Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival Marks 20 Years With The Hollywood Rabbi Premiere
The 20th annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (LAJFF) commenced this week, marking two decades of cinematic storytelling that explores the complexities of Jewish identity, history and cultural resilience. The festival, which has grown from a local gathering into a major citywide cultural event, opened on May 12, 2026, at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills with the world premiere of The Hollywood Rabbi.
The opening night gala served as a tribute to Rabbi Marvin Hier, the founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Museum of Tolerance. As a two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Hier’s work has been instrumental in bringing the history of the Holocaust to a global audience, bridging the gap between historical trauma and contemporary human rights advocacy.
The documentary, directed by Jon Kean and produced by Brad Krevoy and Susie Krevoy, traces Hier’s journey from the Lower East Side of New York to his emergence as a prominent voice in Los Angeles. The film features a notable roster of contributors, including former President Bill Clinton, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Billy Crystal, and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Schwarzenegger, a longtime friend of Hier, introduced the program at the Saban Theatre.
Adding a significant industry dimension to the festival’s milestone year, Republic Pictures acquired The Hollywood Rabbi prior to its premiere, signaling the documentary’s broad commercial and educational appeal.
Nostalgia and the Roots of American Comedy
As the festival moves into its second week, the programming shifts from individual biography to collective cultural memory. On Wednesday, May 13, the festival hosts the Los Angeles premiere of We Met at Grossinger’s at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Santa Monica. The documentary examines the legendary Catskills resort, a cornerstone of the “Borscht Belt” that played a pivotal role in shaping Jewish-American comedy and social life.
Grossinger’s served as a foundational training ground for some of the most influential figures in American entertainment, including Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, and Joan Rivers. The film seeks to capture the essence of a period when Jewish families and entertainers found a unique sense of community in the Catskills.
“A nostalgic, feel-good documentary about an important slice of Jewish American history,” Hilary Helstein, LAJFF executive director, said regarding the film’s significance to the festival’s mission.
The 7 p.m. Screening will be followed by a live Q&A session featuring comedian Elon Gold, Melissa Rivers, and producers Robert Friedman and Mike Powers.
A Diverse Program Across Los Angeles
The 2026 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival is distributed across several prominent venues, including the Museum of Tolerance, Laemmle’s various locations, and Temple Beth Am. The selection spans feature films, documentaries, and short films, focusing on themes ranging from antisemitism and refugee survival to Hollywood history and cultural resilience.
| Film Title | Primary Theme | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|
| The Hollywood Rabbi | Biography & Human Rights | World Premiere at Saban Theatre |
| We Met at Grossinger’s | Comedy & Cultural History | LA Premiere at Laemmle Monica |
| Monument | Historical Memory | In-person appearance by Jon Voight |
| Hold On To Your Music | Survival & Resilience | Closing Night at Museum of Tolerance |
Other notable titles in this year’s lineup include Influenced, a new comedy by Jill Kargman, and Sapiro v. Ford: The Jew Who Sued Henry Ford, which examines legal battles within the early film industry. The festival also presents An Auschwitz Album Story and They Called Us Trujillo’s Jews, maintaining its commitment to rigorous historical discussion.
Closing with the Legacy of the Kindertransport
The festival is scheduled to conclude on May 19 with a significant premiere at the Museum of Tolerance: Hold On To Your Music: A Mother’s Legacy. The documentary tells the story of Lisa Jura, a young pianist who was among the children rescued from Nazi-occupied Vienna via the Kindertransport.
The film has already garnered international recognition, winning Best Holocaust Documentary at the 2026 Boca International Jewish Film Festival and the Torchbearer Jury Award at the 2026 Miami Jewish Film Festival. The closing program will feature a Steinway piano performance and a discussion moderated by Holocaust historian Dr. Michael Berenbaum, alongside a Q&A with Mona Golabek.
Since its inception in 2006, the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival has evolved into a vital platform for community awareness. By utilizing film as a catalyst for dialogue, the festival continues to address the intersection of Jewish heritage and the broader human experience in an increasingly complex global landscape.
The full schedule and ticket information for the remainder of the festival are available through the official festival website. The event will continue through May 19, 2026.
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