We Met at Grossinger’s, a documentary about the legendary Catskills resort that inspired the movie Dirty Dancing, will open the 3rd annual Borscht Belt Film Fest, taking place November 6-8 in Ellenville, NY.
During the opening reception, the festival will honor the late Elaine Grossinger Etess with its first-ever Legacy Award to be accepted on her behalf by her children and grandchildren.
We Met at Grossinger’s journeys into the Borscht Belt and the iconic resort that defined an era of Jewish American life. Amid widespread prejudice, Grossinger’s offered Jews and other marginalized communities an oasis of belonging and escape from New York City, attracting legends like Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jackie Robinson and Eleanor Roosevelt. Award-winning filmmaker Paula Eiselt (Aftershock, 93Queen) resurrects this vanished world with warmth and intimacy, celebrating the enduring richness and influence of Jewish American culture.
“Opening this year’s festival with We Met at Grossinger’s feels like the perfect way to celebrate the Borscht Belt and the incredible legacy it left behind,” said Borscht Belt Film Fest Director Melody Gilbert. “And honoring the late Elaine Grossinger Etess with our very first Legacy Award makes the evening even more special. It’s a chance to celebrate the people who made the Borscht Belt what it was and to make sure their stories live on for generations to come.”
The full film lineup for the 3rd annual Borscht Belt Film Fest will be announced soon.
Borscht Belt Film Fest is sponsored by the Catskills Borscht Belt Museum, dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Borscht Belt resort era, and celebrating its history as a refuge from bigotry, the cradle of stand-up comedy, and a cultural catalyst that left deep imprints on America.
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