NEWSLETTER
New York, N.Y. – The New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival (NYSJFF) returns for its 28th edition. Celebrating Sephardic creativity in the spirit of America’s 250th, the American Sephardi Federation’s action-packed program will run from May 31 to June 7, 2026 in the Edmond J. Safra Hall at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. This year’s Festival features a record number of premieres.
Opening Night – May 31
The World Premiere of Fausse Note (The Last Concert), followed by an in-person Q&A with
acclaimed director Alexandre Arcady.
Pomegranate Awards Ceremony – June 1
The 2026 ASF Pomegranate Awards will honor vibrant Sephardi voices for extraordinary
achievements in philosophy, music, film, and journalism:
- Avi Issacharoff — Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Storytelling
- Bernard-Henri Lévy — Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Philosophy
- Murray Perahia — Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Music
- Jeannette Sorrell — Pomegranate Lifetime Achievement Award for Music
The evening will feature a special live performance by GRAMMY Award-winning conductor and harpsichordist Jeannette Sorrell with members of Apollo’s Fire. “Sephardic Jews and the Making of American Independence” will be viewable for VIP guests.The Pomegranates are sculpted with love by world-renowned, Baghdad-born artist Oded Halahmy.
Enrico Macias Live: A Night of Memory & Music – June 2
International premieres and award-winning films – June 3 - 7
Audiences will also experience director Q&As, artist conversations, and special events.
The NYSJFF is part of Festival Sefarad, a month-long city-wide celebration of Jewish joy through intellectual, cultural, and communal events. The NYSJFF - Festival Sefarad is presented in partnership with the Museum of Jewish Heritage, dedicated to Ike, Molly, and Steven Elias, and made possible by additional support from the UJA-Federation of New York.
For more information, tickets, and full program details, visit:
www.nysjff.com
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