top of page
screen shot 2024-09-13 at 2.43.29 pm.png

Short Screenplay

GrzkLJwU.png
e9bef7c4-94d8-4233-94bc-4fdaf894093e_edi
4159cf4f-283a-4486-91e1-47c300615c11_edi
813c2657-1adc-44bd-a11d-4441edc7492c_edi

Short Film

Still from BABKA movie: Back of a Hassidic man on a street city New York City stress intersection.

2025

Untitled design (3).png
WHFF_Official_Selection_Laurel_2025_white.png
EIFF_2025_Official_Selection_CMYK_Gold.png
2025 HoGISFF shortlist Laurels - white and gold.png
SJSFF no bg.png
TEFF selection 2025_white.png
3RFF official selection laurel - white.png
Festival inclus laurel white.png

​

​​​​In Hasidic Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a newly blind Jewish Orthodox baker forms an unlikely friendship with a Queer Catholic Latino guide dog trainer, embarking on an eye-opening journey to overcome personal and cultural barriers in his quest to reopen his beloved bakery.

​

Starring

​​

Saul Rubinek, Jonny Beauchamp, Hani Furstenberg, Betsy Aidem, Ronald Guttman

​

Director & Writer: Serena Dykman

Producers: Julia Elaine Walker, William Phoenix, Julia McGill, Serena Dykman, Melina M. Greene

Cinematographer: Nick Walker

Editor: Chriz Naing

Music: Federico Ferrandina

Credit song: Kosha Dillz

Post-production sound: Gigantic Studios

Visual Effects: Wild Union Post

Production Design: Sydney Flint

Costume Design: Chantal Thomas

​

Short screenplay 

​​

Humanitas Prize Nominee 2025

WINNER Hollyshorts Best Female Screenplay 2024

TOP 5 FINALIST (out of 1963 scripts) at Shore Scripts Short Film Fund QUARTERFINALIST at the Slamdance Screenplay Competition QUARTERFINALIST at Screencraft Competition

Still from BABKA movie: Hassidic man holds a German shepherd guide dog in one hand, and touches a Hassidic woman's hand in a wheelchair. A young latino guide dog trainer and two hassidic characters are standing behind them. They are all on a New York City street.
[BABKA] The Extraordinary Film Festival
[BABKA] The Extraordinary Film Festival
Multiple Dates
When
Nov 09, 2025, 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Where
Le Delta, Namur [BELGIUM],
Av. Fernand Golenvaux 18, 5000 Namur, Belgium
screenshot 2024-09-13 at 14.48.32.png

​Screenings

  • [BABKA] New York Premiere at Lincoln Center DIFF
    [BABKA] New York Premiere at Lincoln Center DIFF
    Fri, Nov 07
    Bruno Walters Theatre
    Nov 07, 2025, 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM EST
    Bruno Walters Theatre, Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, USA
    with the BABKA cast & team Discount code: DIFFEARLY
  • [BABKA] From Dough to Dogs: The Making of BABKA
    [BABKA] From Dough to Dogs: The Making of BABKA
    Thu, Nov 06
    Lehraus
    Nov 06, 2025, 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM
    Lehraus, 425 Washington St, Somerville, MA 02143, USA
    Join filmmaker Serena Dykman, producer Julia McGill, and a guide dog team from the oldest guide dog school in the world, The Seeing Eye, for a behind-the-scenes look at the Humanitas Prize-nominated short film BABKA.
  • [BABKA] Boston Jewish Film Festival
    [BABKA] Boston Jewish Film Festival
    Thu, Nov 06
    The Brattle Theatre
    Nov 06, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
    Preceded by a special event at Lehrhaus with Serena Dykman, Julia McGill and surprise guest. Part of the FreshFlix Short Film Competition
  • [BABKA] The Extraordinary Film Festival
    [BABKA] The Extraordinary Film Festival
    Multiple Dates
    Fri, Nov 07
    Le Delta, Namur [BELGIUM]
    Nov 07, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Le Delta, Namur [BELGIUM], Av. Fernand Golenvaux 18, 5000 Namur, Belgium
    European Premiere followed by a Q&A with Serena Dykman & Chriz Naing
  • [BABKA] The Extraordinary Film Festival
    [BABKA] The Extraordinary Film Festival
    Multiple Dates
    Sun, Nov 09
    Le Delta, Namur [BELGIUM]
    Nov 09, 2025, 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM
    Le Delta, Namur [BELGIUM], Av. Fernand Golenvaux 18, 5000 Namur, Belgium
    European Premiere followed by a Q&A with Serena Dykman & Chriz Naing
  • [BABKA] Humanitas Award Show
    [BABKA] Humanitas Award Show
    Sun, Sep 07
    Los Angeles
    Sep 07, 2025, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    Los Angeles, 1735 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA
    Since 1974, The Humanitas Prizes have honored professional film and television writers whose work explores the human condition in a nuanced and meaningful way.Humanitas will host The Humanitas Prizes Award Show & Toast on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at the Avalon Hollywood where the 2025 Humanitas
  • [BABKA] HollyShorts
    [BABKA] HollyShorts
    Sat, Aug 09
    TLC Chinese Theatre
    Aug 09, 2025, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    TLC Chinese Theatre, 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, USA
    West Coast premiere with Saul Rubinek and filmmakers in attendance at the Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival
  • [BABKA] Edmonton International Film Festival
    [BABKA] Edmonton International Film Festival
    Sun, Sep 28
    Landmark Cinemas
    Sep 28, 2025, 5:15 PM – 7:15 PM
    Landmark Cinemas, 10200 102 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0W9, Canada
    International Premiere at Oscar-Qualifying Edmonton International Film Festival
  • [BABKA] San Jose International Short Film Festival
    [BABKA] San Jose International Short Film Festival
    Thu, Oct 16
    Cinemark CinéArts Santana Row
    Oct 16, 2025, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Cinemark CinéArts Santana Row, 3088 Olsen Dr, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
    North California premiere at the Oscar-qualifying San Jose International Short Film Festival followed by a Q&A with Serena Dykman & team
  • [BABKA] Woods Hole Film Festival
    [BABKA] Woods Hole Film Festival
    Tue, Jul 29
    Redfiled Auditorium
    Jul 29, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    Redfiled Auditorium, 45 Water St, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
    Followed by a Q&A
  • [BABKA] Cordillera International Film Festival
    [BABKA] Cordillera International Film Festival
    Fri, Sep 26
    Galaxy Luxury+ IMAX Theatres - Screen 3
    Sep 26, 2025, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Galaxy Luxury+ IMAX Theatres - Screen 3 , 1310 Scheels Drive, Sparks, NV 89434, USA
    Nevada premiere followed by a Q&A with Serena Dykman
  • [BABKA] Sidewalk Film Festival
    [BABKA] Sidewalk Film Festival
    Sun, Aug 24
    Birmingham
    Aug 24, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Birmingham, 19 Harford St, Birmingham B19 3EB, UK
    Alabama Premiere
  • [BABKA] Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival
    [BABKA] Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival
    Fri, Oct 10
    Gympie QLD 4570, Australia
    Oct 10, 2025, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
    Gympie QLD 4570, Australia
    Australia Premiere
  • [BABKA] Boulder Jewish Film Festival
    [BABKA] Boulder Jewish Film Festival
    Sun, Oct 26
    Grace Gramm Theatre
    Oct 26, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Grace Gramm Theatre, Boulder Jewish Cultural Center
    Colorado premiere followed by a Q&A with Serena Dykman
  • [BABKA] Lighthouse International Film Festival
    [BABKA] Lighthouse International Film Festival
    Wed, Jun 04
    Ocean County
    Jun 04, 2025, 7:15 PM – 9:15 PM
    Ocean County, Long Beach Island, New Jersey, USA
    Shorts Block #4

© 2025 by Dyamant Pictures

bottom of page