Despite the attempts by many to paint with the broadest of brushes, Jewish culture is not a monolith. And one of the purest expressions of that locally is the annual Spokane Jewish Film Festival.

This year’s fest, which runs Jan. 27-Feb. 5, features 17 films including four in-person screenings. It’s also a big milestone for SJFF, with 2024 marking its 20th anniversary. To celebrate, things kick off with the festival’s first-ever opening night gala, a presentation of the crowd-pleasing Remembering Gene Wilder at the Montvale Event Center (which also includes a silent auction and catering by Feast World Kitchen).