Spokane Jewish Film Festival
Spokane's annual celebration of Jewish life and culture onscreen.
The Spokane Jewish Film Festival returns to the Magic Lantern in 2026!
January 22 - February 1, 2026
Opening Night
Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire
(shown with a short film about FEAST World Kitchen)
Eighty years after his liberation from Buchenwald, Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire seeks to understand the man behind Elie Wiesel's searing and widely read memoir Night. Told largely through his own words and eloquent voice, the film penetrates to the heart of the known and unknown Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) – his passions, conflicts, and legacy as one of the most public survivors of the Holocaust. With unique access to personal archives and original interviews, and through hand-painted animation, the film illuminates Wiesel’s biography as a survivor, writer, teacher, public figure, and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
About SJFF
The Spokane Jewish Film Festival is the annual community film event hosted by Spokane Area Jewish Family Services featuring films from around the world, presented both in person and online. This year the festival will return to Spokane’s Magic Lantern Theatre for nine days of seven full-length films, four in-person screenings, and four online screenings, as well as four short films.
Spokane’s annual Jewish Film Festival is an event for both Jewish and non-Jewish community members alike, and the festival is an entertaining and fun way to be introduced to Jewish culture and life.
In the News
‘Hate is so useless’: Filmgoers rave about documentary featuring Spokane holocaust survivor, Carla Peperzak
Carla Peperzak didn’t speak of her horrific experiences during World War II for 55 years. “It was too painful, and I wanted to forget and live my life fully,” Peperzak said Saturday in downtown Spokane. “Of course, this was impossible. … Now I realize how important it is to talk about it, though it’s still…
Jewish Film Festival in Spokane to premiere local Holocaust documentary
The 21st Annual Jewish Film Festival is set to begin this weekend in Spokane, featuring the West Coast premiere of a documentary about local Holocaust survivor Carla Peperzak, titled “Carla the Rescuer.” The festival will open with this significant film, marking a milestone for the Spokane Jewish Film Festival. The event will be held at…
Thank You to Our Festival Sponsors!
The Spokane Jewish Film Festival enhances the cultural life of both the local Jewish community and our region as a whole. But it’s much more than just a cultural event: Festival proceeds directly support the human services work of SAJFS. We uplift seniors, low-income individuals and families, and people with disabilities through advocacy, consultations, resource referrals, home visits, rent and utility assistance, transportation services, a caregiver support group, fall-prevention classes, our food bank, and our medical lending closet. “Jewish” is in our name, and Jewish values drive our work, but we serve people of all cultural and religious backgrounds. And we do it all thanks to the generosity of community members like you.
Executive Producers Club
