Yoav Potash’s ‘Among Neighbors’ WW II Holocaust Documentary Heads to Theaters | Trailer

Using hand-drawn animation to bring the past to life, the documentary Among Neighbors investigates the story of a small, rural Polish town where the longstanding peace between Jewish and Polish neighbors was shattered by World War II. The film focuses on one of the last living Holocaust survivors from the town, and an aging eyewitness who saw Jews murdered there — six months after the Nazis were defeated.

Directed by Yoav Potash (Crime After Crime), Among Neighbors has won multiple awards, including Audience Award at San Francisco Indiefest, Special Award at the Warsaw Jewish Film Festival, as well as winner of numerous other awards. It will open at the Quad Cinema in NYC on October 10th and at Laemmle Theaters in LA on October 17th. Many other cities will follow.

In the small town of Gniewoszów, all signs of its once-vibrant Jewish life have vanished — even the tombstones from the destroyed cemetery were stolen, erasing nearly every trace. Decades after the Holocaust, award-winning American filmmaker Yoav Potash unearths the haunting mysteries of this town, revealing the complex interplay of love and hatred that shaped the lives of local Poles and their Jewish neighbors.

The town’s oldest residents, now in the twilight of their lives, break decades of silence, sharing secrets they have carried for a lifetime. Their poignant stories are brought to life with stunning animated sequences, enriched by artful touches of magical realism. Together, these accounts illuminate the life-and-death decisions made by ordinary Polish townsfolk — decisions that expose both the heights of human compassion and the depths of cruelty.

As attempts to rewrite this history in favor of a more politically convenient narrative gain momentum, Among Neighbors offers a powerful counterpoint. The film boldly asserts that true patriotism lies in facing history honestly, no matter how painful the truths may be.

Yoav Potash is an award-winning writer, director, and producer. He produced and directed the Sundance premiere documentary “Crime After Crime,” a New York Times Critics’ Pick and winner of 25 honors, including a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award, and six audience awards. The documentary helped spark movements to change domestic violence law in multiple US states. Yoav also directed “Food Stamped,” winner of SF IndieFest’s Jury Prize, and he recently produced and directed the short film “A Great Big Secret,” one of only two short films to screen at the 2025 New York Jewish Film Festival.

Watch the official trailer above.