Welcome to Joyce's Short Film Series | August 2025-February 2026.

Joyce Axelrod is a passionate arts advocate and prominent figure in San Diego’s cultural landscape. She is the founding chair of the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival, now in its 36th year, and the founder of Joyce's Short Film Series (previously know as the Joyce Forum Jewish Short Film Festival), a series dedicated to short films.

In addition to her leadership in film, Joyce actively supports the arts through her service on advisory committees for several arts and performing arts organizations. As a videographer, she has created films for numerous Jewish and non-Jewish non-profit organizations throughout San Diego County, further amplifying community voices through storytelling.

Joyce's Short Film Series presents short documentary, narrative and animated films from August 2025 to February 2026, along with a national and international roster of guest speakers and filmmakers. We offer an array of films that depict elements of Jewish life, history and culture. Awards will be selected by a distinguished panel of Jurors and be announced in February 2026.

Joyce's Short Film Series is part of the annual San Diego International Jewish Film Festival year-round programming with the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center/Center for Jewish Culture.

Since its inception in 1990, the SDIJFF has become one of the largest and most prestigious film festivals of its kind, and has the highest attendance of any Jewish cultural event in San Diego County.

Films selected for the Joyce's Short Film Series will be juried:

Short film Jury awards:

Best Documentary
Best Narrative
Best Animated Film
Best Comedy
Best Director
Grand Jury Prize

Panel of Jurors: A jury will select the top short films in the above categories which will be announced in February 2026.

We do not offer cash prizes.

VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ.
By submitting your short film, you agree that if selected, your film may be screened multiple times in person and virtual throughout the years, 2025-2026, at any Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center/Center for Jewish Culture programming.

For the film to be considered, it must have Jewish content: themes, culture, history or include a Jewish character. The film must have been completed on or after January 1, 2023.

The film should run 30 minutes or less.

If the film is not in English, it must have English subtitles.

Please include a notation in the film’s description which indicates the Jewish content.

Films can be screened virtually and/or in a venue (in-person).

Please note, the Joyce's Short Film Series does not pay a screening fee.

We do not offer cash prizes.

Fee waiver: please understand that the Joyce's Short Film Series relies on submission fees and only grants waivers when necessary. You must fill out a waiver form in order to be considered for a waiver of the submission fee. Please contact us before submitting your short film: thejoyceforum@gmail.com

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • This festival really takes care of their filmmakers. Their communication skills were excellent! And they really spend time and money on you as a filmmaker which I really appreciated. We had a very good Q&A as well as transportation and stay in San Diego.

    December 2024
  • I was honored and delighted when "Paddling for Life" won Best Documentary Short at the 2022 festival. It was very rewarding to read the thoughtful and insightful Jury members reasons for selecting it. Thank you so very much.
    I hope to attend this awesome festival in person in the future. I definitely plan on sending my next film to this festival.

    October 2022
  • lyn goldfarb

    Showing EDDY'S WORLD at Joyce Forum Jewish Short Film Festival was a great experience, although I wish I could have been there in person. Good communication with staff. We were part of a good line up. And honored to receive the Grand Jury Prize. Thank you Joyce Forum.

    October 2021
  • Lisa Melmed

    Fabulous festival. Well organized and welcoming. Programming was varied and high quality. The JCC venue is terrific -- loved the big screen and the seating. Thanks to all for including LARRY & ME!

    October 2021
  • Rachel Raz

    I had a wonderful experience! the community and organizers are very professional, warm and kind. It was great to see the film on a large screen:) It was also nice to meet other film makers! Thank you for having me and choosing Space Torah as the Best documentary this year!

    October 2021