Films with Special Guests

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 1941, Nazi soldiers were slaughtering Eastern European Jews by the thousands. Three brothers, Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber) and Asael (Jamie Bell), manage to escape and take refuge in the forest where they played in childhood. Seeking a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones, the brothers turn their daily struggle for survival into a battle against the Nazis. As news of their exploits spreads, others join the fray, willing to risk their lives for even brief freedom. A Q&A follows the film with Alan Bell, moderated by Bedford New Canaan Magazine's Casey Kaplan.

Join producer (and Bedford resident) Kevin Walsh for the inside story on the making of this delightful comedy by Academy-Award winning directors/writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, and other stories from his career. THE WAY, WAY BACK is the funny and poignant coming of age story of 14-year-old Duncan’s (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny, clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world - all during a summer he will never forget.

Thirty-something Isabelle "Izzy" Grossman (Amy Irving) spends her time going from her tiny, solitary West Side apartment to that of her grandmother (Reizl Bozyk) on the Lower East Side. In between, Izzy builds a glowing reputation at the swank bookstore where she works. While her grandmother plots to find her a romantic match, Izzy is courted by a married, worldly author, Anton (Jeroen Krabbé), yet can't seem to shake the down-to-earth appeal of Sam (Peter Riegert), a pickle vendor. A Q&A follows the film with actor Peter Riegert.

Over six decades, photographer Steve Schapiro bore witness to some of the most significant social and cultural moments in modern American history such as the civil rights movement, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Selma to Montgomery marches. Shot shortly before his passing by filmmaker Maura Smith, Steve Schapiro: Being Everywhere is a loving tribute to a man who was the quintessential “fly on the wall,” waiting for moments to unfold and capturing them with a naturalism and skill that’s nothing short of dazzling. A Q&A with Maura Smith follows the film.

An interfaith engaged couple plans a Shabbat dinner for their parents' first meeting. An unexpected death interrupts their plans. A Q&A follows the film with producer Adam Mitchell and actor John Bedford Lloyd.