Film Buffs, This One's for You!

Nothing breaks up that late winter slog like a fresh wave of cinema from around the world! From February 18 through March 15, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returns, bringing four weeks of screenings to metro Atlanta. Reel lovers can catch films at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, Plaza Theatre, The Tara, and The Springs Cinema and Taphouse, with a virtual cinema window March 6–15 for at-home viewing.

This year’s festival packs variety into every slot. You’ll find roughly 49 feature films and 16 shorts from nations as varied as Israel, Brazil, Poland, and the United States. Among them are world, North American, U.S., and regional premieres that touch on identity, culture, memory, resilience, and more.

The local festival vibe kicks off February 18 with the opening night screening of Once Upon My Mother at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. From February 19 onward, you can catch films like The Soundman and Book of Ruth alongside documentaries, crowd-pleasing picks, and a 40th anniversary screening of An American Tail.

Don’t Miss These Festival Basics

• Plan ahead: Check out the full schedule ASAP so you can carve out your nights. There are 80-plus in-theater screenings to sort through, and some of the buzziest titles may sell out fast.
• Venues vary: With films playing at four beloved local theaters across town, coordinate travel time between venues that night.
• Virtual option: If your calendar fills up, the streaming window from March 6–15 brings about 20 features and all the shorts to your screen statewide so you won’t miss a thing.
• Events and conversations: A handful of screenings include filmmaker appearances or discussions after the show, giving you a wider look at the work and creators.

You don’t have to be a cinema scholar to enjoy AJFF. Whether you’re drawn to historical documentaries, character-driven narratives, foreign language gems, or short film surprises, there’s something to spark curiosity. So mark your calendar, snag tickets, and get ready to discover something unexpected on screen!

Georgia’s theaters and venues keep the entertainment rolling all year long! Check out our full roundup at gbj.com/theater-venues.