ELLENVILLE, NY — The third annual Borscht Belt Film Fest, taking place November 6-8 in Ellenville, is proud to announce its opening night film, "We Met at Grossinger’s," about the legendary Catskills resort that inspired the movie Dirty Dancing. 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. Watch the trailer at https://youtu.be/oB86n-qIaII. 

“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.”

On Friday, November 6, join us at 5 p.m. for the opening night reception and fundraiser at the Borscht Belt Museum (90 Canal Street). The evening will celebrate the glamour, nostalgia, and spirit of the legendary Catskills resorts, featuring Borscht Belt style noshes and cocktails, music by The Starlight Duo, and an evening of celebration and reminiscence.

Guests are encouraged to dress in their best Borscht Belt-era cocktail attire and come ready to relive the magic and spirit of a bygone era. During the reception, the Museum will present its Legacy Award posthumously to Elaine Grossinger Estess in recognition of her enduring place in the story and legacy of Grossinger’s.

Immediately following the reception at 7 p.m., join us a block away at Shadowland Stages (157 Canal Street), for a screening of "We Met at Grossinger’s," followed by a talkback with producer Robert Friedman and members of the Grossinger family. Tickets for the fundraising reception and screening cost $125 and include admission to the reception and the 7 p.m. screening. Purchase tickets at https://givebutter.com/BBFFopening2026. Tickets are limited, so get them while you can!

The full film lineup for the third annual Borscht Belt Film Fest will be announced soon. For updates and tickets, visit https://www.borschtbeltfilmfest.org/. 

The Borscht Belt Film Fest is proudly 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.