JFI's Pitch + Kvell is an annual, online pitch forum where the current cohort of Filmmakers in Residence pitch their documentary projects to industry leaders for feedback and advice. The forum is free to attend for all, with many filmmakers, professionals, and audience members joining from around the world to toast the Residents as they "graduate" from the program. Past panelists have included representatives from The New York Times, Sundance Institute, International Documentary Association, Catapult Film Fund, and many more luminaries.
Pitch + Kvell is one of the best ways to experience the impact that the Jewish Film Institute is having on the field of Jewish-content storytelling. Attendees see first-hand what it takes to bring a film to audiences, what makes a film "Jewish," and what's involved in documentary filmmaking.
At this free online event, JFI's 2025 Filmmakers in Residence will present excerpts from their documentary works-in-progress as they pitch their projects to a panel of prominent film industry insiders for feedback on getting across the finish line.