"50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" in 2020, 2021, 2022
- MovieMaker Magazine

"One of the Best Jewish Film Festival's in the US"
- The Forward

"One of South Florida's Best Film Festivals"
- Miami New Times

"Best of Miami, Readers Choice"
- Miami's Community Newspapers

"An important stop for any filmmaker"
- Sun-Sentinel

"A monumental festival"
- The Miami Herald

The Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) is the world's preeminent Jewish film festival and the largest festival of its kind dedicated to celebrating new film and media exploring universal themes of identity, history, and culture. Presenting its 26th edition from January 12-26, 2023, the Festival showcases the work of the world's best emerging and established filmmakers and offers cash awards totaling more than $40,000 in juried competition categories. Among the 148 films that premiered at the 2022 Festival which featured the largest Jewish film program in the world, more than 60 were selected from FilmFreeway submissions. Miami Jewish Film Festival has also made the prestigious "One of the 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" list by MovieMaker Magazine in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

In 2022, the Miami Jewish Film Festival drew more than 60,000 filmgoers, and recent festival editions have attracted more than 100 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry professionals to its two-week event of inspiring films, events, panels, and parties that are hosted at 14 major venues throughout Miami. In all, the Festival presents more than 100 feature narratives, documentaries, and short films of all genres, from more than 25 different countries.

MJFF presents dramatic and documentary features, experimental, and animated features and shorts about Jewish history, culture, and identity as well as films that reflect life through a Jewish lens. The programming staff takes a broad view of what makes a film Jewish and have been known to curate films that are Jew(ish) as well as films about issues that are relevant to Jewish communities and resonate with other cultural communities across the globe. Works in all forms and genres are considered.

The Festival receives significant industry recognition; each year several films premiering at the Festival are acquired for US distribution. Recent distributors who have acquired films directly from the Festival include Kino Lorber ("The Last Resort"), Samuel Goldwyn Films ("Saul & Ruby, To Life!," "Sobibor"), Netflix ("Curtiz"), Strand Releasing ("The Other Story"), Menemsha Films ("Tiger Within," "If You See My Mother," "1945," "In Search of Israeli Cuisine," "Leona"), Film Movement ("Shtetlers," "God of the Piano"), Breaking Glass Pictures ("Extra Innings," "Children of the Inquisition"), Passion River Films ("The Barn"), and Go2Films ("Sefarad"), among others.

Awards & Prizes

GRAND JURY PRIZE - $18,000
Miami Jewish Film Festival's top award, presenting $18,000 USD prize to the jury-selected feature film (60 minutes or longer) that is open to any filmmaker whose work – feature narrative or documentary – presents either a substantial portion of its content as Jewish interest or is produced in Israel.

DOCUMENTARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - $18,000
The award offers a cash prize of $18,000 USD to the jury-selected documentary feature film (60 minutes or longer) that is open to any filmmaker whose work presents either a substantial portion of its content as Jewish interest or is produced in Israel.

NEXT WAVE JURY PRIZE - $5,000
A juried prize selected by 21-35-year-olds presenting $5,000 USD to a film of any genre that is a directorial debut.

SHORT FILM COMPETITION JURY PRIZE - $500
Winner receives a non-exclusive US distribution release of their film through Film Movement, as well as a $500.00 USD prize.

CRITICS JURY PRIZE
Presented to a film of any genre voted on by all accredited film critics covering the annual Festival, for the film they consider the best of that year’s selection.

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR NARRATIVE
Presented to the filmmakers of the Festival audience’s choice of best narrative feature (60 min or more).

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY
Presented to the filmmakers of the Festival audience’s choice of best documentary feature (60 min or more).

Rules & Terms

The 26th Miami Jewish Film Festival will take place from January 12-26, 2023.

1. Submission Deadlines
Submissions will be accepted from February 4, 2022. The deadline is October 28, 2022. Early entry is encouraged but in no way guarantees acceptance.

2. Submission Format
Films must be submitted via online screener.

3. Submission Eligibility
- MJFF requires at least a Florida Premiere for any feature or short film.
- Works-in-progress are accepted.

4. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria:
- Quality of narrative and production values
- Independent nature of the production

5. Festival Screenings
Films selected for the Festival will be required to provide a DCP format file for In-Theater Exhibition. Blu-ray or pro-res video files may also be requested.

6. Scheduling
No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its selection, nor will MJFF pay screening fees for any submissions.
19 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Laurel Levey

    What a film festival! The premier night was so exciting. The venues throughout Miami Beach were perfect settings to watch the films. I want to thank Igor for making this a most memorable festival, the largest Jewish film festival in the world! Our film BOXED won Audience Choice for narrative short film and we couldn't more proud. This festival runs like a well oiled machine. Very organized, friendly, professional and full of deep enthusiasm for Jewish film. I fully recommend this festival to showcase your Jewish film to an eager audience!

    March 2022
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  • Peter Stein

    I am so delighted that you chose "Out of Exile - the Photography of Fred Stein" for you wonderful film festival. You have been extremely supportive and considerate and have made the whole process a lovely experience. Many thanks for your thoughtfulness and for selecting our film! Peter Stein

    February 2022
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  • Allen Bain

    The team at the Miami Jewish Film Festival is unparalleled. Words can’t describe how deeply you touched the lives of every person in attendance of the 25th anniversary of the film festival.

    Where many decided to close their doors as well as their minds, your team rallied and brilliantly thought outside of the box of a movie theater and placed magic into the viewing experience. To watch the films in such a majestic setting, under the moon and stars of Miami Beach was a once in a lifetime experience.

    Thank you so much for everything! It was truly an experience of a lifetime!

    February 2022
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  • YAQ Distribución

    Such a very good festival. Good communication and perfect work from the organization. So lucky we were there with My Kippah!

    May 2021
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  • adam bret

    It was a tremendous honor and we are very grateful to have our documentary feature film Impossible Possible: The Amazon 5000 Story chosen to be in the 2021 MJFF! Douglass and all the folks at MJFF were simply fantastic and incredibly supportive of our film. So many were able to watch and enjoy our film and I am indeed thankful. I would highly recommend the MJFF to any director or producer who wants to work with a festival of the highest caliber.

    May 2021
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