Spokane Area Jewish Family Services is thrilled to present the 21st annual Spokane Jewish Film Festival! SJFF 2025 will take place Jan. 25-26 and Feb. 1-2 in person and online Jan. 26-Feb. 1. We’ll kick off this year’s festival with an opening night reception and Zoom Q&A at the Magic Lantern Theatre, where all in-person screenings will take place. The virtual festival will include films we're screening online only!

Carla the Rescuer

Embark on an extraordinary journey with Carla Peperzak, a courageous Jewish member of the Dutch resistance during WWII, whose message of hope resonates today. As a teenager in Amsterdam, Carla risked everything to aid fellow Jews, forging ID cards and providing shelter from the brutal Nazi regime and their collaborators. Growing up alongside Margot Frank, sister of Anne, Carla witnessed the harrowing realities of the Holocaust, enduring the loss of three-quarters of her extended family. Yet from this unimaginable tragedy Carla eventually emerged with an unwavering determination to speak out against injustice — a mission she continues steadfastly at 101 years of age.

Runtime: 88 minutes

Jack and Sam

Jack and Sam is a poignant documentary about two Holocaust survivors miraculously reunited after 80 years. Now in their late 90s, they are spending the precious time they have left rekindling their friendship and educating others about the dangers of hatred. Mixing documentary, archival, and breathtaking animation, this heartwarming story explores the enduring power of connection and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Runtime: 20 minutes