The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is a celebration of international and independent cinema, Atlanta’s largest film festival and the world’s premier Jewish film festival attracts nearly 40,000 filmgoers. AJFF showcases a diverse collection of outstanding narrative and documentary works that broadly explore universal themes of identity, history and culture, as well as life in the State of Israel.

UPDATE REGARDING COVID-19:

Due to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, dates and exhibition details for next year's Atlanta Jewish Film Festival are under review. Stay tuned for further announcements from AJFF, as we determine when and how to best present the work of filmmakers, while also ensuring a safe and high-quality experience for festivalgoers. Thank you for your support and understanding as the film community navigates this unprecedented situation together.

Awards & Prizes

AJFF Audience Award, Best Narrative Feature
AJFF Audience Award winners are determined by popular vote of the festival audience, with moviegoers ranking each film on a scale of 1 to 4. The narrative feature (minimum 40 minutes) receiving the highest average ranking wins that category. The winning narrative feature is honored by receiving a special statuette.

AJFF Audience Award, Best Short
AJFF Audience Award winners are determined by popular vote of the festival audience, with moviegoers ranking each film on a scale of 1 to 4. The short film (under 40 minutes) receiving the highest average ranking wins that category. The winning short is honored by receiving a special statuette.

AJFF Audience Award, Best Documentary Feature
AJFF Audience Award winners are determined by popular vote of the festival audience, with moviegoers ranking each film on a scale of 1 to 4. The documentary feature (minimum 40 minutes) receiving the highest average ranking wins that category. The winning narrative feature is honored by receiving a special statuette.

Select films are also eligible for a number of Jury Prizes at each annual festival:

Narrative Jury Prize
The Narrative Prize goes to the feature-length fiction film that exceeds
all others in total artistry, direction, script, cinematography, acting,
and overall storytelling.

Documentary Jury Prize
The Documentary Prize goes to the feature-length non-fiction film that
exceeds all others in total artistry, direction, script, cinematography
and overall storytelling.

Shorts Jury Prize
The Shorts Prize goes to the film, with a run time of 40 minutes or
fewer, which exceeds all others in total artistry, direction, script,
cinematography, acting, and overall storytelling.

Emerging Filmmaker Jury Prize
An Emerging Filmmaker Prize will be awarded to a rising creative
talent, whose film shows exceptional skill and artistry.

Building Bridges Jury Prize
Honoring the film that most exemplifies AJFF's mission, informed by
founder and partner American Jewish Committee, to foster understanding among diverse religious, ethnic, and cultural communities.

Human Rights Jury Prize
The Human Rights Prize is awarded to the film that most powerfully
captures the perseverance and strength of those whose sense of
justice guides them in the face of bigotry, inequality, and persecution.

Rules & Terms

To qualify for consideration, all submissions must include a completed entry form, nonrefundable entry fee and screener.

AJFF showcases a broad range of narrative and documentary works that reflect Jewish and Israeli identity, history and culture, as well as the intersection of Jewish life with universal issues and diverse communities. The Jewish or Israeli relevance may be explicit or implicit, and need not be central to the film's subject matter, story or themes.

The AJFF selection process does not utilize the FilmFreeway viewing environment, and requires direct access to your screener via either a Vimeo link or digital file for download. You may also email kenny@ajff.org with your screener link and password upon submission. Viewing rights are restricted to festival staff and selection committee members.

AJFF welcomes U.S. and international entries. Foreign language films must include English subtitles.

AJFF is unable to waive entry fees or provide discounts beyond those indicated.

Though AJFF will consider entries with prior or pending theatrical or television exhibition, priority is given to those films that have not been viewed previously within the Atlanta market.

Industrial and instructional works are not eligible.

Works that have been previously submitted to AJFF are ineligible for reconsideration unless they have been significantly re-edited or modified since the earlier submission.

AJFF retains sole discretion to accept or decline submissions for any reason. Submission of a film does not guarantee exhibition in the festival. The decision of the AJFF Film Evaluation Committee is final.

Selected films will be notified directly at least two months prior to festival. All other entries will be notified by email following the decision of the AJFF Film Evaluation Committee.

By entering AJFF, applicants certify that they have the legal right to submit and exhibit the film. The applicant is hereby responsible and liable for any breach of rights or the law in the submission and exhibition process.

By entering AJFF, the entrant grants the right to publish or transmit portions of the film for the purpose of press or promotion, unless otherwise noted.