ATL Jewish Film proudly presents its inaugural Student Filmmaking Competition Showcase, taking place Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM at the historic Tara Theatre. The event marks the culmination of ATL Jewish Film’s first-ever student filmmaking initiative — a metro Atlanta-wide creative challenge designed to empower high school students to explore storytelling, identity, and connection through the art of film with the theme of Bridge Building: Stories that Connect Us.
This special evening will feature 10 original short films created by more than 100 students from 9 schools across public, private, and charter programs. Students worked in teams representing Cumberland Academy of Georgia, The Galloway School, Georgia Cyber Academy, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, The Lovett School, Marist School, North Atlanta High School, The Westminster Schools, and Woodward Academy.
At the heart of the program is the theme of bridge building, directly reflecting ATL Jewish Film’s mission of fostering social and cultural understanding. Students were encouraged to use film as a medium for empathy and connection, creating work that illuminates the shared experiences that link diverse communities.
The showcase will include three award presentations — the Peer Award, Theme Award, and Artistic Excellence Award — as well as behind-the-scenes footage, student testimonies, and recognition of the educators and mentors who supported each team throughout the filmmaking process.
Kenny Blank, Executive & Artistic Director of ATL Jewish Film, said:
“This program captures the heart of ATL Jewish Film’s mission — empowering the next generation of storytellers to use film as a bridge between communities, ideas, and experiences. Seeing students bring these stories to life with such authenticity and courage gives us tremendous hope for the future of Jewish and inclusive storytelling.”
The Student Filmmaking Competition is part of ATL Jewish Film’s Education & Youth Engagement Initiative, a cornerstone of the Kenny Blank Vision Initiative, expanding year-round programming that connects film and education. The 100+ participating students gained direct mentorship from professional filmmakers, producers, and ATL Jewish Film staff through kickoff sessions and guided office hours.
Sheri and Steve Labovitz, Lead Underwriters for ATL Jewish Film’s Education Initiative, noted:
“Supporting young filmmakers is about more than film — it’s about helping students find their voices, tell their stories, and see themselves as part of a larger creative community. We’re honored to help build the foundation for what will be a lasting educational tradition at ATL Jewish Film.”
As part of the evening, ATL Jewish Film will also spotlight the winner of the Student Key Art Challenge, a design competition inviting students to create original artwork inspired by the competition’s theme of Building Bridges: Stories That Connect Us.
About the Key Art Challenge Winning Artist:
The winning piece, Connected Colors, was created digitally using Procreate by Nyla Jeannot, a 10th grader at Woodward Academy.
“The idea of the puzzle pieces was sparked by searching images related to ‘building a bridge,’ but the colors and patterns representing people’s stories came to me while brainstorming,” Jeannot explained. “The hands come from wanting two people about to add their own pieces — building a bridge not only between one another, but also with those who have already added theirs.”
Part of ATL Jewish Film’s growing year-round programming slate, the showcase brings together educators and mentors from across Atlanta’s film community. The evening will feature all student shorts, live award presentations, and behind-the-scenes stories that celebrate creativity, collaboration, and the next generation of storytellers.
Tickets for Student Filmmaking Competition Showcase are on sale now through the ATL Jewish Film website.
