October 10 - November 8, 2026
Welcome
The Asheville Jewish Film Festival returns in 2026 with four award-winning Asheville premieres plus special guests, post-film discussions, and an opening night reception.
These films celebrate and grapple with cultural, historical, religious, and political themes within the wide range of contemporary international Jewish experiences in the United States, Israel, France, and Hungary. While the contexts rest in Jewish experiences, the themes are universal and reflect a shared humanity.
The 2026 Asheville Jewish Film Festival will inform, inspire, and entertain diverse audiences during challenging times. The Festival offers a place where we can, once again, share new perspectives, insights, and heartfelt experiences through the magical lens of film.
Once Upon My Mother
One relentless mother, decades of setbacks, and small miracles that add up. Heartfelt, human, and quietly fierce.
Sabbath Queen
A 21-year portrait of Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie where faith, drag, and leadership collide in the most human way.
The Sea
A 12-year-old Palestinian boy decides to find a way to reach the Mediterranean alone — without speaking Hebrew. Tense, tender, unforgettable.
The Ring
A search for a family heirloom opens up a much bigger inheritance: survival, memory, and the long shadow the Holocaust casts across generations.
October 10, 2026 at 5:30
October 18, 2026 at 8:45 p.m. (following the screening)
October 24, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. (following the screening)
November 7, 2026 at 9:00 p.m. (following the screening)
Experience the 2026 Festival! Tickets start at $18 for individual screenings with reduced rates for UNC Asheville students. Save up to $25 when you buy a full festival pass!
The Asheville Jewish Film Festival is presented by the Center for Jewish Studies at UNC Asheville and made possible through the sponsorship of generous donors.
Established in 1982, the Center for Jewish Studies serves both the university and the broader Western North Carolina community by providing enriching programs, academic courses, and events that celebrate and explore Jewish history, culture, and religion. The Center for Jewish Studies engages a diverse audience that includes K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and both Jewish and non-Jewish organizations.
Venue Security
The Asheville Jewish Film Festival will have appropriate security present to create a safe space that is both open and attentive to everyone’s well-being. Patrons may be asked to pass through a security check before entering venues, which may include a weapons detector, and bags may be searched at the door.
Parking
Free parking is nearby and complimentary shuttle service is available for those needing assistance. Ticket holders will receive detailed information with their ticket purchase.
Checks should be made out to the UNC Asheville Foundation. In the memo line, please indicate Asheville Jewish Film Festival so that your gift is properly allocated. Checks should be mailed to:
Shannon Earle
One University Heights, CPO#3800
Asheville, NC 28804
Donor Levels
Executive Producer
$5,000+
On screen rolling credits before each film, listing in printed program before each film, four (4) full festival passes
Producer
$3,500-$4,999
On screen rolling credits before each film, listing in printed program before each film, three (3) full festival passes
Director
$2,500-$3,499
On screen rolling credits before each film, listing in printed program before each film, two (2) full festival passes
Assistant Director
$1,000-$2,499
On screen rolling credits before each film, listing in printed program before each film, one (1) full festival pass
Editor
$250-$999
On screen rolling credits before each film, listing in printed program before each film
Friend
$1-$249
Listing in printed program before each film