Jump Street Films Unveils 2026 Slate for Jewish Australian Screen Fund

Jump Street Films has announced its 2026 slate for the Jewish Australian Screen Fund, showcasing a diverse array of projects aimed at promoting authentic Jewish Australian storytelling. The announcement was made in Melbourne by Jump Street director Jamie Bialkower, who emphasized the fund's dual mission: to combat antisemitism through screen representation and to support emerging creatives in the industry. The slate includes five projects, featuring a mix of limited series and debut feature films.

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The slate is headlined by an untitled historical thriller limited series produced by Northern Pictures, known for its seven Emmy Awards. This series is created by Darren Ashton and Lally Katz and is based on real events. Additionally, the slate features several debut films, including "Everyone’s Having a Good Time But You," directed by Richard Vilensky, which tells the story of a furniture store owner whose insurance scam spirals out of control before his daughter's wedding.

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Other notable projects include "Matchbox," a limited series by Josh Billig and Chris Martin, which revolves around three sisters brought together by a valuable Chagall painting and a complex web of historical and familial ties. "Song of Songs," a debut feature from multidisciplinary artist Anita Lester, is executive produced by Shekhar Kapur and stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen. This film explores a young woman's illicit relationship with a rabbi during the week of shiva following her grandmother’s death. Lastly, "Zahava," produced by Plot Twist and developed with support from Screen Australia, is directed by Justin Olstein and focuses on a Hasidic woman confronting her desires through her relationship with her husband's carer.

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Alongside the film slate, Jump Street Films has launched the inaugural Jewish Australian Screen Fellowship, which will award $20,000 to one Jewish Australian filmmaker. This fellowship includes a year of personalized mentorship and is open to candidates at any career stage. Applications are due by April 17, with the recipient announced on May 11. The fellowship aims to deepen Jewish Australian identity on screen through diverse storytelling.

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Jamie Bialkower stated that the fund has already backed ten projects and produced four short films documenting the Jewish experience in Australia post-October 7, including "Mezuzah Man," which was filmed shortly before a significant terrorist attack. He highlighted the importance of using screen representation as a tool against antisemitism.

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While the initiative has been largely well-received, some critics argue that the focus on Jewish narratives may overshadow other important stories within the Australian film landscape. There are concerns that the emphasis on identity-based storytelling could limit the diversity of perspectives represented in the broader film industry.

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“Everyone’s Having a Good Time But You” marks the debut feature of writer-director Richard Vilensky, developed in association with Sandbox Productions with support from Screenwest and Lotterywest.

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“Matchbox,” follows three sisters who have lost sight of what family means drawn back together by a confluence of an extraordinarily valuable Chagall painting, a protected Nazi scientist, an elderly Holocaust survivor and an audacious art heist.

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“Zahava,” centres on a Hasidic woman whose feelings for the hired carer of her ill husband force a confrontation with desire she has never allowed herself. — Jamie Bialkower, Director, Jump Street Films.

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