Filmmaker Awards
DAVID A. STEIN MEMORIAL AWARD (1970–2004)
This award is presented in memory of gifted Toronto filmmaker David A. Stein, who passed away in 2004 at age 34. The “Tzimmie” – named after his production company, Tzimmes Entertainment – is an annual $5,000 award given to the Director of the Best Documentary making its Canadian Premiere at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. This award supports documentary filmmakers in creating works that would have interested David, and that carry on his passion for storytelling.
2025
DAVID A. STEIN MEMORIAL AWARD (1970–2004) WINNER:
DIRECTOR: GUILLAUME RIBOT
JURY STATEMENT: “All I Had Was Nothingness draws on a cinematic classic to take a powerful and urgent look at the history of the Holocaust—and its deep resonance with the present day. Through thoughtful and deliberate editing, the film reexamines the countless stories collected by one of cinema’s most celebrated documentarians, Claude Lanzmann, and his seminal work Shoah. This contemporary reflection reminds us that the lessons of the past remain painfully relevant, and that bearing witness is as essential now as ever.”
THIS YEAR'S JURY
NUGIT ALTSCHULER
Nugit Altschuler is the Artistic Director of the Haifa Cinematheque and a lead programmer at the Haifa International Film Festival (HIFF), where she also heads the Israeli Film Competitions. In addition to her curatorial work, she lectures at the University of Haifa and leads educational seminars on cinema.
She holds a B.Arch in Architecture and Town Planning from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. from the University of Haifa. Her doctoral research explored Jewish and Israeli identity in Yiddish and Israeli cinema. Her book, Carnival and Vice Versa: On Yiddish and Israeli Popular Cinema, was published in 2020.
LISA RIVO
For nearly 20 years, Lisa Rivo has co-directed The National Center for Jewish Film, a film archive, distributor, and exhibitor which owns one of the world’s largest archival collections of Jewish-content film. She programs worldwide, consults with filmmakers, scholars, and curators, and has co-directed 20 annual film festivals in Boston. She has degrees in art history and visual culture & film.
She has co-directed 20 annual Boston-area film festivals, curated series worldwide, and sat on numerous festival juries. She has degrees in art history and American culture & film. Ms. Rivo worked at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, and was a Research Fellow at the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University, where she was Senior Writer of the encyclopedia African American National Biography Edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Oxford University Press).
ISAAC ZABLOCKI
Isaac Zablocki is the Director of the Carole Zabar Center for Film at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. He is the founder of the Other Israel Film Festival, The Israel Film Center, and Cinematters: NY Social Justice Film Festival.
He is one of the leading presenters of Jewish film in the country and teaches and lectures on these topics as well as film as a tool for social change and education. He is the founder and CEO of ReelAbilities Film Festival, the premiere source for disability films. He studied film at Columbia University and developed independent film productions.
PREVIOUS WINNING FILMS
2024
Radio Propaganda
2023
The Camera of Doctor Morris
2022
Four Winters: A Story of Jewish Partisan Resistance and Bravery in WWII
2021
Alone TOgether
2020
There are no Lions in Tel Aviv
2019
My War Hero Uncle
2018
The Museum
THE MICKI MOORE AWARD
The Micki Moore Award is a $5,000 prize presented to the Best Narrative Feature Film directed by a woman. “I think film is the highest form of art, combining so many disciplines; words, music, pictures, sets, costumes, continuity. A great director needs to be master of all, working to bring out the best in her cast and crew. With this award, I want to acknowledge that creativity, talent and tenacity. I hope this grant will help open one more door, remove one more obstacle, so that the winner of the Micki Moore Award can flourish and continue on her cinematic journey.” (Micki Moore)
2025
THE MICKI MOORE AWARD WINNER:
DIRECTOR: DANA MODAN
JURY STATEMENT: “This captivating adaptation of Rutu Modan’s graphic novel follows a grandmother and granddaughter’s journey from Israel to Poland to reclaim family property lost during the war. The film is distinguished by weaving together the perspectives of the Holocaust survivors and of their third-generation descendants with gentle surreal humor that elevates it beyond typical Holocaust narratives. The Property cleverly navigates unexpected turns, revealing that exploring family history is never straightforward but rather complex and layered with secrets and nuance. Dana Modan’s distinctive visual style and storytelling approach create a profound yet accessible meditation on how history shapes but cannot destroy us.”
Elisa Birnbaum
For over 20 years, Elisa established a reputation as a storyteller of social impact. She’s the author of In the Business of Change, profiling social entrepreneurs worldwide and the publisher & editor-in-chief of SEE Change Magazine – and hosts its podcast.
Her byline has appeared in major publications across North America and she’s the producer of the Canadian History of Social Change, a digital storytelling project documenting social change movements in Canadian history.
Elisa also works as a communications consultant, helping businesses tell their stories more effectively. A former television producer, Elisa worked at TVO and the CBC and holds degrees in political science and law.
Lauren Corber
Lauren Corber is an International Emmy-nominated producer and the founder/president of LoCo Motion Pictures. One of Canada’s leading digital content producers, Lauren has produced several award-winning series including International-Emmy nominated How to Buy a Baby.
Her latest series, My Dead Mom was nominated for a Rockie Award and eight Canadian Screen Awards. In 2021, Lauren led the first all-female team to win the Web Series World Cup with CBC comedy series The Communist’s Daughter.
Her other series include three seasons of Kidscreen Award-winning Detention Adventure, Rockie Award-nominated My 90-Year-Old Roommate and queer comedy I Hate People, People Hate Me which premiered at Tribeca in 2023.
Olga Gershenson
Olga Gershenson is Professor of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies and of Film Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
She is the author of New Israeli Horror: Local Cinema, Global Genre (2023), The Phantom Holocaust: Soviet Cinema and Jewish Catastrophe (2013), Gesher: Russian Theater in Israel (2005), and an editor of Ladies and Gents: Public Toilets and Gender (2009).
She is currently working on a volume titled The Oxford Handbook of Judaism and Film.
PREVIOUS WINNING FILMS
NEXTGEN AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
The NextGen Award is a prize given to the best short film at the festival. The winning film is selected by a jury of film students at York University.
SPONSORED BY THE LEONARD WOLINSKY FOUNDATION
2025
NEXTGEN AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM WINNER:
DIRECTOR: BENNY ZELKOWICZ
JURY STATEMENT: “Brought to life through mesmerizing and meticulous sand animations, The Sacred Society’s portrayal of Judaic burial customs offers an intimate and rare glimpse into the sacred work of the Chevra Kadisha, while simultaneously evoking universal themes of death, care, and spiritual continuity. The film’s emotional depth and carefully layered narrative are elevated by the use of sand stop-motion, an artistic medium that mirrors themes of morality, impermanence and spiritual transition. Throughout the film’s 12-minute duration, we are offered a compelling meditation on both life after death, and the responsibility of the Chevra Kadisha to provide communal care in moments of profound transition—making it a deeply impactful experience that lingers in viewer’s minds long after the final frame.“
ALEXANDRA CORBETT GIANCOLA
Sarah Fajer
GABRIELLE FRAY
SIMONE WHITE
PREVIOUS WINNING FILMS
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