JFI WinterFest 2026

Box Office · Attend · Schedule · Films

The Jewish Film Institute presents the 13th annual WinterFest, weekend celebration of new, timely works shaping the independent Jewish film landscape. Featuring bold films from established filmmakers, conversation starting documentaries, and impactful short films, this year's slate invites audiences an opportunity to connect with each other and engage with stories that resonate today.

WinterFest runs February 28 through March 1, 2026 at the Vogue Theater in San Francisco. The JFI Member pre-sale is February 2–4. General sales begin on Wednesday, February 4 at 10am PT. Subscribe to the JFI newsletter for exclusive offers and updates.

Explore All Films

Shorts Program: Strangers, Neighbors & Kin

This lively program features three short films that center joy in unexpected moments of Jewish life, featuring Carol Kane, an adult convert to Judaism, and a Chinese restauranteur.

Saturday February 28, 2026

11:30 a.m.

Vogue Theatre

All I Had Was Nothingness

Forty years after the release of Claude Lanzmann's monumental film "Shoah," Guillaume Ribot reveals the director s relentless pursuit to tell the untold, using only Lanzmann's words and unseen footage from the masterpiece.

Saturday February 28, 2026

2:00 p.m.

Vogue Theatre

Benita

The life and legacy of experimental filmmaker Benita Raphan are honored in this deeply felt new work by her friend and mentor, Alan Berliner, who pieces together her archive in a collaborative piece that captures Raphan’s boundless creative energy.

Saturday February 28, 2026

4:30 p.m.

Vogue Theatre

Once Upon My Mother

Based on a fascinating true story, "Once Upon My Mother" is a heartfelt family drama set in 1960s Paris that celebrates a mother’s enduring love.

Saturday February 28, 2026

7:00 p.m.

Vogue Theatre

Shorts Program: Parallel Lenses

This mid-length shorts program brings together two emotionally resonant observational documentaries that capture the reverberations of October 7th in Israel.

Sunday March 1, 2026

11:30 a.m.

Vogue Theatre

The Sea

Khaled, a 12 year old Palestinian boy denied entry into Israel on a school trip, forges his own illicit path to the Mediterranean Sea in this devastating portrayal of a childhood defined by borders and occupation. Winner, Best Feature, Ophir Awards. Israel’s official selection for Best International Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards.

Sunday March 1, 2026

2:00 p.m.

Vogue Theatre

Orphan

1957. In Budapest, after the uprising against the Communist regime, a young Jewish boy, Andor, raised by his mother with idealized tales of his deceased father, has his world turned upside down when a man appears, claiming to be his true father...Hungary’s official selection for Best International Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards.

Sunday March 1, 2026

4:30 p.m.

Vogue Theatre

Yes

Regarded as one of the sharpest cultural critics of Israeli society, filmmaker Nadav Lapid returns with a blistering new drama about Y., a struggling musician tasked with writing a new national anthem following October 7th.

Sunday March 1, 2026

7:30 p.m.

Vogue Theatre

Festival Passes

WinterFest Pass

$100 Members
$125 General Public

The WinterFest Pass is valid for all screenings February 28 – March 1, 2026 at the Vogue Theater in San Francisco and provides priority admission for passholders and one ticketed guest.

Become a member of the Jewish Film Institute for the best deal on passes and other exclusive benefits.

Become A Member

Dates & Venues

February 28 – March 1, 2026

Vogue Theater
3290 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Click for Directions

Box Office

E: boxoffice@jfi.org
T: 415.621.0568
Hours: Mon–Fri, 11am–5pm

JFI Member sales begin Saturday, January 31 at 10am PT
General sales begin Tuesday, February 3 at 10am PT

Tickets & Passes

Tickets
JFI Members: $15
General Public: $20
Student/Senior: $19

WinterFest Passes
JFI Members: $100
General Public: $125

Our Partners

Hospitality Partner: Palihotel San Francisco

A well-located, well-crafted boutique hotel located in the Union Square area of San Francisco, one of the most dynamic cities in the world. This historic hotel has been reimagined to appeal to a broad range of clientele ranging from San Francisco Jewish Film Festival guests and attendees; tourist families on a holiday; a design-minded business traveler, tech conventioneer, or an international design enthusiast. Featuring vibrant king and queen rooms, a full-service restaurant, bar and expansive lounge, Palihotel is the communal neighborhood hub of Union Square.

The Jewish Film Institute thanks Palihotel San Francisco, our Premier Hospitality Sponsor, for its generosity. JFI and SFJFF attendees can save up to 20% off the Best Available Rate with the code SFJFF.

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