Sarah Toce
A documentary highlighting the life of a pioneering transgender activist in Israel is set to screen as part of the 2026 Seattle Jewish Film Festival, offering local audiences a story of resilience, identity and social change.
The First Lady, featured in the festival’s LGBTQ spotlight series titled “Gay Gezunt,” will have its Seattle premiere Mar. 29, 2026, at the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island. The film chronicles the life of Efrat Tilma, one of the first noted transgender women in Israel, whose experiences span decades of discrimination, exile and eventual activism.
The 82-minute documentary follows Tilma’s journey from growing up in the 1960s, when she faced violence and police persecution, to leaving Israel and later returning to a more accepting society. The film also highlights her later role as the first transgender volunteer in Israel’s police force and her continued advocacy for social change.
Directed by Udi Nir and Sagi Bornstein, The First Lady blends personal storytelling with broader historical context, tracing Tilma’s life across multiple countries including France, Morocco and Germany before her return home.
The screening is part of the 31st annual festival, which runs Mar. 14-29, 2026. The event is considered one of the largest and longest running Jewish film festivals in the Pacific Northwest, bringing together regional audiences to explore global Jewish stories through film.
A guest appearance by Nir is scheduled in conjunction with the screening, offering attendees an opportunity to engage directly with the filmmaker and discuss the documentary’s themes and impact.
