The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is the largest film festival in Atlanta and one of the premier Jewish film festivals worldwide. AJFF presents a broad and inclusive program of international cinema that explores the Jewish experience, life in Israel, and intersections with other religious, ethnic, and cultural communities. Through a diverse range of narrative and documentary works, AJFF fosters greater understanding and dialogue across cultures and perspectives.

Since its founding in 2000, AJFF has engaged more than 30,000 attendees annually through an expansive lineup of in-theater screenings and streaming options. The festival features robust participation from visiting filmmakers, scholars, journalists, and community leaders, who introduce films and lead post-screening discussions that deepen audience engagement with the issues explored on screen. Filmmaking excellence is recognized through Audience and Jury Awards, evaluated by distinguished members of the film industry and arts community.

Committed to innovation and mission-driven growth, AJFF is dedicated to broadening educational outreach, enhancing community engagement, and expanding access to international and independent cinema. By celebrating bold storytelling and promoting meaningful dialogue, AJFF provides an essential platform for filmmakers and audiences to connect, explore, and inspire through the transformative power of film.

Awards & Prizes

Select films are eligible for Official Jury Prizes at the 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.

AJFF Audience Award winners are determined by popular vote of the festival audience, with moviegoers ranking each film on a four-point scale. The film in each category that receives the highest average ranking is declared the winner and honored with a special statuette.

The categories include:

- Best Narrative Feature (minimum 40 minutes): The narrative feature with the highest average ranking.
- Best Short (under 40 minutes): The short film with the highest average ranking.
- Best Documentary Feature (minimum 40 minutes): The documentary feature with the highest average ranking.

Rules & Terms

Eligibility
- AJFF welcomes both U.S. and international entries.
- Films must explore Jewish and/or Israeli identity, history, or culture, or reflect the intersection of Jewish life with universal themes and diverse communities. Jewish or Israeli relevance may be explicit or implicit and need not be central to the film’s subject matter, story, or themes.
- Films in languages other than English must include English subtitles.
- Industrial or instructional works are not eligible.
- Works previously submitted to AJFF are ineligible for reconsideration unless they have been substantially re-edited or modified since the original submission.

Submission Requirements
- Each submission must include:
- A completed entry form
- A nonrefundable entry fee
- A screener
- Entry fees are nonrefundable and cannot be waived or discounted beyond those indicated.
- Submission does not guarantee selection for exhibition. AJFF retains sole discretion to accept or decline any submission for any reason.

Screener Format
- While AJFF accepts submissions through FilmFreeway, the FilmFreeway viewing platform itself is not utilized for the selection process. Instead, direct access to screeners must be provided through one of the following methods:
- A Vimeo link (download enabled preferred)
- A digital file provided via another platform for download
- Uploading through FilmFreeway, with approval granted to download the project source file via the "Request Download" function
- Access to screeners is restricted to AJFF staff and selection committee members only.

Premiere Status
- While AJFF will consider entries with prior or pending theatrical or television exhibition, priority is given to films that have not been previously screened within the Atlanta market.

Review and Selection Process
- The AJFF Film Evaluation Committee is responsible for reviewing all submissions.
- All decisions of the committee are final.
- Notification of selection status will be sent at least one month prior to the festival.

Rights and Permissions
- By submitting a film to AJFF, applicants certify that they possess the legal rights to submit and exhibit the work, and accept full responsibility for any violation of rights or laws.
- By entering, entrants grant AJFF the right to publish or transmit portions of the film for promotional and press purposes, unless otherwise specified in writing.

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  • Mira Amiras

    Thank you Atlanta Jewish Film Festival for believing in us, selecting us and including our 38 minute animated movie, The Day before Creation, in your festival—we are very honored! We wish the festival the best of luck, and we'll be looking forward to watching for your future selections!

    June 2022
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  • Trish Adlesic

    We were incredibly honored that A Tree of Life was selected for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. The festival team showed incredible care and support to everyone involved with the film. Kenny Blank, Shellie Schmals and Brooke Sonenreich are fantastic to work with.

    Their platform was instrumental in raising awareness in fighting anti-semitism, white supremacy and all forms of hate.

    The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is such an important festival and we had an incredible experience. We highly recommend the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival to all audiences and filmmakers alike!

    June 2022
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  • Amanda Kinsey

    AJFF is an amazing, well organized and far reaching festival. They truly valued my film and I am so happy I decided to make this the home of our world premiere. Top-notch professionals through and through.

    May 2022
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  • Jerry sroka

    Incredibly gracious, helpful, and knowledgeable. Our first film, our first festival, our first interview... we are still smiling and eternally grateful. A terrific team, a wonderful way to begin our journey.
    Mariette Hartley and Jerry Sroka

    March 2022
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