Long Island Jewish
Film Festival
SAPIRO V. FORD: THE JEW WHO SUED HENRY FORD
Thursday, April 16th at 7 PM – with director Gaylen Ross in
person, feat. post-film Q&A
& Friday, April 17th at 4 PM – with director Gaylen Ross in person, feat. post-film Q&A
$20 Public | $13 Members
Programmed by David Schwartz, Independent Curator & Writer
Auto tycoon Henry
Ford was America’s wealthiest man in America, and its most notorious
anti-Semite. (He published the four-volume The International Jew: The
World’s Foremost Problem). In 1927, the young Jewish lawyer and labor
organizer Aaron Sapiro sued Ford for
defamation. The courageous David vs. Goliath court case, considered the
nation’s first hate speech trial, is the subject of this riveting documentary,
which was originated by the late Michael Rose, and completed by Gaylen Ross. Resourcefully bringing the
story to life with archival footage, animation, and Sapiro’s words dramatized
by actor Ben Shekman, Ross has brought to life an important chapter in the
story of extremism and resistance that is all too timely. (USA, 2026, 68 mins, English | Director Gaylen Ross, Producer Carol King, Originating Director Michael Rose (1952-2020))
“Sapiro v. Ford examines the enduring question:
how can societies confront power, prejudice, and propaganda while upholding
justice?” - Miami Jewish Film Festival

