San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Also known as: SFJFF
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Independent films exploring Jewish life, culture and identity form the focus of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF), presented by the Jewish Film Institute in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Founded in 1980, the festival programs international documentary and narrative features and shorts, with an approach that includes experimental work and stories reflecting the diversity of Jewish communities. Screenings sit alongside filmmaker discussions, performances and special events. Audience ballots and juries recognize feature and short filmmaking, while the Freedom of Expression Award honors an artist.
The dates of the 47th edition are 15 July–1 August 2027.
Country
United States (USA)
Categories
Documentary, Feature, Short
Dates
15 July 2027 — 1 August 2027
Awards and prizes
Audience Awards recognize documentary and narrative features through attendee ballots. Juried awards recognize documentary shorts and narrative shorts. The Best First Feature Award recognizes emerging filmmakers, and the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award recognizes a feature film; the 2027 award is for Best Narrative Feature. The Freedom of Expression Award honors an artist and the role of unfettered imagination in a free and open society.
Festival rules
Films of any genre and length from around the world are considered. Submissions are made through FilmFreeway, not email, and must be completed within 15 months of the festival dates. Non-English preview screeners require English subtitles. Feature films are subject to San Francisco Bay Area premiere restrictions; short films have no premiere requirement. Rough cuts are accepted with an expected completion date of 1 May 2027 or earlier. Any use of artificial intelligence must be disclosed in the submission form. Selected films require a DCP for theatrical presentation, with alternative arrangements depending on the venue. Entrants must hold the necessary rights and permissions. Consult the current submission guidelines for full conditions.
Contacts
- jfi.org
- programming@jfi.org — Programming and submissions
- jfifilmmakers@jfi.org — Filmmaker services
- info@jfi.org — General inquiries
- +1 415-621-0556 — General inquiries
- 145 9th Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States — Jewish Film Institute mailing address
- jfi.org — Submission guidelines
- filmfreeway.com — Film submissions