NEW YORK (TIP): From international film festivals and national television broadcasts to Holocaust education and historical preservation initiatives, Kaddish (2020), an award-winning short film by New York-based South Asian filmmaker Razid Season, continues to reach audiences around the world. Its latest international presentation is scheduled for October 24, 2026, at Goethe-Institut Bangladesh in Dhaka, as part of Cine Sandhya, the institute’s established film screening and cultural exchange programme. The screening will be followed by a hybrid question-and-answer session with the filmmaker.
Written and directed by Season, Kaddish is told in Yiddish and German and explores the devastating human consequences of the Holocaust, examining themes of loss, survival, compassion, and human dignity. The film reflects Season’s interest in portraying historical injustice and the experiences of individuals confronting persecution and discrimination.
The film has received international recognition, including Best Film at the Columbus Jewish Film Festival and Best Director at the Southern Arizona Independent Film Festival. It was also an official selection of the Asian American International Film Festival in New York, one of the country’s longest-running showcases for Asian and Asian American cinema.
Beyond the festival circuit, Kaddish has gained recognition through its inclusion in the Visual History of the Holocaust initiative, which brings together audiovisual materials related to Holocaust history and historical documentation. The film’s association with this initiative highlights its reach beyond traditional entertainment platforms and into the broader field of historical and cultural engagement.
In April 2026, Kaddish was broadcast nationally in the United States on Jewish Life Television (JLTV), followed by additional broadcasts in June. The television presentations introduced the film to audiences across the country, expanding its reach beyond international film festivals and cultural institutions.
The film’s latest international screening will take place at Goethe-Institut Bangladesh on October 24 as part of Cine Sandhya, a programme that provides a platform for cinematic expression and intercultural dialogue. Previously screened at the Dhaka International Film Festival in 2020, Kaddish returns to the city six years later. Season will join the post-screening discussion remotely from New York, sharing insights into the film’s creative development and historical themes.
A Bangladeshi-born filmmaker based in New York, Season holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film from CUNY. His filmmaking draws on diverse cultural and historical experiences to explore questions of identity, prejudice, social injustice, and human resilience.
“As a South Asian filmmaker, I’m honored to present Kaddish at the Goethe-Institut. I believe cinema can connect people across different cultures and histories, encouraging meaningful conversations about prejudice, persecution, and our shared humanity,” said Season.
His recent short film, Elijah (2024), follows a Bengali Muslim immigrant father in New York City as he confronts his own prejudices and struggles to understand and accept his child’s gender identity. The film has screened at more than 50 international film festivals and received numerous awards, including the Emerald Award at the Tasveer Film Festival.
Season is also the founder and executive director of Image Maker Films Inc., a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2020. The organization is currently presenting Community Connections Through Film, a four-month initiative featuring free public film screenings and facilitated discussions that bring together New York City’s diverse communities to explore social issues, cultural perspectives, and shared experiences.
The upcoming Goethe-Institut screening marks another milestone in the international journey of Kaddish, demonstrating how stories told by South Asian filmmakers can engage audiences across cultural, linguistic, and geographical boundaries.
For more information about the screening and programme, visit: https://www.goethe.de/ins/bd
(Based on a press release)
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