The 2022 edition of the Kit Noir Festival pays homage to the role Jewish filmmakers played in the creation of film noir, and it showcases films that speak to the Jewish experience during a time of extreme political turmoil. 

The festival will include films by émigré directors (Edgar G. Ulmer, Billy Wilder), films that address anti-Semitism (Crossfire) and World War II (Act of Violence, The Stranger), and films on the blacklist and the media (Scandal Sheet, Sweet Smell of Success). This year’s festival is guest-programmed by Ann Douglas, Professor Emerita of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. The lineup features 11 films released between 1945 and 1957, with a majority of titles screening on 35mm film.

Screenings will be accompanied by discussions featuring film scholars Ann Douglas, Noah Isenberg, Vincent Brook, and Steven Ross. All talks will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. We look forward to seeing you at the Lenfest in March 2020!