Film Festival

Film has the magical power to bring people together, to inspire, to educate, to help us explore our identities, and uncover new and forgotten stories.

For 30 years JCC Sonoma County has fostered a strong appreciation of Jewish Cinema within the communities of our county. Continuing the tradition of superior cultural programs, the festival brings the newest and best of Jewish-themed films that are rarely if ever featured on our local silver screens.

Since the Fall of 2000, JCC SoCo has partnered with Rialto Cinemas to give a home for its annual Jewish Film Festival. A partnership we are proud to be a part of, and thank our friends at Rialto for their support over the years.

The Rialto theatre in Sebastopol pictured at night looking into the bright and welcoming interior.

2026 Film Fest

This year's film festival runs April through November, screening one film a month. Screenings take place on a Tuesday and run at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM that day.

CHARLES GRODIN: REBEL WITH A CAUSE

Thursday, April 16, 2026 • 1 & 6:30pm

Raised in a Jewish household in Pittsburgh, Charles Grodin’s life embodied the concept of Tikkun Olam or “repairing the world.” The film not only celebrates Charles Grodin’s hilarious acting career, but also his remarkable, decades-long, successful fight to get wrongly convicted people — most of whom were mothers of color with young children — out of prison.

The documentary, which stars Robert De Niro, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Elaine May, Carol Burnett, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Alan Arkin, Ellen Burstyn, Marc Maron, Lewis Black, Marlo Thomas, Jon Lovitz, plus several of the women Charles Grodin got released from prison, is a moving tribute to a true Jewish-American hero.

Tickets

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THE LAST SPY

Tuesday, May 12 • 1 & 6:30pm

“The Last Spy” is the riveting biography of 102-year-old CIA spymaster Peter Sichel, telling for the first time the epic and unvarnished history of the US foreign intelligence service from the inside. With a good dose of wit and humor to boot, Sichel unpacks the obscured roots of conflicts that plague today’s world and the toll espionage took on his personal life

Tickets

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LABORS OF LOVE: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HENRIETTA SZOLD

Tuesday, June 9 • 1 & 6:30pm

This heartfelt film brings long-overdue recognition to Henrietta Szold, a Jewish American humanitarian whose legacy includes advocating for binational cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. Born in 1860 in Baltimore, Szold was an avid student who assisted Jewish immigrants and established English-language night schools. A visit to Palestine in 1909, following a personal heartbreak, sparked her most lasting contributions: founding Hadassah to empower Jewish American women and provide aid to the region. Then, as the Nazis rose to power in Europe, Szold launched initiatives that saved the lives of thousands of Jewish children. Director Abby Ginzberg, granddaughter of Szold’s unrequited love, Louis Ginzberg, grew up hearing stories of Szold’s impact. In Labors of Love, she honors Szold’s legacy and brings her story to life as a touching historical portrait as well as a roadmap for confronting the continued challenges of our time with compassion. –Karina Curry

Tickets

SWEDISHKAYT: YIDLIFE CRISIS IN STOCKHOLM

Tuesday, July 14 • 1 & 6:30pm

Get ready to laugh and kvell with Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm as self-proclaimed international Yiddish-ish icons YidLife Crisis—comedy duo Eli Batalion and Jamie Elman—bravely step onto Swedish soil to unearth a hidden treasure trove of Jewish culture. From the moment they arrive in Stockholm, our heroes, like gefilte fish out of water, prepare for a big live show while unraveling the little-known history of Sweden’s Jewish community in their hilarious and heartfelt journey.
Through meshugenah encounters and eye-opening revelations, they explore tales spanning 250 years, from the earliest Jewish immigrants to discovering how Yiddish, an almost forgotten language, became a protected government-recognized language in Sweden—yes, THAT Sweden! Along the way, they dive into a cultural revival that’s as unexpected as it is joyous.
Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm is a warm and funny portrait of a community that thrives on resilience and reinvention, celebrating the quirky, surprising ways that language and identity continue to evolve. It is a love letter to Jewish happiness, unity, and the delightful discoveries waiting just beyond our comfort zones. With their unique blend of humor and heart, Eli & Jamie also remind us that sometimes the most exciting connections pop up where you least expect them—and that Jewish joy is truly universal!

Tickets

THE FLOATERS

Tuesday, August 11 • 1 & 6:30pm

Freshly ousted from her rock band, Nomi takes a last-resort job from her best friend Mara at their childhood Jewish summer camp. As camp director Mara contends with a busted septic system, she tasks Nomi to supervise a group of outsider teens called the floaters. When their rival camp – led by Mara and Nomi’s nemesis Daniel – issues a high stakes challenge with prize money on the line, Nomi pushes the limits and loses Mara’s trust. Now, Nomi and the Floaters must overcome their differences and outperform their rivals to keep the camp alive. Framed through multigenerational perspectives, this offbeat comedy captures the rich diversity of a Jewish summer camp and explores the conflict between leaving one’s mark and building connection.

Tickets