Dolphin Boy

Name: Dolphin Boy
Start: 2023-05-06
End: 2023-05-07
Location: Virtual

Morad, a teenager living in an Arab neighboorhood in Israel, had everything a teenager could want; he was socially popular, loved by his family, an athlete, and a good student. But after a cruel beating by his classmates, he becomes catatonic and withdraws from life. Instead of interring him in a mental institution, his doctor suggests dolphin-assisted therapy down in Eilat. Desperate to help his son, Morad’s father sells everything, leaves his job and family, moves to Dolphin Reef on the Red Sea, and vows not to return until the boy fully recovers. But even when Morad begins to speak again, he’s changed beyond what anyone could’ve expected. A moving film about nature’s power to heal.

WHY WE LIKE THIS FILM: Dani Menkin is a Los Angeles-based multi-award winning writer, director, and film producer. He is a two-time Israeli Academy Award winner and the founder of film production company Hey Jude Productions. Menkin has been a speaker at distinguished panels at International Festivals around the world, as well as a juror and film professor at American and Israeli universities. The Austin Jewish Film Festival has exhibited a number of Menkin’s movies to popular audience acclaim including: On the Map (2016), Picture of His Life (2019), and Aulcie (2020). Menkin is currently making a new film about the 2022 Synagogue hostage crisis in Colleyville, Texas.

Co-presented with Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service.

Take advantage of our Bring a Friend for Free (BFF) promotion where, with the purchase of one regular ticket (or the possesion of a current AJFF365 subscription) you can bring up to two guests for free who have not been to an AJFF event in the last two years. Unless everyone is travelling in the same car, you MUST email us to get the free guest tickets in advance (for security reasons). See here for full details.

For the alternative audio track (a volunteer reading the English subtitles) and instructions, click here.

BONUS PROGRAMMING: Film presented with English subtitles. An English language recording of the subtitles will be available for the visually impaired or anyone else who needs it. Bring your phone and a set of headphones or earbuds to use the alternative audio. Contact info@austinjff.org for more information. Please bring a non-perishable item for the food pantry if you are attending the in-person screening. Event net proceeds will be donated to support mental health programs. Co-presented with Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service.