Innovative, entertaining, provocative, the UK Jewish Film Festival is one of the UK's most established and much loved film festivals. We bring audiences across London and other cities approx. 80 high quality, international films at 20 cinemas. The festival runs in cinemas with a selection of the films also available online for a limited window after the physical festival. We are focussed on films that reflect Jewish stories and themes, and our film genres include feature drama, documentary, short and experimental. Many of our films include additional events with panel discussions, Q&As with directors, actors, journalists and others. We also have a popular year-round streaming platform and there are opportunities for getting your film out to much wider audiences through this medium.

For filmmakers we offer our Pears Short Film Fund at UK Jewish Film, which awards up to 2 grants of £13,500 each year for the production of a short film with British-Jewish related story and themes. The Fund is now in its 17th year.

For the fourth year we also offer our UK Jewish Film Short Doc Fund, a micro-budget fund for 3 minute creative short documentaries reflecting diverse aspects of British-Jewish contemporary life.

BAFTA Qualifying - Short Film Categories (Section B)

British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) Qualifying - British Short Film 

Pears Short Film Fund at UK Jewish Film

The Pears Short Film Fund at the UK Jewish Film awards two grants of up to £13,500 for the production of a short film – drama, animation or factual – with a Jewish theme of significance to both Jewish and general audiences.

The fund focuses on supporting the production and exhibition of short films that reflect British-Jewish stories, life, history and culture. Areas of relevance include identity, interfaith, assimilation, integration, antisemitism and racism.

Maximum length – 10 minutes. The judging panel is drawn from experienced professionals in the British film and television industry and the scheme is open to all filmmakers resident in the UK.

The deadline for applications is 15th January 2024.

https://ukjewishfilm.org/pears-short-film-fund/

UK Jewish Film Short Doc Fund

We are looking for filmmakers of all ages, backgrounds and experience for this Fund which aims to document modern day British Jewish life through a series of creative and original three-minute documentaries. We commissions five documentary films per year and they can be made in any genre or style. The only stipulation is that they must be about real people, real customs or real places and they must be stories which have hitherto been untold.

Each of the chosen filmmakers will be given £1,500, which must cover all costs including camera people, editors and locations.

https://ukjewishfilm.org/shortdocfund/

Best Film Award. Recognises powerful and outstanding filmmaking in both full-length fiction films. Six films will be selected for competition. A high profile jury is drawn from the film industry.

Best Documentary Award. Recognises excellent in documentary filmmaking. Six films will be selected for competition. A high profile jury is drawn from the film industry.

Young Jury Award for Best Short Film. Now in its fifth year, the Best Short Film Award is selected and presented by a jury of young people ages 18-30. All short films screened during the festival are considered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Everyone at this festival was very welcoming. The screening of my film in an excellent theater went off without a hitch. The Q&A after my film was excellently conducted by veteran filmmaker.

    November 2022
  • I was thrilled to have our short film GANEF selected at UKJFF. There was a real strong, lively, layered programme this year, in both features and shorts, and we were really honoured to be the festival's preview film and get a Special Mention for the Young Jury Award for Best Short Film. The Jury's presentation was really thoughtful and considered. Next year in a cinema!

    January 2021
  • Danielle Durchslag

    This is a wonderful festival, and I'm so grateful I got to take part this year!!

    November 2020