Winter 2026 - Los Angeles Report

Rabbi Daniel Bouskila (far left) and Neil Sheff (far right) at the LA Sephardic Film Festival

There's been a meaningful and impactful season of programming for the Los Angeles Sephardic Community, highlighted by the continued success of the spectacular Los Angeles Sephardic Jewish Film Festival, presented by the Sephardic Educational Center (SEC). Established in 1997, the festival has become a cornerstone cultural event that showcases the beauty and diversity of Sephardic Jewry while advancing the SEC’s mission to inspire Jewish identity, unity, and leadership worldwide.

The festival presents a diverse array of films that promote a deeper understanding of Sephardic Judaism’s rich heritage, history, and contemporary experience. In addition to film screenings, the festival honors excellence and leadership through its signature awards at its Gala. The Cinema Sepharad Award recognizes leading celebrities and artists for their unique contributions to the entertainment industry, while the Maimonides Leadership Award and Sephardic Legacy Award celebrate outstanding leaders and philanthropists for their lasting impact on society and the Jewish community. Special film highlights this year included King of Sephardim - an Israeli documentary film about the life and legacy of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and the Levys of Monticello - a documentary film that tells the little-known story of the Levy family, which owned and carefully preserved Monticello for nearly a century.

Keep an eye out for some exciting upcoming events this year in the LA Sephardic Community, with new activities led specifically by the Sephardic Brotherhood in partnership with local institutions.