Documentary

A Q&A with the filmmakers follows the screening. Behind Her Eyes is a 40-minute documentary short that tells the powerful journey of one of the youngest survivors of the Holocaust who uses the power of social media to bridge across generations. Born in Poland in 1938, Tova Friedman was one of the few Jewish children to survive the horrors of Auschwitz. Her early years were marked by unimaginable suffering—deportation, starvation, forced labor, and the loss of countless family members to Nazi cruelty. After liberation, she rebuilt her life, became a therapist and continues to be an unyielding advocate for education working against all forms of prejudice and bigotry.

Hope in Motion: Breaking Barriers with Autism Service Dogs shares powerful stories of connection, courage, and transformation, highlighting how BluePath dogs bring safety, independence, and joy to children with autism and their families. This documentary film (15 minute running time) will be followed by a short panel discussion and cocktail reception. Presented with BluePath Service Dogs.

Academy Award Nominee - Best Documentary Short Film. In this documentary short by Academy-Award nominee Joshua Seftel, reporter Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp embark on a cross country journey to memorialize the bedrooms of children lost to school shootings, highlighting the urgent need for action against the rising epidemic of gun violence. A Q&A with the director Joshua Seftel follows the film, moderated by Janet Maslin.

Presented in partnership with the Rusticus Garden Club. A young couple battle entrenched tradition and hostile forces to bet on nature for the future of their failing, four-hundred-year-old estate. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild, beginning a grand experiment.

Though not a household name, Paddy Chayefsky remains one of the most revered and enigmatic screenwriters in film history. The only writer to win three solo Academy Awards for Best Screenplay—Marty (1955), The Hospital (1971), and Network (1976)—Chayefsky’s legacy is defined by his sharp insight, originality, and uncompromising voice. This feature documentary explores his groundbreaking work, obsessive craftsmanship, and lasting influence on American storytelling. At its core, the film centers on Network, widely regarded as Chayefsky’s most powerful and prescient script. More than a film, it stands as a bold critique of media and culture, delivered with a prophetic urgency that still resonates today.

Veselka is the story of New York City's beloved Ukrainian restaurant Veselka and its father and son proprietors, Tom and Jason Birchard.  When Jason graduated college without a vision for his future, Tom brings him into the family business.  Jason learns that Tom's dedication to Veselka produces delicious food that satisfies a colorful cast of neighbors and newcomers, but this leaves little time for Tom to be “dad” at work. In 2020, Jason takes ownership of Veselka from his reluctant-to-retire father.  He has large shoes to fill, but Jason’s biggest challenge becomes the war in Ukraine.  He is unexpectedly thrust into the role of surrogate father to support his Ukrainian staff impacted by the war.  Jason must explore his past working relationship with his own dad to “feed” his war-torn team as he keeps his business afloat. For 70 years, Veselka has been the vibrant and welcoming heart of the community and now its role, and Jason’s, is more vital than ever. Narrated by Golden Globe Winner and Little Ukraine native David Duchovny. A Q&A with writer/director Michael Fiore and director of photography Bill Winters follows the film. 

In this hilarious, critically-acclaimed arcade showdown, an unprecedented rivalry rocks the electronic world to its core! Join novice gamer Steve Wiebe on his quest to destroy the top score of gaming legend Billy Mitchell, the uncontested champion of the Donkey Kong world for over 20 years - and find out which of them can truly claim the title King of Kong! The Faith in Film series is presented in association with St. Matthew's Church with an introduction by the Rev. John Zahl.