The Tucson J International Film Festival began in 1991, making it one of the longest-running Jewish film festivals in the country.
Celebrating Jewish history, culture, storytelling, and humor, the 2026 festival will kick off on January 8 with a glamorous, Hollywood-inspired screening of The Property, a dramedy that follows a grandmother and granddaughter on a quest to reclaim family property seized during World War II. The festival continues with screenings and special events through January 18, ending with a Moroccan-Jewish immigrant story, Flowers Gate. Yuval Malka, Senior Community Shlicha at the Weintraub Israel Center (a partnership between Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona and the Tucson J) will present a special program in connection to the film — sharing her family’s story and personal perspective, bringing the rich history to life.
Featuring dramas, documentaries, comedies, and shorts from around the world, the Tucson J International Film Festival celebrates the diversity of Jewish Peoplehood and invites participants to see their families’ stories reflected on film and to learn about less familiar Jewish stories.
“There is a lot of Jewish joy in the 2026 festival line-up,” says Jennifer Lorch Selco, senior director of Jewish life and engagement at the Tucson J.
And the fun doesn’t stop when the credits roll—many films feature special guests and programs, including an afternoon celebration of Yiddish culture (Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm + Welcome to Yiddishland), intimate filmmaker conversations (My Knees Were Jumping + Ada: My Mother the Architect), a stylish glimpse into the high-stakes world of fashion (Haute Couture), educational deep dives on Jewish experiences in North Africa (Flowers Gate, The Blond Boy from the Casbah), and a meaningful small-group program, with a little bit of hope (A Letter to David).
Two pre-festival events will be held on Sunday, January 4: a free screening of the festival shorts at the Tucson J and a screening of Matchmaking 2 at DesertView Performing Arts Center in SaddleBrooke.
If you aren’t able to catch the in-person film events — or want to rewatch one of your favorites—you can watch this year’s films online from January 16 through January 26 at 11:59pm (MST).
None of this would be possible without the generosity of the J’s Patrons of the Arts and festival sponsors, the collaboration of our community partners, the dedication of our film festival committee and volunteers, and you, our incredible audience. Your passion and support for Jewish stories continue to make the Tucson J International Film Festival one of the most respected Jewish film festivals in the country.
Chloe Loos, the director of arts and culture at the Tucson J, notes that the 2026 Film Festival Committee structure has evolved. “Instead of a one-year commitment where the committee works on everything, we’ve shifted to a wheel and spoke model where the one-year steering committee members are the head of a smaller subcommittee. This was done in the hopes of including more folks in the festival committee/planning process, since we know that one year is a huge commitment. We are incredibly grateful to those who have served on the committee and continue to serve and are excited to add new voices to the committee who are helping to shape the festival experience.”
The committee watched over 70 films — features and shorts — and connected weekly to talk about the options and view them through the lens of strong filmmaking. These factors included story, cinematography, and acting, as well as Jewish content. After discussion and ratings, the films were narrowed down to 17 feature-length films and seven shorts, making up the 2026 festival experience.
“After nearly a year of planning, I’m incredibly proud of the festival we’ve put together,” says Loos. “The new committee structure allowed for more participation, giving everyone a chance to contribute based on their interests. The collaboration shows in this year’s lineup.”
If you are interested in volunteering at the 2026 festival or want to help shape future festivals, reach out to Chloe at [email protected].
For information about the festival, including passes and tickets, visit https://tucsonfilm2026.eventive.org/welcome.
