Streaming FAQ

Need some support? We're here to help.

Contact Us:

Jewish Film Institute Box Office
E: boxoffice@jfi.org
T: 415.621.0568
Mon–Fri, 11am–5pm

For those who prefer an at-home viewing experience, SFJFF42 offers more than a dozen programs online, available in the JFI Digital Screening Room from August 1–7, 2022. With intuitive login and playback features and smooth, integrated access with your TV, the JFI Digital Screening Room will ensure you have the best possible at-home experience. We’ll make it as easy as possible, so you can focus on finding the best place to sit back and enjoy some amazing films!

You are able to stream select SFJFF 2022 online films and programs at home on the Jewish Film Institute app on your Apple TV or Roku, or on any device (e.g. computer, iPad, laptop etc.) at WATCH.JFI.ORG, geoblocking permissions permitting.

If you are planning to use Apple TV or Roku with the JFI app, you can find quick tutorials on how to download the channel to your device further down on this page. If you prefer to stream films via your computer, mobile phone, or iPad, we recommend using Google Chrome.

If purchasing a SFJFF42 Streaming Pass, please note that there may be a delay of several hours from when you purchase the pass to when you receive an email invitation from hello@cinesend.com to create your Screening Room account. 

What is geoblocking?

Some virtual screenings presented by the Jewish Film Institute are only viewable in certain regions, similar to the restricted access that would be available for in-theater screenings. These geoblocking restrictions are negotiated with representatives from each film, as these JFI showings are often the premiere of their film or a very early showing of the film and are therefore limited before the film’s official release.

All SFJFF42 streaming titles are geoblocked to the San Francisco Bay Area. Films can only be watched from a computer, tablet, or compatible SmartTV device (Roku or AppleTV) that is registering an IP address within the San Francisco Bay Area. JFI's Bay Area geoblocking includes all zip codes within Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties.

Streaming FAQ

Sometimes! If a Q&A with a filmmaker is available in the JFI Digital Screening Room, it will autoplay after the credits end on the film. Check each film description to note whether a Q&A is available for that particular program. You are able to fast-forward the credits to begin the Q&A early if desired.

Purchase an SFJFF42 Streaming Pass on this page or click here to purchase tickets by film.

Some virtual screenings presented by the Jewish Film Institute are only viewable in certain regions, similar to the restricted access that would be available for in-theater screenings. These geoblocking restrictions are negotiated with representatives from each film, as these JFI showings are often the premiere of their film or a very early showing of the film and are therefore limited before the film’s official release.

All SFJFF42 streaming titles are geoblocked to the San Francisco Bay Area.

The following films are available for streaming during SFJFF42. All SFJFF42 streaming titles are geoblocked to the San Francisco Bay Area. Tickets may be purchased from each film's webpage or watched with an SFJFF42 Streaming Pass.

10 Questions for Henry Ford
And I Was There
Bad Nazi, Good Nazi
Charm Circle
Grossman
Jews in Shorts: Documentary Program II
More Than I Deserve
On This Happy Note
Schächten
Simchas and Sorrows
The Crossing
The Forgotten Ones
We Burn Like This
Where Life Begins

All SFJFF42 films are available for streaming in the San Francisco Bay Area from Monday, August 1 at 12:01am through Sunday, August 7 at 11:59pm in the JFI Digital Screening Room. Once you begin a film, you will have a 72-hour watch window unless otherwise noted to complete your viewing before access is disabled. Please look for any additional viewing restrictions noted on each film's webpage.

A watch window is how long you have to watch a film once you hit ‘PLAY’.

All SFJFF42 films have 72-hour watch windows.

Some virtual screenings presented by the Jewish Film Institute have a capacity limit similar to the amount of tickets that would be available for in-theater screenings. The number of tickets we have available for purchase are negotiated with representatives from each film, as these JFI showings are often the premiere of their film or a very early showing of the film and are therefore limited before the film’s official release.

No. Your account is unique to you. A friend/family member must purchase their own pass to watch on their device. If a passholder shares their account, their account will be revoked and that purchase will not be refunded.

No. JFI members who receive an SFJFF42 pass as part of their membership will be sent unique login credentials to watch all films on the Jewish Film Institute channel available on Roku and Apple TV devices or via watch.jfi.org. Instructions to create your login credentials will be sent via email during the last week of July 2022, with customer support representatives available to assist you with your tech before films become available.

How to Purchase and Redeem Tickets

Step 1: Choose your film online at sfjff.org. From the film's webpage, click on the "Buy Tickets" button. Sign in to your JFI account with your email or Member ID and password to access your benefits.

Step 2: Check your email (make sure to check your spam folder) for a Box Office confirmation message. This email contains your 9-digit voucher code to stream the film in the JFI Digital Screening Room.

Step 3: From your email confirmation, click on the 9-digit code to watch the film directly on your computer or mobile device.

Step 4: To stream the film on your Apple TV or Roku device, open the Jewish Film Institute app on your TV and enter the 9-digit code in the Ticket Holders section of the app's homepage.

How to Purchase and Redeem Passes

Step 1: Purchase a Pass online at sfjff.org. If you're a JFI member, sign into your account to access your benefits and discounted prices.

Step 2: Check your email (make sure to check your spam folder) for an invitation from hello@cinesend.com to create your Screening Room account. Click the orange 'Join' button to create your username and password.

Step 3: After creating your account, passholders can sign in to the Screening Room at www.watch.jfi.org with the username and password you just created to stream all available films on your personal device.

Step 4: Open the Jewish Film Institute app on your Roku or Apple TV device and enter the username and password you just created in the Member Login section of the app's homepage.

Virtual Screening Step by Step

Step 1: Buy a ticket at sfjff.org or over the phone (415.621.0568), Monday through Friday, 11am to 5pm. You will receive a confirmation email from boxoffice@sfjff.org.

Step 2: Choose your method to watch. The Digital Screening Room supports browser streaming (computer, phone, tablet) and the JFI app on Roku and Apple TV devices.

Ticketholders: note the 9-digit code in your Box Office confirmation email. Click on the code to watch instantly, visit watch.jfi.org, or enter the code where prompted on your Roku or Apple TV device.

Passholders: Look out for an email confirmation with instructions on how to reactivate your Screening Room account or create a new account.

How To Watch Films on Roku

Step 1: Open your Roku homepage on your TV and click on the "Add Channels" button.

Step 2: In the left-hand menu, navigate down to "Search Channels." Then search for "Jewish Film Institute."

Step 3: When you see Jewish Film Institute in the right-hand search results click on the name and then press "Add Channel."

Step 4: Return to the Roku home screen and open the JFI app. Enter the 9-digit voucher code from your Box Office confirmation email (for ticketholders) or create/sign in to your account (for passholders).

How To Watch Films on Apple TV

Step 1: Open your Apple TV and click on the Search icon (a grey magnifying glass) and then search for "Jewish Film Institute" in the search bar.

Step 2: When you see Jewish Film Institute in the search results below, click on the app image to add it to your Apple TV.

Step 3: You will need to click the Cloud Download Icon and allow the app to download to your Apple TV account.

Step 4: Return to the Apple TV home screen and open the JFI app. Enter the 9-digit voucher code from your Box Office confirmation email (for ticketholders) or create/sign in to your account (for passholders).

How to Watch Films on Your Computer or Phone

Step 1: Type WATCH.JFI.ORG into your web browser to visit the JFI Digital Screening Room

Step 2: Check your email (make sure to check your spam folder) for a Box Office confirmation message. This email contains your purchase receipt and instructions to redeem your tickets or passes in the JFI Digital Screening Room.

Step 3: Ticketholders receive a 9-digit voucher code to stream the film in your Box Office confirmation email. Click on the code from your email to jump directly to its streaming page at WATCH.JFI.ORG.

Step 4: Create / sign in to your Screening Room account from the instructions provided in your confirmation email. Once logged in, you can browse and watch all available films in the Screening Room.

Technical and Hardware Questions

You can watch content on PCs running Windows 7+, and Intel-based Macs running OSX 10.12+. You can also watch films on Android tablets and phones using Chrome, and on iPhones and iPads using Safari.

Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10
Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera. We recommend using the latest version of your browser. Internet Explorer is not supported.

Mac OSX 10.12 or later
Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Opera. We recommend using the latest version of your browser

Yes, you can watch content using Safari on iOS 11.2 or later. 

  • Note: The “Screen Mirroring” feature cannot be used - please ensure you turn off Screen Mirroring if you encounter trouble playing content.
  • Note: You cannot use a lightning to HDMI adapter to connect to your TV. Try using AirPlay instead if you have a compatible TV or streaming box.

Yes, you can watch content using Chrome on Android 6.0 or later. 

You can cast to a 3rd generation or newer Chromecast stick.

To Chromecast from an Android phone or tablet:

  • Make sure your Chromecast device is on the same Wi-fi network as your mobile device.
  • After the video is playing, tap the "Cast" icon in the bottom right corner of the video player. If the icon doesn't appear, unfortunately casting is not supported on your device.

To Chromecast from your computer:

  • Make sure you're using Google Chrome as your browser.
  • After the video is playing, tap the "Cast" icon in the bottom right corner of the video player. If the icon doesn't appear, unfortunately casting is not supported on your device.

You can AirPlay from most browsers if you have an AirPlay compatible TV or streaming box by selecting the AirPlay button in the bottom right-hand side of the player. If the icon doesn't appear, unfortunately casting is not supported on your device.

  • Compatible Smart TVs include select Samsung, LG, Sony, and VIZIO models.
  • Compatible streaming boxes include AppleTV Gen4 and above, and select Roku HD streaming devices running the most up-to-date software.

Maybe. Unfortunately many built-in Smart TVs' web browsers don't support protected content playback. If you get a black screen or error message, it's likely that your TV is not compatible. Try another method to get the video onto your TV.

You can directly connect your laptop or computer using an HDMI cable, by following these steps:

  • Make sure your computer is close enough to your TV for the HDMI cable to reach.

  • Connect one end of the HDMI cable into your computer.

  • Plug the other end of the cable into an available HDMI port on the TV. Take note of the HDMI input number.

  • Using the TV's remote control, set the TV to the HDMI input that matches the port you connected the cable to.

  • If your computer's display does not automatically appear on your television screen, you may need to have the computer manually detect the display:

  • Windows: Right-click on the desktop and select "Display Settings" > "Detect" > "Multiple displays", and select "Duplicate these displays", and click Apply.

  • Mac: Go to the Apple Menu and choose "System Preferences". Choose “Displays”, and hold down the “Option” key to show the “Detect Displays” button. Click on “Detect Displays” while holding down the Option key.

Use the password reset option on the login page to reset your password. You will need access to the email address you use to log in. Please note that you will need to create a new account from your JFI Membership when logging into the Screening Room for the first time. Instructions for creating your Screening Room account will be emailed to you along with your pass purchase confirmation.

The Screening Room uses adaptive bitrate streaming which means the streaming quality will automatically adjust based on your internet speed. If your internet connection is poor or inconsistent you may experience problems during playback. If you’re on wifi, try moving closer to your router.

You likely have “Screen Mirroring” turned on in your device settings. Please turn off the screen mirroring setting and start AirPlay by selecting the AirPlay button in the bottom right-hand side of the player.

If you have an external display or TV connected with an HDMI cable, try disconnecting it. If videos play after it is disconnected, then unfortunately the display or cable doesn't support encrypted video. Try another method.

Some Chromecast versions cannot support transitions from one video to another. If this happens, turn off casting and re-start it once the film starts playing.

Thanks

Major support for the JFI Digital Screening Room is provided by the Frederick J. Isaac Philanthropic Fund