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 around the country approximately 80 high quality, international films at over 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 focused on films that reflect Jewish stories and themes, and our film genres include feature drama, documentary and short. 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 £15,000 each year for the production of a short film with British-Jewish related story and themes. Established in 2026, the Fund is now in its 20th year and winners have secured screenings at festivals worldwide.
For the sixth year, we also offer our Dangoor UKJF Short Doc Fund, a micro-budget fund for 5-minute creative short documentaries reflecting diverse aspects of British-Jewish contemporary life.
The Changing Perspectives Film Fund was brand new for 2025 and will support the production of three high-quality, dramatic short films aimed at teenagers and set in present-day Britain. Please see the website for more information.
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 £15,000 to produce 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.
Pears Timeline:
Friday 9th January 2026:
Last date to submit scripts for pre-judging feedback from Head of Film Lab, Benjamin Till
January 19th 2026:
Deadline for applications
Early February 2026:
Judging
Week commencing 16th February 2026:
Final six teams are invited for interview in London (date TBC)
https://ukjewishfilm.org/pears-short-film-fund/
Dangoor UKJF 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 four-minute documentaries. We commission 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.
DEADLINE: Monday 16th March 2026
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 seventh 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.
