Most recently, the Fund was awarded to local filmmakers Karen Pearlman and Joel Kohn for their films I want to make a film about women and The Mirror. Still Alive, directed Anita Lester and a recipient of the Fund in 2017, screened at film festivals globally and was licensed by Yad Vashem as a part of their digital exhibition.
“We are excited for JIFF to continue to be a catalyst for the production of great Australian short films to be shared on the big screen, providing a launching pad for their international recognition.” — JIFF artistic director Eddie Tamir
In 2023, a total grant pool of $10,000 is available for the production of two short films incorporating a Jewish theme, character or story arc. JIFF is seeking treatments and scripts for films under 10 minutes that are universally engaging and entertaining, and able to resonate with audiences from all backgrounds.
Building on a 30 year history of Jewish film festivals in Australia, JIFF has established itself as one of the world’s biggest and most successful Jewish film festivals. Cementing its reputation for delivering international cinema of supreme quality, the festival is proud to showcase a diverse and world-class slate of film and event programming: from award-winning documentaries and dramas, to comedies and short films. JIFF is now screening in cinemas across Australia.
This year, the festival looks forward to continuing its support of Australian filmmakers with its Short Film Fund: a monetary funding initiative that aims to create opportunities for emerging filmmakers in Australia, and to encourage and support the production and exhibition of short films on themes that engage with Jewish life, history and culture. JIFF is committed to supporting and championing local filmmakers, and stories reflecting the global Jewish experience.
The festival is seeking projects to a maximum length of 10 minutes, and is open to all filmmakers who are Australian residents.
Applications for the 2023 Fund are now open on the JIFF website, and close on 1 February 2023. The allocation of funding will be announced by the end of February 2023, and will be determined by a panel of experienced industry judges. We expect the films to be ready for exhibition at JIFF 2023, with final delivery required by early October 2023.
