“Eyes on the Middle East”, a two-day film festival presented by Visions and Voices: The USC Arts and Humanities Initiative, explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through screenings and panels with the Israeli, Palestinian and American filmmakers. Saturday films include “Bridge Over the Wadi,” “Paradise Now,” “9 Star Hotel,” “Be Quiet,” “West Bank Story” and “Lemon Tree.” Sunday features “Salt of This Sea,” “Lullaby” and “Campfire,” with a discussion via webcast. Sat. 12:45 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m. Free. Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. (213) 740-0483. usc.edu.

Set in the Warsaw Ghetto, “The Survivor” follows a gang of teenagers who learn about love and the value of friendship while smuggling food to their families and arming themselves for the impending uprising. The play stars the descendants of Jewish partisans — Jordan Bielsky, grandson of Tuvia Bielski (portrayed by Daniel Craig in the film “Defiance”), and Gilli Messer, whose grandparents were part of Bielski’s Polish Jewish resistance group, which saved more than more than 1,200 Jews by hiding them in a Belarusian forest. Based on the memoir \”Survivor of the Holocaust” by Jack Eisner, the play is written by Susan Nanus and produced by the Santa Monica Synagogue Genesis Arts Council. Sat. Through Nov. 14. 8 p.m. (Nov. 6, 11, 12, 13) and 2 p.m. (Nov. 7, 14). $20. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. (310) 453-4276. thesms.org.

The San Gabriel and Pomona valleys’ 12th annual Jewish Book Festival opens tonight with Sheryll Bellman discussing her travelogue and recipe book, “America’s Great Delis: Recipes & Traditions From Coast to Coast,” at Temple Beth Israel. Other scheduled appearances include Annie Korzen (“Bargain Junkie: Living the Good Life on the Cheap”), Nov. 3, Temple Beth Israel; Rabbi Naomi Levy (“Hope Will Find You”), Nov. 4, Temple Ami Shalom; Robert K. Tanenbaum (“Betrayed”), Nov. 7, Beth Shalom of Whittier; and Jake Ehrenreich (“A Jew Grows in Brooklyn”), Nov. 20, Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center. Sheryll Bellman: Sat. 7:30 p.m. $18 (advance), $20 (door). Temple Beth Israel, 3033 N. Towne Ave., Pomona. Through Nov. 30. Various times, locations and prices for other appearances. (626) 445-0810. jewishsgpv.org.