Jewish Story Partners is celebrating its 5th anniversary by awarding $560,000 to 22 new projects, TheWrap can exclusively reveal.
This brings the independent film funder’s total to $4.5 million in grants across 136 projects since the JSP launched in 2021 with support from Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg’s Righteous Persons Foundation.
The latest batch of films to receive funding feature cultural figures such as Leonard Bernstein, Marc Chagall, Ram Dass, Robert Frank, Judy Heumann and Jessica Savitch, just to name a few.
“With our pressurized, intensive review process, the films that emerge as JSP grantees are diamonds,” executive director Roberta Grossman said in a Friday statement. “Just this year, three JSP films were shortlisted for an Academy Award. All of JSP’s diverse films are sent out into the world to preserve Jewish stories, bridge divides and serve as engaging delivery systems for Jewish education and connection.”
The Spring 2026 funding round jury consisted of Josh Kun, Tia Lessin and Laura Nix, who made their selections from over 240 applications. They issued the following statement, as well: “It was exhilarating to engage with this expansive array of artful, risk-taking films, which wrestle with the urgent issues of today while shedding new light on the past. We believe this remarkable slate offers a window into our common humanity, and will inspire robust debate among many audiences, just as it did for us.”
Check out the full list of Spring 2026 recipients, below:
New Grantees
Anchorwoman Director Anne Alvergue, Director and Producer Jeff Daniels
Berlin Chic Director Sigal Rosh, Producer Dorit Hessel
Calendars of Love Director Ayelet Heller, Producer Hilla Medalia
Chagall Director Petter Ringbom, Producers Ruchi Mital and Bryn Silverman
Daring Lives Dangerous Times Directors and Producers Lisa Fruchtman and Rob Fruchtman
Family Pictures Director Abraham Troen, Producer Rebecca Lichtenfeld
Here Now: The Revolution of Ram Dass Director and Producer Mark Landsman, Producer Peter Kline
I Want To Tell My Story Director and Producer Tomer Heymann, Producer Leigh Heiman
Jewish Women Escape Iran Untitled Directors Erez Tadmor and Michal Zys, Producers Aviv Ben-Shlush, Sam Feuer and Lee Kuperman Ben-Shlush
The Limits of Truth Director and Producer Zeva Oelbaum, Producer Susan Margolin
Polyphony Director and Producer Michèle Ohayon, Producer Haim Mecklberg
Salut Robert Director Laura Israel, Producer Ryan Krivoshey
The Silver Cord Director Alyssa Grossman, Producer Leda Zimmerman
To Be Heumann Directors Chana Gazit and Jim LeBrecht, Producer Sarah Keeling
When Elephants Fight Director and Producer Paula Eiselt, Producer Ronny Merdinger
Reprise Grantees
Buildings Remember People Director and Producer David Shapiro
Curse of the Mutant Heirloom Director Debra Schaffner, Producer Julie Wyman
Dust Bowls and Jewish Souls: Another Side of Woody Guthrie Director and Producer Steven Pressman, Producer Lisa Stark
Our Home Is Not of This World Director Russ Finkelstein, Producers Manuel Contreras, Phil Pinto and Elaisha Stokes
Postmortem Director and Producer Marilyn Ness, Producer Beth Levison
White Rose Director Julie Cohen, Producer Tia Lessin
The application window for the Fall 2026 Reprise Grant cycle for current JSP grantees closes on Aug. 7.
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