Building community (kehillah) is not necessarily about blood relations; rather, it is often rooted in shared places and experiences. Six exceptional short films showcase how bonds with total strangers can resolve age-old Jewish questions. We need one another for safety and sanity! Curated by Warren Etheredge.
NIGHT SESSION | Director: Ballard C. Boyd | Narrative (Comedy) Short | USA 2024 | English | 11m | Trailer
When a burglar unexpectedly runs into a homeowner (Richard Kind) during a theft in his New York City apartment, the robbery morphs into a makeshift therapy session.
BUTTERFLY (Papillon) | Director: Florence Miailhe | Animated Short | France 2024 | French, Arabic and German w/subtitles | 15m | Trailer
As a man swims in the sea, his memories come to the surface. From his early childhood to his life as an adult, they are all linked to water. Nominated for a 2026 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.
TEEN MARY | Director: Ali Rosenthal | Narrative (Comedy) Short | USA 2025 | English | 20m | Trailer
Teen Mary gets pregnant by Nazareth’s biggest player, Gabriel. Facing death, she and her gay BFF Joseph hatch a plan: convince everyone God is the father.
M/OTHER (אי/מהות) | Director: Iris Zaki | Documentary Short | Israel/USA 2024 | Hebrew w/subtitles | 19m | Trailer
Three childfree women in their 40s face explaining their choice to their mothers. In a unique twist, this long-overdue heart-to-heart finally happens—only not with their own moms, but with each other’s.
A KITE KILLED A PLANE (עפיפון הרג מטוס) | Director: Daniel Sharoni | Animated Short | Israel 2025 | no dialogue | 6m
Through animation, the film explores the tensions and harmonies between violence and geometry, spirituality and simplicity, childhood playfulness and existence itself, searching for meaning in these contrasts.
WE SHOULD EAT | Director: Shaina Feinberg | Narrative (Comedy) Short | USA 2024| English | 10m | Trailer
Starring Alysia Reiner, Jackie Hoffman, Bob Ari and Tovah Feldshuh this sharp-witted, comedic short delivers a heaping serving of age-old irrationals: from Jewish mothers to existential dread, and of course, the perpetual family struggle to figure out what to order for dinner.
Curator Bio: Warren Etheredge is a film producer, programmer and educator. He is cofounder of the Walla Walla Movie Crush short film festival and author of the Crushworthy Substack.
Sponsors: Christopher Conrad, Majestic Bay Theatres | The Alhadeff Family
Also playing 3/18 at the Gesa Power House Theatre at 7:00 pm
