The JFI Filmmakers in Residence Program is a year-long, competitive artist residency that provides creative, marketing, and practical support for emerging and established filmmakers whose documentary projects explore and expand thoughtful consideration of Jewish history, life, culture, and identity.
Download the 2025 Application here (must be completed on FilmFreeway).
Key Dates:
Informational Office Hours (via Zoom, registration required)
Filmmakers from anywhere in the world may apply but must be able to make regular virtual meetings occurring on Pacific Time in the United States. Final selections are made by the Jewish Film Institute's staff based on artistic merit, the strength of the filmmaking team, the status of the project, the likelihood that it will be completed, and its alignment with JFI's mission, vision, and values. The year-long residency is not open to educational or promotional projects, student work, or films ready or in distribution.
To ease application, you can download the 2025 JFI Filmmakers in Residence program application questions here. Finalists may be asked for additional information.
The Filmmaker Residency runs from February 1 through December 31, 2025. Meetings are remote via Zoom, except for an in-person convening in July during the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.
The Early Bird submission fee (Deadline: September 27, 2024) is $30. The Regular Deadline fee is $40 (Deadline: October 18, 2024). Submission fees are collected via FilmFreeway. If application fees cause an undue burden, or an alternative submission method is needed, please contact us at jfifilmmakers@jfi.org.
JFI members receive a fee waiver. Email us at jfifilmmakers@jfi.org. Learn more about JFI membership here.
JFI’s Filmmaker in Residence program supports Jewish-themed, independent feature or short-form documentary projects in web, series, or hybrid forms. Competitive projects will offer fresh and challenging perspectives and/or approaches, engage audiences across cultural lines, and reflect the full breadth and diversity of Jewish experience.
Preference is given to film projects that are aligned with the Jewish Film Institute's mission to — expand the understanding of Jewish life through film, media, and the dialogue they create.
The year-long residency is not open to educational and promotional projects, student work, or films ready for or in distribution.
Projects that are substantially different from their original application are welcome to reapply.
Final selections are made by the Jewish Film Institute's staff based on artistic merit, the strength of the filmmaking team, the status of the project, the likelihood that it will be completed, and its alignment with JFI's mission, vision, and values.
Residents are expected to attend monthly cohort meetings, bi-monthly workshops and presentations, and an in-person convening in San Francisco in July. Residents should expect to spend up to 10 hours a month preparing for and participating in the program.
Yes. JFI’s Residency is primarily virtual, except for the annual convening at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.
JFI welcomes a diversity of filmmakers of all cultural and religious backgrounds to submit their projects for consideration. Any filmmaker whose project is exploring Jewish content is invited to apply.
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