Submission Guidelines

JCC Chicago is proud of its 120 years – rooted in Jewish values, fostering a united, inclusive community with a focus on growing good kids and building lifetime connections. We have embarked on a Growing Hope Movement, based on informed tolerance, acceptance, kindness and hope with a mission to instill in today’s youth the core values that will help realize the kind of future for which we all aspire.

The JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival Student Competition invited and encouraged student filmmakers to develop short stories around the themes of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, community, kindness, positivism, role modeling, stewardship of the earth, any Jewish holiday or historical event. We believe that these stories have the power to educate, inform and inspire behaviors and beliefs that will change the world for the better.

Who:

Student filmmakers in middle school through college (All are welcome; you don’t need to be Jewish to apply!)

What:

We encourage student filmmakers to submit new or previously created documentaries, narratives or short films that celebrate the Jewish experience or reflect Jewish values of love, compassion and repairing the world. (10 minutes or less, including credits)

Where:

Filmmakers must reside in the Chicagoland area or the state of Illinois, parts of Indiana or Wisconsin, or be a participant in a JCC Chicago program (Camp Chi, Jewish Student Connection, etc.).

Winners:

$250 prize to 1st place in middle school, high school, and college (undergrad). The winning films will be screened during the 12th Annual JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival in 2025.

Questions? Reach out to cjff@jccchicago.org.

 

2024 Student Film Competition Winners
Winners:

College: Maya Levy, Mount Holyoke College, Playing Rabbi
High School: Micah Wolkenberg, Deerfield High School, Dealing with Cancer

Other Films Presented:

High School: McKenna Hopkins and Pamela De La Concepcion, South Elgin High School, Luke Berryman and the 9th Candle
High School: Jordan Weynschenk, South Elgin High School, Evelyn & Rosa
High School: Noah Cheney and Jaxson Krzyzanowski, South Eglin High School, Dov Forman