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The 2026 Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival launches on March 21!
The 2026 Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival returns with its biggest and best program ever!
If you are not yet on our mailing list, send an email to SCJFFinfo@gmail.com so that you are kept informed of upcoming movies and events.
Below you will see blurbs and links to trailers for films included in the 2026 SCJFF. Please click this link to make a tax-deductible donation to the 2026 festival. Your contribution helps make the festival possible!
The SCJFF is a labor of love run entirely by volunteers.
Topics we address in the 2026 festival include:
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Heroic Jewish men and women who have made a difference in the world. -
The resilience of the Jewish people throughout history. - The ironies and complexities of the Jewish-Arab relationship.
- Finding one's Jewish identity in the modern world.
- Remembering the Holocaust and October 7, 2023, two tragedies that have shaped the Jewish psyche.
- Comic tales from the Jewish experience.
- Supporting California-based Jewish film and musical talent.
If you'd like to help out with the 2026 festival please shoot an email to SCJFFinfo@gmail.com.
Opening Night of the 2026 SCJFF: Saturday, March 21 at Temple Beth El A light nosh fundraiser starting at 6:30 pm, open to all, with the film program starting at 7:30 pm.
The 2026 SCJFF kicks off with a nice little spread of Mediterranean delights in appreciation of all of our donors and sponsors. So come, drop a little tzedaka in the box if you are so inclined, and enjoy a little nosh with fellow film lovers!
Then relax with two delightful films that explore nuances and ironies found in the diverse cultures and complexities of Israel.
7:30 pm HALF A DATE Narrative, Israel, 2025 23 minutes.
An Orthodox yeshiva student arrives at the recruitment office to request a deferral from military service and must deal with a secular female soldier his same age.
Followed by GET THE LAND BACK (Grandma's Dunam) at 8 pm.
Saturday, March 21 at 8 pmat Temple Beth El GET THE LAND BACK (a/k/a GRANDMA'S DUNAM)
When Irmy, a soon-to-be-first-time dad goes to his father asking for money, he finds out that his only inheritance is a piece of land in the occupied Palestinian territories purchased by his grandmother during the British Mandate. To make things worse, he also finds out that right-wing Jewish settlers have settled on this land and made a winery out of it. So, together with his father, Irmy concocts and foists an ingenious ruse on the settlers, the army, and the Israeli government in a maneuver to get his land back. What begins as a sardonic quest to recover a contested piece of real estate quickly evolves into an activist escapade that exposes ironies in the mechanisms of the law in the occupied territories, which some call Judea and Samaria. This is a hilarious and eye-opening documentary.
Winner, Best Documentary Feature, at the 2024 Israeli Ophir Awards (Israel's Oscars).
Israel, 2024, 72 minutes, Hebrew with English subtitles.
Q & A with the directors, screenwriter, and stars on Zoom after the screening on March 21.
GET THE LAND BACK will also be shown on Saturday, April 11 at the 418 Project (155 River Street, Santa Cruz), at 6:30 pm.
Sunday, March 22 at 7 pm- at Temple Beth ElTHE STAMP THIEF, with Director Dan Sturman
From an Oscar, Peabody, and Emmy award-winning team, “THE STAMP THIEF” is part detective story, part heist film, and part untold history. The documentary investigates a tale dating back to the Holocaust: that a mysterious Nazi stole priceless stamp collections from concentration camp victims and buried the stolen stamps in the basement of a house in a small town in Poland.
Embarking on a real-life “Argo”-like adventure, one-time “Seinfeld” producer Gary Gilbert sets out to confirm the story and recover the stamps. His tactic: a fake movie shoot. His goal: to return the stamps to their rightful owners, hopefully delivering a small measure of justice more than 70 years after the Holocaust.
The film premiered at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival, and has played to packed theaters in Miami, Toronto, San Francisco, and elsewhere. The SCJFF is pleased to host director Dan Sturman to introduce and talk about the film.
Documentary, USA, 2025, running time 1 hour 43 minutes. Suitable for all ages.
Wednesday, March 25 at 2 pm at Aegis Living, 125 Heather Terrace, AptosCHARLES GRODIN: Rebel With A Cause
This engaging documentary about Charles Grodin -- one of the great comedic actors of his generation (The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, Beethoven, etc.) -- has delighted packed houses at Jewish film festivals all over. Lesser known is the Jewish actor's commitment to social justice as he spent the last twenty years of his life fighting to get wrongly convicted people (most of whom were mothers of color with young children) out of prison. Weaving together classic movie clips with interviews from Robert DeNiro to Elaine May, this documentary will make you a Charles Grodin fan!
Documentary, USA, 2025, running time 1 hour 32 minutes.
Suitable for all ages.
Saturday, March 28 at 6:15 pmat the Aptos Public Library, 7695 Soquel Drive, AptosTHE LADY IN THE BLACK DRESS
Ada Sereni was the only woman to lead the secret organization Mossad Le'Aliyah Bet in Italy, dedicated to transporting Jews from displaced persons' camps in Europe to Mandatory Palestine. Through her skill, courage, and determination, she was able to secretly transport thousands of Holocaust survivors to Israel on immigration ships from 1945 to 1948. Yet Ada's story is unknown, missing from the pages of history until now. This film gives her the recognition she deserves, at the center of the historical narrative of Jewish rescue in the wake of WWII.
Sponsored by the Sons & Daughters of Italy, Watsonville Lodge.
Panel discussion after the movie.
Documentary, Israel, 2025. Running time 58 minutes. In English, Hebrew, and Italian with English subtitles.
Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm at Temple Beth ElHOLDING LIAT
On the morning of October 7, 2023 Israeli-American couple Liat Atzili and her husband Aviv were attacked in their home at Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas terrorists. By nightfall they were both hostages in Gaza, along with 250 others. HOLDING LIAT captures the angst and worry of the couple's family during their captivity. Caught between the slow process of international diplomacy and a rapidly escalating war, the family offers conflicting perspectives on strategy and politics while pursuing Liat and Aviv's release. Through the intimate lens of one family's experience, HOLDING LIAT poses complex questions about moral and political identity at the epicenter of a global crisis unfolding in real-time.
Sponsored by Rabbi Paula Marcus, who will moderate a discussion after the screening.
Documentary, Israel, 2025. Running time 97 minutes. In English and Hebrew with English subtitles.
Four wins and one nomination at international film festivals, including Best International Film at the Doc Aviv Film Festival.
Double Feature - Saturday, April 11th starting at 6:30 pmat the 418 Project, 155 River St., Santa Cruz (the old Riverfront Theater)
GET THE LAND BACK (see opening night description) at 6:30 pm,
followed by LOST IN TERRITOR
IES at 8:00 pm.
LOST IN TERRITORIES is a collection of five comedic short films exploring the ironies and absurdities of Israeli & Palestinian culture, religious differences, and politics. Inspired by the Argentinian film Wild Tales, LOST IN TERRITORIES finds humor in situations where living together has become a challenge. These crazy stories just might happen in the West Bank.
Comedy shorts, Israel /France, 2025. In English, Hebrew, and Arabic with English subtitles. Running time 108 minutes.
Playing at the 418 Project, 155 River St., Santa Cruz (the old Riverfront Theater). Doors open 6:10 pm.
Sunday, April 12th at 4:30 pm at the 418 Project, 155 River St., Santa Cruz (the old Riverfront Theater)SWEDISHKAYT
SWEDISHKAYT is a funny and informative romp through Sweden with the YidLife Crisis guys, Eli and Jamie. The two Montreal comedians provide a ‘gefilte fish out of water’ perspective on the little known story of the Swedish Jews, from the first Jewish immigrant 250 years ago to today's 'Jew's-Who.' They explore the revival of Yiddish language and culture in Sweden, where the language is, to the duo's great surprise, a protected minority language.
Documentary, Canada, 2024. Running time 60 minutes.
After the screening join fellow film buffs in the lobby for a little nosh & shmooze from 5:30 - 6 pm!
Followed at 6 pm by NEVER ALONE.
Sunday, April 12th at 6:00 pm at the 418 Project, 155 River St., Santa Cruz (the old Riverfront Theater)NEVER ALONE
From the celebrated director Klaus Härö comes a powerful true story of resilience and defiance. Finland signed a mutual defense pact with Nazi Germany during WWII, motivated by fear of a Russian invasion. Based on actual events, NEVER ALONE shines a light on the plight of Finnish Jews and Jewish refugees seeking sanctuary in Finland. As Nazi influence increases, Finnish-Jewish businessman Abraham Stiller risks everything to protect the refugee community. This gripping film shows the power of human courage, resilience, and hope in overcoming tremendous adversity.
Drama, Finland, 2025. Running time 85 minutes. In Finnish and German with English subtitles.
Sunday, April 19th at 6:30 pm at Temple Beth El UNraveling UNRWA
After allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in kidnappings and violence on October 7, 2023, th
e agency faced global fallout. Israel’s legislature moved to sever ties wih the organization amid Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis. Many donor nations temporarily suspended funding but later resumed support; the United States—the agency’s largest donor—has yet to reinstate its contributions.
UNraveling UNRWA traces the organization’s 75-year evolution, from its post-1948 origins as a temporary relief organization for Palestine refugees to its pivotal and often controversial role amidst the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It unravels new and surprising insights, offering an inside look at the only UN agency dedicated to a single group of people.
UNRWA's fate was kicked down the road when it was granted a 6-month extension to its contract to June 30, 2026. Over the next six months the UN General Assembly will again face a crucial vote on whether to extend UNRWA's mission.
Winner – Investigative Documentary Award, Haifa International Film Festival 2025 -Documentary, Israel, 2025, 75 minutes.
Followed by SAPPHIRE & SONG and a live performance!
After a short break for discussion, we will introduce Israeli singer-songwriter Sapphire and filmmaker Nikki Hevesy, who will present her 10-minute film SAPPHIRE & SONG. This will be a Northern California Premiere! Filmed entirely on an iPhone, the film follows the singer after her move to Los Angeles on October 1, 2023. After the film Sapphire will entertain us with a soul-stirring live performance.
This is an evening not to miss!
Saturday, April 25 at 6:30 pm at Chadeish Yameinu 239 High St., Santa CruzOZ'S LIST
Oz Davidian became an unlikely hero when he single-handedly braved the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival, armed with only a handgun, and made 15 daring rescues to save 120 lives. A year later, the 50-year-old farmer and lawyer retraces the steps of his harrowing journey. Through intimate interviews and dashcam footage, OZ'S LIST explores the emotional impact of the trauma and the profound connection forged between Davidian and those whose lives he saved. A moving and uplifting documentary.
OZ'S LIST, documentary, Israel, 2025, 58 minutes. In English and Hebrew with English subtitles.
The film contains some graphic content and may not be suitable for children.
Followed at 7:45 pm by MORE THAN I DESERVE.
Saturday, April 25 at 7:45 pm at Chadeish Yameinu, 239 High St., Santa CruzMORE THAN I DESERVE
A favorite of the festival planning committee, MORE THAN I DESERVE explores the delicate relationship between the secular and the religious, as seen through the eyes of a Ukrainian immigrant mother and her son. Pinchas asks his mother Tamara for permission to join his classmates in training for a Bar Mitzvah. But Tamara, who rejects religion, refuses. When a religious neighbor volunteers to help Pinchas, the two form a strong bond. But will the secretive engagement hold up? MORE THAN I DESERVE is a touching and uplifting film.
Drama, Israel & Germany, 2021, 87 minutes. In Hebrew and Russian with English subtitles.
Sunday, April 26 at 6:30 pm - LABORS OF LOVE: The Henrietta Szold Story at Temple Beth El
S
One of history’s most influential yet under-recognized American Jewish women, Henrietta Szold, left an indelible mark on the 20th century. She founded the women's organization Hadassah in 1912 and created a vital link between American women and communities in Palestine. Through Hadassah she established the region’s modern healthcare system, built on a mandate to treat Arabs and Jews equally. Later, she spearheaded Youth Aliyah, an operation that rescued 11,000 Jewish children from Nazi Europe.
This heartfelt documentary, directed by Peabody award-winner Abby Ginzberg, brings long-overdue recognition to Szold and offers a thought-provoking look at a woman whose compassion and unwavering belief in the power of humanity reshaped history.
Hadassah of Santa Cruz will provide refreshments for our closing night at Temple Beth El starting at 6:30. The film will start at 7 pm.
Filmmaker Abby Ginzberg will join us to introduce the film and answer questions after the screening!
Click here to contribute to her honorarium.
Documentary, USA, 2025, 79 minutes.
The SCJFF presents films at the Capitola Public Library 2005 Wharf Road Thursday afternoons at 3 pm, May 14, 21, and 28
Thursday, May 14 - THE STAMP THIEF - 3:00 pm
Part detective story, part heist film, and part untold history. Family legends speak of priceless stamp collections stolen from concentration camp victims and buried in the basement of a house in Poland. Documentary, USA, 2025, 1 hour 43 minutes.
Thursday, May 21 - REMEMBERING GENE WILDER - 3:00 pm
This film celebrates the comic genius behind the actor who made us all laugh. Touching and hilarious clips and outtakes, home movies, and interviews with friends and collaborators like Mel Brooks, Alan Alda, and Carol Kane shine a light on this essential performer, writer, director, and all-around mensch.
Biopic, USA, 2023, running time 1 Hour 32 minutes.
Thursday, May 28 - AN AMERICAN PICKLE - 3:00 pm
An immigrant worker at a pickle factory is accidentally preserved for 100 years in a pickle barrel and wakes up in modern-day Brooklyn, where he tracks down his secular great-great grandson.
Despite its outlandish premise AMERICAN PICKLE tells a beautiful and hilarious story about family, religion, forgiveness, and Jewish identity. Seth Rogen's performance as both Hershel Greenbaum and Ben, his descendant, is funny and endearing. Comedy-Fantasy, USA, 2020, running time 1 hour 28 minutes.
To view past festival programs of the
Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival, CLICK HERE
The 2025 Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival wowed audiences with great films!
The 2025 SCJFF brought 12 great features and 7 incredible short films to venues in Santa Cruz, Capitola and Aptos. We were delighted to host four filmmakers to introduce their films, including two short film world premieres. And thanks to donors such as yourself, we were able to end up at around break-even for the festival season. Thank you!
The SCJFF is a labor of love run entirely by volunteers. If you would like to be involved in planning the 2026 festival or reviewing films under consideration please shoot an email to Paul at SCJFFinfo@gmail.com.
Fundraising for the festival is a year-round activity! If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation to the 2026 festival, please click this link.
Topics we addressed in the 2025 festival include:
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The rise of anti-Semitism in the wake of October 7. -
The resilience of the Jewish people throughout history. - Jews in science and Jewish-American pioneers.
- Self-discovery and self-expression as an alternative to religious fundamentalism.
- Illumination of complex issues in Israel-Palestine and envisioning a future of peaceful co-existence.
- Comic tales from the Jewish experience.
If you come across a film that you think would be a good fit for the SCJFF please let us know by email at SCJFFinfo@gmail.com.