Submit Your Project

Click Here to Submit Project

Philadelphia Jewish Film and Media (PJFM) creates connection and community through Jewish cinema and digital storytelling. PJFM welcomes everyone to engage with Jewish culture and values through its educational and entertaining year-round programs. The organization believes that today’s storytellers are tomorrow’s changemakers, poets, philosophers, and visionaries. While cinema remains the organization’s focus and legacy, PJFM believes it is important to highlight new and innovative ways Jewish stories are created and shared today.

PLEASE NOTE: submissions are considered for ANY of the following PJFM programs listed below. If your project is selected, you will be personally reached out to if it is being considered for any of PJFM’s annual programming. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

2025 Events

  • JEWISH RESILIENCE FILM AND MEDIA SERIES (April 25-28)
    The Jewish people have been persecuted, hated, and mocked for centuries, but they have endured. They have fought back. And they are NOT going anywhere. PJFM’s first ever Jewish Resilience Film and Media Series explores the unwavering fortitude of the Jewish people through cinema and digital media. In an age of rising antisemitism across the globe on social media, in politics, and elsewhere, this new series celebrates the strength and survival of the Jewish people throughout history, from the Golden Age to post-October 7th. The stories presented in the program, featuring everyday heroes and more, stand as beacons of hope for the future of the Jews and inspire everyone, regardless of identity, to stand up in the face of adversity.
  • PJFM VIRTUAL FILM COMPETITION (June 1 – August 31)
    The PJFM Virtual Film Competition is an annual online summer series where viewers stream new international films on PJFM’s streaming platform, PJFM On Demand, for an entire month from the comfort of their own home. During June, July, and August, new Jewish cinema premieres exclusively online, and viewers rate the movies in their own time with no geo-blocking restrictions. At the end of the year, the ratings are tallied, and the competition culminates with three cash Audience Choice Awards for the winning filmmakers.
  • DIGITAL CHUTZPAH 2025 (September 10-14)
    Digital Chutzpah 2025, PJFM’s 4th Jewish Digital Media Festival, celebrates innovative visual storytelling by directors, musicians, content creators, video artists, and more from around the world. Featuring interactive media, films, music, XR Experiences, and panels around Judaism in the ever-evolving digital world, Digital Chutzpah provides a space for all storytellers to thrive and present their groundbreaking work. Filmmakers, animators, musicians, podcasters, and XR designers can apply for a chance to not just see their art included in the festival but also win a $500 cash prize! (Rules and restrictions apply.)
  • 45th PHILADELPHIA JEWISH FILM AND MEDIA FESTIVAL (November TBD)
    PJFM’s annual Jewish film and media festival celebrating Jewish cinematic and digital storytelling in theaters and virtually.
  • SPECIAL EVENTS
    Film screenings, sneak peeks, panels, and more take place throughout the year at PJFM.

Awards & Prizes

  • JEWISH RESILIENCE FILM AND MEDIA SERIES (April 25-28, 2025)
    Any feature film that enters is eligible for the Jewish Resilience Award. Viewers are handed ballots at all in-person film screenings and encouraged to vote what they thought. The Feature with the most “excellents” wins the Jewish Resilience Award.
  • PJFM VIRTUAL FILM COMPETITION (June 1 – August 31, 2025)
    Any feature and short film that enters is eligible for the Audience Choice Award with cash prizes up to $500. (Exact price is subject to change.) Festival attendees will get to virtually rate every film they stream. The cash prizes will be handed out for:

    • Best Narrative Film
    • Best Documentary Film
    • Best Short Film
  • DIGITAL CHUTZPAH 2025 (September 10-14, 2025)
    Any filmmaker, animator, musician, podcaster, and XR designer whose project is selected for the festival has a chance to win a $500 cash prize. (Exact price is subject to change.) Festival attendees, both virtually and in person, will get to rate every project. The cash prizes will be handed out for:

    • Best AI Short
    • Best Animated Short
    • Best Music Video
    • Best Podcast
    • Best XR Experience
  • 45th PHILADELPHIA JEWISH FILM AND MEDIA FESTIVAL (November 2025 TBD)
    Any feature and short film that enters is eligible for the Audience Award. Viewers are handed ballots at all in-person film screenings and encouraged to vote what they thought. The Feature with the most “excellents” and Short with the most “likes” wins the Audience Award.

Rules & Terms

  • Films of all genres are eligible.
  • Films should preferably be only 1-2 years old.
  • Feature films should preferably have not already been released in the Greater Philadelphia region and/or on VOD (Video On Demand) platforms.
  • All forms of digital media accepted for submission include but are not limited to:
    • 5D
    • AI (Artificial Intelligence)
    • Animation
    • Digital Artwork
    • Drone
    • Gaming
    • Metaverse (3D Virtual Worlds)
    • Music
    • Music Video
    • Podcast
    • XR (Extended Reality) (AR, MR, and VR)
  • Films and digital content must have a Jewish angle to them. For example: its story, character(s), and/or setting(s) are Jewish, the director/creator is Jewish, the objective of the content regards Judaism, the story for which it’s based on has a Jewish relevancy, etc.