From world premieres to powerful conversations, the 2026 Miami Jewish Film Festival once again highlighted cinema’s ability to connect cultures, history, and humanity.
Twenty-eight years ago, the City of Miami hosted the inaugural Miami Jewish Film Festival. Since then, the event has grown into one of the largest Jewish film festivals in the world. This year’s festival spanned 16 nights and showcased 139 films from 20 countries, including 15 world premieres and more than 90 in-person screenings across venues throughout the greater Miami area.
The festival opened with Once Upon My Mother and concluded with the International Emmy® Award–winning film The Ring, with director Ken Scott introducing the opening-night selection. From controversial works to deeply moving stories of survival, the program offered a wide-ranging cinematic experience for audiences attending screenings throughout the city.
Among the standout moments was a presentation featuring actors Matthew Shear and Amanda Peet, who discussed Shear’s directorial debut, Fantasy Life. The film follows an unemployed paralegal who unexpectedly becomes the babysitter for his psychiatrist’s granddaughters, leading to an evolving relationship with the girls’ mother, played by Peet. The heartfelt and humorous film drew an audience of more than 400 attendees.
Another powerful highlight occurred during the January 25 screening of A Letter to David, produced by Nancy Spielberg and directed by Israeli filmmaker Tom Shoval. The documentary offers an intimate examination of the October 7 attacks through the story of twin brothers David and Eitan Cunio, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. With Spielberg, Shoval, and members of the Cunio family present, the screening carried a profound emotional weight and fostered a shared sense of humanity and reflection among the audience.
As in previous years, the festival concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing excellence in both feature-length and short filmmaking. Eight major honors were presented on January 29, 2026, at the Miami Beach Bandshell.
2026 Miami Jewish Film Festival Award Winners
- Audience Award – Best Narrative Film: Once Upon My Mother, directed by Ken Scott
- Best Documentary Film: A Letter to David, directed by Tom Shoval
- Best Israeli Film: Pure Luck, directed by Guy Amir & Hanan Savyon
- Critics Jury Prize: The Sea, directed by Shai Carmeli-Pollak
- Next Wave Jury Prize: The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo, directed by Michael Walker
- Kadima Jury Prize: Honorable Mr. Morgenthau, directed by Hilan Warshaw
- Torchbearer Award: Hold On to Your Music, directed by Josh Aronson & Adam R. Wood
Once again, the Miami Jewish Film Festival delivered bold, intimate, and deeply human stories to audiences across South Florida. Through laughter, tears, and reflection, the festival reaffirmed cinema’s power to bridge cultures and spark meaningful dialogue. As it enters its next chapter, the festival continues to stand as a vital platform for global storytelling and shared experience.
