Members of the film festival committee at the Red-Carpet Opening Night event. Front row (L-R): Anat Mansour, Ellen Seigman, Loni Shelef, Cheryl Schwartz, Benette Gilbert and Arlene Lowitt. Back row (LR): Joni Higgins, Steve Schwersky, Linda Goldfarb and Roxana Levin.
Thirty years ago, a small group of Jewish film enthusiasts had a dream: bring meaningful, entertaining Jewish cinema to the Tampa Bay community. In 1996, founders Jesse Starr (z’l) and Rina Donchin (z’l), along with a passionate team, approached, what is now, the Tampa JCCs & Federation to help make that dream a reality.
What began as a long weekend of films has grown into one of the region’s most celebrated Jewish arts and cultural programs.
Early supporters and future festival leaders — including Mindy Solomon, Reva Fox, Stuart Novick, Ed Rudd, Stewart Donnell, Loni Shelef, Stewart Kessler, Sara Golding-Scher, Anat Mansour and Roxana Levin — helped shape the festival in its early years. Over three decades, hundreds of sponsors, judges, volunteers and committee members have carried that vision forward.
Today, the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival brings together audiences from across both sides of the bay for two weeks of extraordinary storytelling, lively conversations and unforgettable celebrations.
Festival co-chairs Roxana Levin and Anat Mansour pose in front of a packed theatre.
The 30th anniversary festival opened in grand style with a red-carpet celebration filled with friends, film lovers and community leaders. Champagne flowed, music filled the air and the excitement was palpable as patrons gathered to kick off the milestone year.
Opening night featured the powerful film “Once Upon My Mother,” which brought the house down before an audience of more than 260 patrons. Following the screening, film specialists Isaac Zablocki and Tyler Martinolich of Film Tampa Bay led an engaging and thoughtful discussion with the audience. From there, the festival continued with two weeks of remarkable films and memorable moments.
Local Hadassah chapters came together on Friday afternoon for the moving documentary “Labors of Love” by Abby Ginzberg. Saturday evening audiences enjoyed a lighter tone with the romantic comedy “Matchmaking 2,” which quickly became an audience favorite.
The newly released comedy “Influenced,” starring Jill Kargman, generated plenty of buzz and promises to be a future hit with festival audiences. Sunday’s family-friendly films — “The Floaters” and “Jaffa Stories” — brought joy and laughter to audiences at the Shanna & Bryan Glazer JCC.
(L-R): Film Tampa Bay’s Sam Allen, Tyler Martinolich and Birdie Doyle celebrate the film festival’s opening night festivities.
Throughout the festival, audiences also reflected during special October 7 commemorations with the powerful film “The Road Between Us.” A sold-out screening of the award-winning “The Blond Boy from the Casbah” drew a full house in Oldsmar for an emotional evening of storytelling and remembrance.
Later in the festival, moviegoers experienced one of Tampa’s most iconic venues, the historic Tampa Theatre, where audiences gathered inside the newly opened John T. Taylor Screening Room to watch the Argentine film “Mazel Tov.” The film proved so popular that multiple screenings sold out.
Greenlight Cinema in St. Petersburg also became a hub of laughter and lively conversation. Audiences participated in a virtual discussion with “Influenced” star Jill Kargman and later roared with laughter during the screening of “Swedishkayt,” featuring the beloved comedians from “YidLife Crisis.”
Festival co-chairs Roxana Levin (left) and Anat Mansour (right) with Starr Award honoree Lance Becatti (center).
As with all great festivals, the celebration eventually came to a close — but not before one final memorable day.
The 30th anniversary concluded with an elegant champagne brunch serenaded by the extraordinary Florida Wind Band. Guests then enjoyed the beautiful film “The Pianist’s Choice,” setting the stage for the festival’s closing night presentation.
The final film of the festival, “The Ring,” was unanimously selected by the festival committee as the Judges’ Choice Award winner. Nearly 200 guests attended the closing night screening and celebrated afterward with a lavish dessert reception.
In total, the 30th annual Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival welcomed thousands of attendees, presenting 16 feature films and 14 short films, along with numerous filmmaker discussions, interviews and audience talkbacks.
During the festival, Lance Becatti of Ameriprise was honored with the Starr Award for his continued support of the festival, joining a distinguished group of recipients who have helped sustain the festival’s growth since its inception.
Thirty years after its humble beginnings, the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival continues to thrive — bringing together film lovers, friends and community members to celebrate Jewish storytelling on the big screen.
And if the past three decades are any indication, the next chapter promises to be just as inspiring.
For those who missed this year’s celebration, the story does not end here. Festival photos, interviews and highlights from the 30th annual Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival can be found at TBJFF.org, where readers can also stay up to date on plans for the 31st annual festival, slated for February 2027.
The Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival will also continue its year-round programming, including the documentary “Real to Reel Film Series,” generously sponsored by Michael White, Sue Heyman and Marvin and Linda Feldman. Audiences can also look forward to the beloved Shorts & Shots program returning in the fall, spotlighting exceptional short films paired with a festive community gathering.
The festival is proudly produced by the Tampa JCCs & Federation in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast, whose ongoing commitment helps bring meaningful Jewish arts and cultural experiences to audiences across the region.
Festival organizers also extend heartfelt thanks to the many sponsors and partners who made this milestone year possible, including Hillsborough County, Sara and David Scher, Planned Parenthood, Film Tampa Bay and Becatti Wealth Advisors. Special appreciation is also given to festival co-chairs Roxana Levin and Anat Mansour, along with this year’s dedicated festival judges and committee members, whose passion and hard work helped make the 30th anniversary celebration truly unforgettable.