects, TRESPASS is a feature-length documentary about the homeless and the circumstances that led them to the streets, the exceptional challenges, and the occasional successes which they navigate daily. You will observe the individuals and organizations that attempt to help them, and how the human apathy that so demeans homeless people, combined with the profiteers and power-structures that criminalize them, keeps them on the streets.
Talkback with Director/Photographer Kim Watson
Sponsored by Center for Food Action; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Iota Epsilon Omega Chapter
Vigilantes Inc.: America's New Vote Suppression Hitmen
documentary - 78 MINUTES
Directed by David Ambrose
Description: Greg Palast and his investigations team bust the most brazen, racist attack on voting rights yet. The film centers on a terrible new threat this year to the right to vote: "vigilante" challenges by self-appointed vote-fraud hunters, not government officials, who are targeting well over one million voters to challenge and block the counting of their ballots. Most suspiciously, the vast majority of vigilante targets are young voters and voters of color. Narrated by Rosario Dawson with a forward by Martin Sheen.
Sponsored by The Martin Luther King Birthday Committee; League of Women Voters of Teaneck
Talkback with Greg Palast
A City Fights Back: How L.A. Defends Itself from ICE - VIRTUAL
Documentary - 10 MINUTES
Directed Brandon Tauszik
Description: Under Donald Trump's administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stepped up arrests and detention of immigrants around the United States. This is how Unión del Barrio, a member of the Community Self Defense Coalition, is fighting back in Los Angeles.
Sponsored by Economic Hardship Reporting Project; The Puffin Foundation, Ltd.
Cast Aside the Clouds - VIRTUAL
Drama (Subtitles - PERSIAN) - 114 minutes
Directed by Mary Darling, Felicia Sobhani & Bre Vader
Description: This love story explores the power of love, faith, and resilience. Set in Tehran, the film follows the journey of Layla Khosravi and Dr. Sasan Naderi, as they navigate the complexities of love and faith in a world divided by religious prejudice.
Talkback with Director Mary Darling
The Dancer - VIRTUAL
Documentary - 90 minutes
Directed & Written by Lacey Uhlemeyer
Description: From a refugee camp in Damascus to the world’s most prestigious ballet stages, The Dancer traces the extraordinary journey of Ahmad Joudeh, a courageous artist who risked everything to move freely, both in body and spirit. Condemned for being gay, threatened by extremists for dancing, and abused by those closest to him, Ahmad’s story is one of defiance, resilience, and purpose. Now an internationally recognized artist and the first certified ballet master from an Arabic background, Ahmad returns to Syria with a dream: to uplift a new generation of dancers. Powerful and deeply human, The Dancer is a testament to art’s ability to transcend fear, reclaim identity, and build peace through movement.
Locker Room Talk - VIRTUAL
Documentary - 42 minutes
Directed by Beth Davenport & Eva Tenuto
Description: The docu-short Locker Room Talk follows the Kingston Tigers over the course of their football season, both on and off the field, as they seek the championship and redefine what it means to be men. Along the way, through the power of true storytelling, they face the cultural expectations of masculinity head-on and ultimately share deeply personal stories about love, loss, and triumph. Whether or not the Tigers win the game, a bigger battle has been won: the team has changed the way they view women and themselves (note: to be shown to Teaneck High School students in addition to the virtual presentation)
Sponsored by Teaneck Board of Education
We, the Collective - VIRTUAL
documentary - 25 Minutes
Directed by Kevin Pierre Satterfield
Description: We, the Collective is an independently-produced documentary film that explores the New York nightlife ecosystem as a means of social and economic mobility for Black & brown people of the queer and trans experience. As history has shown throughout the decades, New York's nightlife has often been credited as a tool for collective care within the LGBTQ+ community. As the film highlights specific art collectives, party organizers, and community organizers who have found themselves at the intersection of the nightlife scene and the reclaiming of space, “We, the Collective” sparks a much-needed conversation about the layered nature of affirmation, access, and liberation for the most vulnerable among us.
Talkback with Director Kevin Pierre Saterfield; Diana Taylor; Asanni Armon
