Sperling Center Presents Undergraduate Doc Fest

The Sperling Center for Jewish Studies at Duke University is pleased to present its Undergraduate Documentary Film Festival, featuring original documentary films created by Duke undergraduates exploring Jewish history, culture, religion, memory, and contemporary Jewish life.

Drawing on archival research, oral histories, interviews, and personal narratives, student filmmakers bring Jewish Studies scholarship to life through the medium of film. This year's projects explore the history and contemporary experiences of Morocco's Sephardic Jewish community and the complex dynamics of Jewish-Muslim relations, as well as the story of the family of Keith Siegel, who was taken hostage during the October 7 attacks. Through these films, students examine questions of identity, memory, resilience, intercommunal relations, and the ways global events resonate within local communities, including at Duke and in Durham.

The festival celebrates the creativity and intellectual engagement of Duke undergraduates while highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of Jewish Studies. By combining rigorous research with visual storytelling, students offer fresh perspectives on Jewish experiences past and present and invite audiences to consider how documentary film can deepen our understanding of history, culture, and collective memory.

Following the screenings, audience members will have an opportunity to engage with the student filmmakers in a discussion about their research, filmmaking process, and the broader questions raised by their work.

Dinner will precede the event at 6pm in the Ruby Lounge. This event is free and open to the public.