Seattle Jewish Film Festival Screens LGBTQ Films

March 13, 2025• byMichael Strangeways

“Sabbath Queen” screens at the 30th Seattle Jewish Film Festival.

Seattle’s own LGBTQ+ film festival non-profit Three Dollar Bill Cinema is partnering with the Seattle Jewish Film Festival (SJFF) to present two new LGBTQ+ films with Jewish themes: Sabbath Queen and Pink Lady. Both films, part of the Gay Gezunt! LGBTQ+ Spotlight, which “explore identity, faith, and self-discovery in unique and powerful ways.” The Seattle Jewish Film Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year during its 12 day LIVE festival happening March 22nd through April 6th at area cinemas while it also screen streams films online from March 22nd through April 13th. Get more info and tickets at their website: https://seattlejff.org/

Also be aware that Three Dollar Bill Cinema members get $2 off tickets—just use code 3DOLLARBILL at checkout.

The two LGBTQ themed films include Sabbath Queen (March 30, in-person only) ‘follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie’s transformative journey from Orthodox rabbinical heir to drag performer and spiritual innovator.” And, “Pink Lady (March 23 in-person, streaming March 31–April 13) tells the story of a woman navigating the shocking revelation of her husband’s secret life in an ultra-Orthodox community.”

Those aren’t the only films with gay themes in the festival. The opening night film is MIDAS MAN, a biopic about the life of Brian Epstein, the gay manager of The Beatles. And, JANIS IAN: BREAKING SILENCE is a documentary about the life of iconic singer Janis Ian who came out as lesbian in 1993.

“Pink Lady” screens at the 30th Seattle Jewish Film Festival.

The 30th Seattle Jewish Film Festival (SJFF) will be featuring 30 films to mark SJFF’s 30 years, this milestone festival includes 12 days of in-person screenings and events at five venues across the greater Seattle area, plus an encore in Walla Walla and two weeks of streaming access through April 13 for virtual films.

Festival highlights include:

Opening Night: MIDAS MAN, a drama chronicling the rise and fall of Brian Epstein, the visionary manager behind The Beatles
Closing Night: BAD SHABBOS, a dark comedy starring Kyra Sedgwick
A sing-along screening of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Two LGBTQ+ spotlight screenings: SABBATH QUEEN (from award-winning director Sandi DuBowski (TREMBLING BEFORE G-D) & PINK LADY
CARLA THE RESCUER, a documentary about a 101-year-old Dutch resistance fighter from Spokane
JANIS IAN: BREAKING SILENCE, an in-depth documentary chronicling the singer’s epic life journey

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.