Jan 24, 2025

Announcing the 2025 Award Winners

After fifteen days and more than 130 film premieres, the 2025 Miami Jewish Film Festival is excited to announce eight major prizes for feature filmmaking and short films. Honorees, named in total below, represent new achievements in global independent storytelling. Bold, intimate, and humanizing stories prevailed across categories, with the Audience Awards for Best Narrative Film going to Roy Hornshtein's Air War, Best Documentary Film going to Jonathan Jakubowicz's Soul of a Nation, and Best Israeli Film going to Shemi Zarhin's Bliss; the Critics Jury Prize awarded to Gjy Nattiv's Tatami; the Next Wave Jury Prize awarded to Daniel Robbins' Bad Shabbos; the Kadima Jury Prize awarded to Lior Chefetz's The Stronghold; and the Torchbearer Award goes to Oren Rudavsky's Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire.

The awards announcement marks a key point of the 2025 Festival, where 111 feature-length and 23 short films — selected from more than 2,500 submissions — were showcased in-theater across Greater Miami and online via the Festival's custom-built online platform that was accessed across the United States by more than 50,000 film lovers.

See below for a complete list of 2025 Miami Jewish Film Festival Jury Prize winners and jury statements, as well as the audience awards. We congratulate all the filmmakers on their well-deserved honors and success!

JURY PRIZES

This year's Critics Prize jurors were members of either the Florida Film Critics Circle or South Florida journalists, and Next Wave jurors were composed of 21-35-year-olds who were either college students or young professionals. The Kadima Jury Prize was chosen by members of the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education, while the Torchbearer Award was selected by members from the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach. We express our sincere gratitude to this distinguished jury panel for their well-informed perspectives and thoughtful deliberation.

Critics Jury Prize: Tatami
Guy Nattiv & Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Directors • Georgia-UK-USA

"​Tatami is a triumph deserving of the MJFF Critics Prize. Co-directed by filmmakers from Israel and Iran—a remarkable collaboration in its own right—the film tells the compelling story of a judo competitor. It delves deeply into the complex relationships between athletes and their coaches while shedding light on the unique challenges faced by women competing under the constraints of a misogynistic government. Though the tension unfolds on the mat, the heart of the story lies thousands of miles away, where the true victory is not a medal or trophy, but the fight for freedom."

Next Wave Jury Prize: Bad Shabbos
Daniel Robbins, Director • USA

"Bad Shabbos is a comedy that had audiences laughing uncontrollably—a breath of fresh air we’ve all been craving. With its punchy dialogue, a star-studded cast brimming with chemistry, and a dash of unexpected chaos (including some laxative-fueled antics), this film proves to be a recipe for a hilariously good time—though perhaps not for poor Benjamin. In celebrating this delightful comedy, we also celebrate the timeless art of storytelling. On behalf of the jury, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the filmmakers and the entire team behind Bad Shabbos for creating a film that is sharp, absurd, and downright hilarious."

Emerging Filmmaker Award: Tom Nesher for Come Closer

This prize celebrates a first-time feature filmmaker whose work shines brightly under the festival’s spotlight, offering the world a bold new voice in cinema. It is my great privilege to announce that the first-ever Emerging Filmmaker Award is being presented to Tom Nesher for her heartfelt film, Come Closer, which was Israel’s official entry for the Academy Awards.

Kadima Jury Prize: The Stronghold
Lior Chefetz, Director • Israel

"The Kadima Jury Prize is awarded to a film that Profoundly enhances public awareness of Jewish Culture, history, and learning, reflecting the spirit of forward movement and deeper understanding. The Stronghold achieves this with a heart-pounding and deeply human portrayal of the soldiers who defended an Israeli army outpost on the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War. Through its visceral storytelling, outstanding performances, and exploration of sacrifice and resilience, this film transcends the battlefield, shedding light on the humanity and heroism of those who served. The film powerfully connects us to the legacy of the past while inspiring reflection and learning for The future. Congratulations to the talented team behind The Stronghold for this remarkable and impactful Achievement.

Torchbearer Award: Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire
Oren Rudavsky, Director • USA

"The Torchbearer Award recognizes a film that most powerfully illuminates the sacred history of the holocaust—its origins, its harrowing consequences, and its enduring lessons for humanity. Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire stands as a shining example of this mission, offering an intimate and deeply moving exploration of Wiesel’s life, legacy, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Through unparalleled access to his family archives, eloquent storytelling, and evocative visuals, the film not only honors Wiesel’s journey from survivor to global advocate but also challenges us to reflect on the relevance of his teachings in an era where the memory of the holocaust grows increasingly fragile. Congratulations to Oren Rudavsky and his team for creating a work that carries the torch of remembrance and hope with such power and grace."

AUDIENCE AWARDS

A longstanding tradition at MJFF, the Audience Award is celebrating its 28th year. Audiences watching films at home via digital screenings or in-person at live events voted online. All publicly screened feature and short films were eligible. Votes were generated, collected, and tabulated through electronic audience ballots.

The Audience Award for Best Narrative Film was presented to: Roy Hornshtein, for Air War (Israel, 2024) — This heartfelt and exhilarating film delivers breathtaking aerial action sequences as it centers on a rivalry between two charismatic fighter pilots that reaches its peak on the eve of the Six-Day War. Cast: Maor Schwietzer, Daniel Litman, Lihi Kornowski.

The Audience Award for Best Documentary Film was presented to: Jonathan Jakubowicz, for Soul of a Nation (USA-Israel, 2024) — An inspiring and eye-opening journey into Israel’s most turbulent chapter, from the depths of crisis and division to a profound movement of unity and resilience after the October 7 tragedy, offering exclusive insights from influential leaders and a heartfelt vision of hope. Cast: Naftali Bennett, Ehud Olmert, Dorit Beinisch, Shlomo Ben Ami, Tzipi Livni, Michael Oren, Simcha Rothman.

The Audience Award for Best Israeli Film was presented to: Shemi Zarhin, for Bliss (Israel, 2024) — This touching drama stars Israeli screen legends Sasson Gabay and Asi Levi as a married couple facing the challenges of aging, family tensions, and unresolved pasts, all brought to life with acclaimed filmmaker Shemi Zarhin’s insightful and humorous touch. Cast: Sasson Gabay, Assi Levy.

The Audience Award for Best Short Film was presented to: Meg Swertlow, for Cut Off (USA, 2024) — On a mission to win her overbearing mother’s approval, a free-wheeling young woman searches for a date in the unlikeliest of places—her nephew's bris. Cast: Sofie Rimler, Gina Hecht.