Asheville Jewish Film Festival, 2026

Get ready for a fantastic time at the Asheville Jewish Film Festival, 2026! Dive into a vibrant collection of films celebrating Jewish culture, stories, and voices. This in-person event is perfect for movie lovers and anyone looking to explore new perspectives in a fun, welcoming atmosphere. Don't miss out on this unique cinematic experience right in the heart of Asheville!

Opening reception for the Asheville Jewish Film Festival, October 10, 5:30 pm

Once Upon My Mother (Trailer)

Set in France and spanning decades, Once Upon My Mother follows Esther, a Sephardic Jewish mother whose fierce devotion helps her son Roland, born with a clubfoot in 1963, push past medical forecasts and social barriers. Warm, funny, and deeply moving, it’s a crowd-pleasing story about resilience, family, and the stubborn power of love.

• Showing on Saturday, October 10 at 7:00 pm
• Showing Sunday, October 11 at 2:00 pm

Sabbath Queen (Trailer)

Filmed over 21 years, Sabbath Queen traces Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie’s extraordinary journey as an heir to generations of Orthodox rabbis who becomes a queer religious innovator and founder of Lab/Shul, an “everybody-friendly” experimental Jewish community. This expansive documentary explores ancestry, identity, reinvention, and the many ways Jewish life can be built with courage and imagination.

• Showing on Saturday, October 17 at 7:00 pm
• Showing Sunday, October 18 at 2:00 pm

The Sea (Trailer)

In this powerful Israeli drama, 12-year-old Khaled, a Palestinian boy on a school trip to the Mediterranean, is turned back at a checkpoint and sets out on his own to reach the sea for the first time. A tense, intimate coming-of-age story, The Sea invites viewers into a child’s determination and the human stakes of borders, language, and freedom of movement.

• Showing on Saturday, October 24 at 7:00 pm
• Showing Sunday, October 25 at 2:00 pm

The Ring(Trailer)

Based on a true story, The Ring follows Arnon Noble, a devout Israeli whose world is shaken as his Holocaust-survivor mother’s health declines. He travels to Budapest to uncover the truth behind the ring that once saved her life. A gripping blend of family mystery and historical reckoning, the film explores survival, memory, and what we inherit across generations.

• Showing on Saturday, November 7 at 7:00 pm
• Showing Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 pm