Calgary Jewish Film Festival offers movies, conversation and community

by David Sklar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

(AJNews) – For Harvey Cyngiser, the Calgary Jewish Film Festival has always been about more than watching movies. It is a place for people to gather, explore Jewish identity and continue the conversation long after the credits roll.

Cyngiser, the festival’s founder and longtime director, recently joined the Chai There! podcast to reflect on its beginnings and what has sustained it for 26 years.

The idea first emerged while Cyngiser was serving as a volunteer on the board of Beth Tzedec Congregation and helping with adult education programming. The committee considered screening a few documentaries, but when Cyngiser discovered that renting the necessary equipment for an entire weekend cost roughly the same as presenting a single film, the plan quickly expanded.

“I didn’t know that there were that many Jewish films out there,” he recalled. “Then I discovered all the amazing films, documentaries and feature films, and it just opened up an entire world.”

From its earliest days, the festival was designed to create a communal experience. Between screenings, audience members gather for dessert receptions where they can discuss the films, or simply eat and schmooze.

“That sense of community has always been a real integral part of our festival,” Cyngiser said. “It’s a place where we can come together, celebrate our Jewish identity, connect with Israel and expand our horizons.”

Over the years, the festival has created several unforgettable moments. Following one short film about a wounded Israeli soldier, Cyngiser surprised the audience by announcing that the soldier had recovered and was present in the room.

Another screening featured an Israeli craftsman who restores violins connected to the Holocaust. He brought two of the instruments to Calgary, where musicians performed with them following the film.

For Cyngiser, a Jewish film does not need to have been made by a Jewish filmmaker. Instead, it should contain Jewish subject matter, explore Jewish values or help audiences engage with Israel and the diversity of Jewish life.

That definition leaves room for celebration as well as difficult conversations. The festival has presented films that challenge audiences, examine antisemitism and trauma, and offer critical perspectives on Israel and the Jewish community.

“If we don’t want to screen something like that, then where else will it be screened?” Cyngiser said. “That’s an important function the film festival plays, to bring a subject that challenges people to think, to talk and to debate.”

Films are chosen through a collaborative process. Committee members representing different ages, backgrounds and Jewish affiliations watch the selections independently before gathering for weekly discussions. They do not always agree, particularly when a film addresses controversial or painful subjects, but Cyngiser believes the audience is capable of engaging with complexity.

“Our audience are intelligent, thinking people who want to understand and have a clearer picture,” he said.

This year’s festival includes 18 films spanning drama, documentary, comedy, history and contemporary Jewish life. Admission is free for youth under 18, while university students can purchase a full festival pass for $20.

Even after viewing thousands of films, Cyngiser admitted that he rarely watches one without evaluating whether it belongs in a future festival.

“I’m always thinking, ‘What is our audience going to think about this one?’” he said.

The 26th annual Beth Tzedec Calgary Jewish Film Festival runs November 7 to 22. For the complete schedule and festival passes, visit CalgaryJewishFilmFestival.com.

Click here to hear Harvey Cyngiser on the Chai There! podcast. 

Click here to read more about 2026 Calgary Jewish Film Festival.