Ten days, 19 events and countless stories: It’s time for the 35th annual Tucson J International Film Festival.

Chloe Loos, director of arts and culture of the Tucson Jewish Community Center, and her screening committee have selected 17 movies and planned events around them to satisfy all Old Pueblo movie lovers, not just those who are Jewish.

Events include a Yiddish Festival, chats with local authorities on craftsmanship and fashion design, sexual identity and the Mizrahi experience in Israeli society. The daughter of a Kindertransport will also be on hand to talk about her story.

Choosing which movies to schedule for the festival was not easy. Loos and her committee watched a lot of movies.

“We look at them with a couple of things in mind,” she said. “One of them is the film itself. Is the cinematography good? Is the acting good? How do you feel about the story?”

Committee members also looked for Jewish content, which Loos said can be very broad.

“One of the films that a member of the screening committee really loved, the rest of the committee were not sure if it had enough Jewish content,” she said.

Turns out it showed Jewish values in various ways, “so very broad but it has to have something to do with Jewish life.” This fits in with the philosophy of the festival.

“Our goal is to present a diverse mosaic or tapestry of Jewish life,” Loos said. “Jewish life is really diverse so we want to make sure that we’re touching on a little bit of things.”

Most of the movies have been made and released within the last few years; one festival film is older, “My Knees Were Jumping,” about the Kinderstransport, made in 1996.

Screenings are planned for three different locations: the J, 3800 E. River Road; the Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Boulevard; and the Desert View Performing Arts Center, 39900 Clubhouse Drive. 

Cost is $10 each.

If getting to the cinema is not possible, all the films will be available to stream. Look for that here: watch.eventive.org/tucsonfilm2026

Ask Loos about her favorite and it’s like asking about her favorite child, but…

“‘Mazel Tov,’” she said. “I’m excited about it because it’s a really well done movie but it’s interesting because it’s from an Argentinian Jewish filmmaker so the film is in Spanish.”

Plus, it came out this year and “I think it has some things that the community at large would find interesting beyond just the Jewish community.”

During the festival the following films will be screened:

“The Property,” dramedy, 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan, 8, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road

“Bliss,” drama, 1 to 3:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road

“Mazel Tov,” dramedy, 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road

“Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm,” documentary, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. Celebrate Yiddish culture in an afternoon-long festival between two films. Enjoy klezmer performances, Yiddish bingo (with prizes), and additional activities. Savor some small bites and learn about the language, culture and joy of Yiddishkeit.

“Welcome to Yiddishland,” documentary, 4 to 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road

“Jinxed,” comedy, 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, Jan. 11, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road

“Haute Couture,” drama, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Boulevard. After the film, join Jessica Peel Scott, head of the Pima Community College Fashion Design Department, for a lively post-screening conversation about creativity, craftsmanship, and the allure of fashion design. Plus, a prize for the best-dressed audience members will be given.

“The Blond Boy from the Casbah,” dramedy, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. Before the film, explore the cultural crossroads of the Maghreb with a diverse panel reflecting on history, heritage, and identity. Featuring jeweler and author Eveli Sabatie, University of Arizona scholar Dr. Hsain Ilahaine and a surprise guest, this discussion offers multiple perspectives on the region’s complexity. Attendees will have a chance to win Eveli’s book as a door prize.

“My Knees Were Jumping: Remembering the Kindertransport,” documentary, 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Boulevard. After the screening stay for an intimate conversation with filmmaker Melissa Hacker and Beatrice Segal, a fellow daughter of a Kindertransport survivor, moderated by Sarah Iden.

“The First Lady,” documentary, 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. After the film, stay for a panel discussion on gender, sexual identity, diversity, and Israeli society today. Hear from local young community members who recently returned from the LGBTQ+ mission to Israel as they share their personal experiences, insights, and reflections on the challenges, realities and inspirations they encountered.

“This Is My Mother,” dramedy, 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E Speedway Boulevard

“Ada — My Mother the Architect,” documentary, 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. After the screening, UA Associate Professor of Architecture Dr. Laura Hollengreen will lead a discussion with the filmmaker — and Ada’s daughter — Yael Melamede.

“Never Alone,” drama, 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. After the film, stay for an intimate chat with a panel of community members — Nancy Stoler, Susan Bovre, and Eva Kvaloesun — who will share about their perspectives and experiences having lived in several Nordic countries.

“A Letter to David,” documentary, 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. Stay after the film for a post-screening program centered on reflection and connection, grounded in themes of Jewish peoplehood and our shared responsibility to one another.

“Matchmaking 2,” comedy, 1 to 3 p .m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road

“Among Neighbors,” documentary, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Desert View Performing Arts Center, 39900 Clubhouse Drive. Stay after the screening for a conversation with director Yoav Potash about the making of the film and the story behind it, moderated by Bonnie Lasky, board member at Congregation B’nai Midbar.

“Flowers Gate,” dramedy, 4 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road. Join Yuval, Senior Community Shlicha at the Weintraub Israel Center, for a program exploring the journey of Moroccan Jews to Israel and the Mizrahi experience in Israeli society. Through personal stories from her own family, Yuval will bring history to life, sharing the challenges, beauty, and inspiration of their journey. 

The 35th annual Tucson J International Film Festival
WHEN: Times vary through Sunday, Jan. 18
WHERE: Various locations and beginning Friday, Jan. 16 streaming online here: watch.eventive.org/tucsonfilm2026
COST:  $12, ticket packages available
INFO:  tucsonfilm2026.eventive.org/schedule