What a ride it’s been! To every filmmaker who trusted us with their work and everyone who bought a ticket, spread the word, or simply cheered us on, you made this year’s Miami Jewish Film Festival the largest of its kind in the world! With a record-shattering 58,500 film lovers joining us this year, you’ve helped make history—again!
The extraordinary success of this year’s Festival affirms something we deeply believe, that the shared experience of going to the movies still matters—perhaps now more than ever. At a time of profound division, cinema remains a powerful bridge, bringing people together across cultures, generations, and perspectives. Throughout this Festival, we witnessed theaters filled to capacity, meaningful conversations sparked, and moments of collective reflection that reminded us why storytelling is essential to both cultural understanding and human connection. We are immensely proud of what this community accomplished together—from record-breaking attendance and sold out screenings to the spirit of openness and curiosity that defined every venue. MJFF stands tall in its mission to be a home for all filmmakers and a space for inspiration and discovery, where diverse voices are celebrated and audiences are invited to engage with stories that move hearts and minds.
You can catch up on all the excitement—including award winners, major highlights, and all the Festival stats—by checking out Miami’s Community Newspaper feature on our historic year.
And don’t forget to mark your calendars—the milestone 30th Miami Jewish Film Festival returns January 13-28, 2027!
Until then… see you at the movies!
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news—for the fourth time, the Miami Jewish Film Festival has been named one of the top 50 film festivals in the world by MovieMaker Magazine, one of the most respected publications in the film industry!
We’re incredibly proud to be the only Jewish film festival ever to receive this honor, and to have once again been recognized among the world’s most celebrated cinematic events. This remarkable milestone is a reflection of the passionate community that has championed our mission from day one—our dedicated members, generous sponsors, brilliant filmmakers and artists, and loyal audiences like you.
Thank you for being such an essential part of this incredible story. We can't wait to share what’s next—with you.
To learn more about our recognition, visit:
miamijewishfilmfestival.org
To submit your film to the Miami Jewish Film Festival, visit: filmfreeway.com/MiamiJewishFilmFestival
As Yom HaShoah begins tonight, we remember the six million Jewish victims murdered in the Holocaust, while also holding in our hearts the many other victims of Nazi persecution.
We honour the survivors, their courage, and their voices, and we commit to carrying their legacy forward.
Yom HaShoah is a solemn reminder of where hatred and extremism can lead, and of our shared responsibility to confront them, in every form, wherever they appear.
May we never forget.
Another magical night under the stars! ✨
Nearly 100 film lovers joined us last night for a joyous evening filled with laughter and community as we screened the Argentine comedy MAZEL TOV, an MJFF 2025 Official Selection. There’s nothing quite like sharing a great film outdoors right on the beach, on a warm, breezy Sunday night—surrounded by friends, family, and so many fellow movie lovers.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who came out—our amazing fans, new faces and longtime friends—you made the night something special. 💛
And a huge thanks to @visitsurfside for their support in helping bring this beautiful evening to life for our community.
Here’s to many more nights like this!
Get ready for an unforgettable evening as we bring MJFF 2025 Official Selection MAZEL TOV to Surfside Beach for a special open-air screening on Sunday, April 12 at 7:30pm! Seats are limited, so make sure to RSVP soon: miamijewishfilmfestival.org
From acclaimed Argentine actor and director Adrián Suar comes a heartfelt, humorously touching tale of family, forgiveness, and the ties that bring us back home.
So grab your blankets, bring your beach chairs, and settle in for a night of film, laughter, and ocean breezes. Don't miss this one-of-a-kind cinematic experience—because some movies are just better under the stars!
This special event is made possible with the support of @visitsurfside and @menemshafilms .
Today marks the final day of the inaugural Broward Jewish Film Festival, a festival we at the Miami Jewish Film Festival have been deeply honored to help bring to life in partnership with the David Posnack JCC and the Jewish Federation of Broward County. From the very beginning, this collaboration was rooted in a shared vision: to create a vibrant Jewish arts and cultural experience for the Broward community. Thanks to the incredible dedication, passion, and hard work of the teams at the Posnack JCC and Broward Jewish Federation, that vision has become a meaningful and inspiring reality.
One of the major highlights of this year’s program was welcoming longtime friend and brilliant producer, Nancy Spielberg, for the premiere of the "Complete Version" of the most poignant and powerful documentary of the year, A LETTER TO DAVID. It's a film that must be seen by all—a film that fills your heart with hope, challenges us to be better, and deepens our understanding of the tragedy of October 7 and the unimaginable experiences endured by so many families.
This "Complete Version" adds several additional minutes to the film’s original ending, offering a sense of proper closure as the hostages are released and a moment of reunification is finally seen and felt. Yet the film also reminds us that so much has changed during the two years they were held—that life, in many ways, will never return to what it once was. That reality remains part of the ongoing tragedy of October 7.
Having Nancy join us for such an intimate and thoughtful discussion, bringing light to darkness while sharing insight into the making of this deeply moving film, was a truly special moment for everyone in attendance. We're deeply grateful for her friendship, her extraordinary contributions to the film world, and the generosity with which she continues to give of herself to the Jewish community. Her presence and support in helping celebrate this first festival of its kind in Broward meant a great deal, and her belief in its promise speaks to the power of what this partnership can achieve.
In moments like these, words feel both necessary and insufficient. As the war unfolds in Iran and bombings continue in Israel, we are holding close in our hearts our family, friends, and the many extraordinary filmmakers, artists, and storytellers we have had the honor of working with in Israel over the years. We know many of you are watching the news with deep concern, as we are. The uncertainty, the fear, and the human cost weigh heavily on us all.
Our hearts are with our loved ones in Israel. We are thinking of them constantly.
We are also thinking of the people of Iran—a nation rich in culture, poetry, cinema, and artistic brilliance—whose citizens and storytellers have endured decades of repression, fear, and persecution. Freedom is not an abstract idea. It is sacred. It is the lifeblood of artists, of filmmakers, of communities. It is the foundation upon which stories are told honestly and courageously.
We hope this war ends swiftly. We hope for peace. We hope for safety. And we hope that the people of Iran may soon experience the freedom that every human being deserves—freedom to speak, to create, to dream, and to live without fear.
In hope of peace and freedom, with solidarity and care.
The Festival May Be Over, But There's So Much More to See!
We just wrapped the 29th edition of the Miami Jewish Film Festival, and thousands of you joined us to see some of the most spectacular, innovative, and emotive work by filmmakers from all over the world. But that magical Festival feeling doesn't have to end. Become a Festival Member today and you can indulge in your love of film all year long!
To join, visit: miamijewishfilmfestival.org
MJFF turns 30! Join us January 13-28, 2027 as we return to South Florida with the largest Jewish and Israeli film program in the world.
Save the date — we’ll see you in Miami!
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for joining us and celebrating our historic and record-setting 29th Miami Jewish Film Festival. It was truly a festival unlike any other. And you helped us pull it off and encouraged us all along the way that we must continue to join together—whether in person or online—all for the love of cinema!
In a year full of so many challenges and uncertainties, we were determined to provide Jewish and Israeli filmmakers with a platform to tell their stories and share their journeys. We couldn’t be more thankful to all of you for helping mark this year's Miami Jewish Film Festival as the largest Jewish film festival in the world reaching an audience of more than 58,500 film lovers! You came together with fans from across all 50 states to give storytellers the audiences they deserved. And you made a difference!
We're already looking forward to next year’s Miami Jewish Film Festival, celebrating our milestone 30th Edition from January 13-28, 2027!
To everyone who laughed with us, imagined with us, and dreamed with us during our 29th Miami Jewish Film Festival, thank you!
Today we’re celebrating our Festival Volunteers and saying a huge THANK YOU to the friends and allies who supported us for two amazing weeks at our Volunteer Appreciation Party. They showed up selflessly, worked willingly, led with kindness, and brought endless patience—and this Festival simply wouldn’t happen without them.
We’re so grateful for everything our Volunteers do. Today is for you! 💛👏
After sixteen days and more than 135 film premieres, the 2026 Miami Jewish Film Festival is thrilled to announce nine major prizes for feature filmmaking and short films. Honorees, named in total below, represent new achievements in global independent storytelling. Bold, intimate, and humanizing stories prevailed across categories, with the winners listed below:
🏆 Critics Jury Prize:
THE SEA directed by Shai Carmeli-Pollak
🏆 Torchbearer Award:
HOLD ON TO YOUR MUSIC directed by Josh Aronson & Adam R. Wood
🏆 Kadima Jury Prize:
HONORABLE MR. MORGENTHAU directed by Hilan Warshaw
🏆 Next Wave Jury Prize:
THE LEGEND OF JUAN JOSE MUNDO directed by Michael Walker
🏆 Emerging Filmmaker Award:
FANTASY LIFE director Matthew Shear
🏆 Audience Award for Best Narrative Film:
ONCE UPON MY MOTHER directed by Ken Scott
🏆 Audience Award for Best Documentary Film:
A LETTER TO DAVID directed by Tom Shoval
🏆 Audience Award for Best Israeli Film:
PURE LUCK directed by Guy Amir & Hanan Savyon
🏆 Audience Award for Best Short Film:
IN PROTEST directed by Carli Fogel & Paula Kweskin
Each winner was determined by a committee of jurors, drawn from a wide range of perspectives, including film industry veterans, film students, and local film critics. We express our heartfelt gratitude to this esteemed jury panel for their insightful viewpoints and deliberate consideration.
Congratulations to all the talented filmmakers on their well-deserved awards and recognition.
To see the complete list of Award Winners of the 2026 Miami Jewish Film Festival and read the Juries comments, please visit: miamijewishfilmfestival.org
