The Floaters – A Family Film Feature!
The Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival (TBJFF) proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of films that have entertained, educated and deeply moved the Tampa Bay community. Since its founding in 1996, TBJFF has demonstrated the extraordinary power of film to capture laughter, ambition, resilience, memory and the soul of Jewish life — honoring the past while illuminating the present.
This milestone year reflects how storytelling through cinema continues to connect generations and cultures, from films remembering the Holocaust to contemporary stories responding to the events of October 7, and everything in between. Spanning 30 years, the festival has become a cultural cornerstone — where community gathers to experience stories that inspire conversation, empathy and understanding.
The 30th Annual Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival, running February 12 – 22, 2026, will showcase 16 feature films and 14 short films, representing the breadth and depth of Jewish voices from around the world. Award-winning dramas, heartfelt documentaries, vibrant comedies and powerful narratives from Israel, Europe, North America and beyond promise an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Holocaust The Pianist’s Choice – and special concert by Florida Wind Band with Champagne Brunch
A Red Carpet Opening Night
The festival kicks off in grand style on Thursday, February 12, at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC with an unforgettable Red Carpet Cocktail Hour featuring live music, photo opportunities on the red carpet and a festive atmosphere filled with delicious food, drinks and exciting raffles.
The evening continues with the presentation of the prestigious Starr Award, honoring Lance Becatti of Ameriprise Financial; Becatti Wealth Advisors, in recognition of his outstanding support of the TBJFF and then the highly anticipated opening night film, Once Upon My Mother, a moving French-Canadian drama about a mother’s unwavering devotion to her son, born with a disability, and the promise that shapes their extraordinary journey through life.
Jaffa Stories Food – Israeli Truck – and IAC The support Hummus
Adding to the excitement, filmmaker Ken Scott, director of Once Upon My Mother, will be in attendance on opening night, offering audiences a rare opportunity to engage with the creative force behind one of the year’s most talked-about films.
Films That Educate, Entertain, and Inspire — With Special Guests
Throughout the festival, audiences will experience a rich lineup of films that reflect Jewish history, humor and humanity. Highlights include:
• The Labor of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold, celebrating the visionary founder of Hadassah and a pioneer of Jewish humanitarian leadership.
Film The Ring – Closing Night – Judges Selection
• Matchmaking 2, Israel’s biggest box office hit of the year, filled with romance, warmth, and humor.
• The Last Twins, a powerful Holocaust documentary honoring courage and resilience in humanity’s darkest hour.
• The Road Between Us, a gripping documentary depicting rescue efforts during the October 7 attacks.
Anat Mansour and Roxanna Levin, 30th Anniversary TBJFF chairs
• Influenced, a sharp, contemporary comedy exploring identity, authenticity, and modern culture.
The festival will also welcome special guest Jill Kargman, star of Influenced, who will appear in person at the Saturday, February 21 screening at Greenlight Cinema in St. Petersburg, giving audiences the opportunity to experience the film alongside one of its featured talents.
Guests can look forward to additional filmmakers, actors and guest speakers joining throughout the festival.
Film, Food and Community Experience
Adding to the immersive festival atmosphere, The Hummus Truck will be on site on Sunday, February 15, from 3 – 6 p.m. at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC, offering food available for purchase. Audiences are invited to enjoy lunch or an early dinner while soaking in the ambiance ahead of the 6 p.m. screening of Jaffa Stories — a vibrant, humorous film celebrating the colorful street life and culture of Jaffa.
For festivalgoers attending the Friday, February 13 matinee screenings at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, a boxed lunch catered by Jo-El’s will be available for purchase between films for $18, allowing guests to enjoy a seamless day of film and conversation.
A Musical Celebration and a Memorable Final Day
The festival culminates on Sunday, February 22, beginning at 11 a.m. with a Champagne Brunch and a special live concert by the Florida Wind Band, setting the stage for one of the festival’s most powerful cinematic moments.
Following the musical celebration, audiences will experience The Pianist’s Choice, a gripping wartime drama about a gifted French pianist forced to make an impossible moral decision — perform for Nazi officers or risk losing the woman he loves, his former mentor who taught him everything he knows. The film’s themes of art, conscience, sacrifice and survival provide a poignant and fitting conclusion to the festival’s 30th anniversary celebration final screening day.
The community celebration continues Closing Night, when the Audience Choice Film, The Ring, will be followed by a festive dessert and champagne toast reception, giving guests an opportunity to celebrate 30 years of storytelling together.
New This Year: Real to Reel Documentary Film Series & Short Film Programs
New in this anniversary year, Real to Reel joins the Tampa Bay
Jewish Film Festival as an exciting documentary film series dedicated to bringing real-life stories to the big screen. Supported by
Sue Heyman & Mike White and Linda & Marvin Feldman, Real to Reel will run quarterly on both sides of Tampa Bay, expanding the festival’s reach beyond its annual dates.
The inaugural Real to Reel selections featured during the festival include two powerful documentaries that reflect the series’ mission of education, inspiration and meaningful conversation:
The Labor of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold
When Henrietta Szold found herself heartbroken and childless at age 50, she transformed her grief into action — founding Hadassah, helping establish Palestine’s healthcare system with a mandate to treat Jews and Arabs equally and rescuing thousands of Jewish children from Nazi Europe as the head of Youth Aliyah. Her extraordinary humanitarian legacy continues to resonate today.
The President’s Tailor
Martin Greenfield learned to sew while mending uniforms for the Gestapo in Auschwitz at age fifteen. He would later become one of America’s most celebrated tailors, crafting suits for U.S. presidents and cultural icons. This remarkable film tells the story of resilience, craftsmanship and the American dream demonstrated through one survivor’s life.
Each Real to Reel screening will be paired with thoughtful conversation offering audiences’ deeper engagement with the films and reinforcing TBJFF’s commitment to storytelling that educates, inspires and connects community through documentary cinema.
Short Film Programs: Spotlight on Emerging Talent
In addition to feature films and documentaries, the 30th Annual Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival introduces Short Film Programs, showcasing two curated blocks of films that are each under 30 minutes. Short films are a dynamic and engaging way to experience diverse voices and storytelling styles, enhancing the festival experience for audiences of all ages.
This year, seven of the fourteen short films featured in the festival are student films from Maleah Film School and Sapir School of Art and Design, both based in Israel. These works highlight the next generation of filmmakers, offering fresh perspectives, innovative storytelling and a unique glimpse into contemporary Israeli culture and global Jewish experiences. Festivalgoers can enjoy these short film blocks each Sunday during the Festival at 4:00 pm.
Curated by Experts: A Festival of Distinction
All films selected for this year’s festival are the result of the careful, discerning work of 24 film aficionados who served as judges, guided by festival co-chairs Roxana Levin and Anat Mansour. These dedicated cinephiles screened nearly 80 films, engaging in thoughtful discussion and deliberation to ensure that the final lineup reflects both artistic excellence and stories that resonate deeply with the Tampa Bay Jewish community. Their passion and expertise are evident in the diverse, compelling and award-winning films presented this year.
Screenings will take place at premier venues throughout the region, including the Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC, Tampa Theatre, AMC Veterans, AMC Woodlands, Greenlight Cinema, and the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, making the festival accessible to audiences across Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival is proudly brought to Tampa Bay by the Tampa JCCs and Federation and the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast. The festival is generously sponsored by Hillsborough County, Sara and David Scher, Planned Parenthood, Film
Tampa Bay and many individual supporters whose dedication continues to sustain and grow
this beloved cultural tradition. A complete schedule including all films, times, locations, ticket prices and All-Access Passes can be found at: TBJFF. org. Please email brandy.gold@jewishtampa.com for questions or assistance.