New Jersey Film Festivals
Film lovers can now experience the glitz and glamour of Park City, Utah or Cannes without leaving New Jersey. In recent years, film festivals of all sizes and ambitions have sprung up throughout the state.
The bi-annual New Jersey Film Festival features films making their area premiere. Entrants must consent to have their accepted work photographed, locally telecast (if applicable) and reproduced for exhibition.
Montclair Film Festival
The Montclair Film Festival is a non-profit arts organization that puts on the festival and organizes year-round film education, storytelling, and community programs. It also owns and operates Montclair’s six-screen art house cinema, the Clairidge, and provides screening opportunities for local filmmakers. The non-profit relies on its supporters and the community to help it achieve its goals.
This year’s Montclair Film Festival featured films from around the world, including documentaries and narrative features. The festival also handed out awards to filmmakers and actors for their work. The narrative feature competition awarded prizes to Fidelio: Alice’s Odyssey, directed by Lucie Borleteau, and Yury Bykov’s The Fool. The documentary prize went to Matthew Heineman’s Retrograde, and the New Jersey film prize was won by Marah Strauch’s Sunshine Superman.
The Festival’s StorySLAM returned, where participants had five minutes to present their original story to a supportive audience. The event was hosted by renowned filmmaker and Montclair resident Jane Campion.
Newark Film Festival
The Newark Film Festival is a showcase of independent films by filmmakers from all over the world. The festival also offers workshops, panels and networking events for emerging and established filmmakers. It is part of the North2Shore Festival and is held at venues throughout Newark and New Jersey.
This year’s festival features a wide array of events and screenings that explore diverse topics, including a focus on women. The festival opens on July 27 at the Cranford Theater with a program that looks at global stories of women overcoming adversity. On Aug. 3rd, Papillon & Co will screen “At Your Cervix,” which looks at OB/GYN medical education programs that create an environment of non-consent in gynecology.
The festival also hosts a series of panel discussions with local experts and celebrity guests, including actresses Tasha Smith and Tobias Truvillion and actor Hill Harper. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the film-making process and meet industry professionals.
New Jersey Independent Film Festival
The New Jersey Independent Film Festival is a well-known festival that features many of the top short films in the country. It is a great place to see eye-opening independent films that you won’t find anywhere else. These films will stick with you for days and will make your friends and family want to hear about them too.
The NJIFF also has workshops, networking opportunities and parties. In addition, it hosts an awards ceremony and showcases local talent. The festival is based in Millville, which is an historic town that has tree-lined streets and Victorian homes. It also has a historic theater, restaurants and shops.
The NJIFF accepts all types of movies and genres. However, submissions must be made through Withoutabox or FilmFreeway. They must not have been previously released online or in any other format. Rough cuts are not accepted. If your movie is in a language other than English, you must provide subtitles.
NJ Super 8 Film & DV Festival
Featuring classic family favorites every Wednesday night in July and August. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy the show. Films start at sundown.
The festival will feature films from New Jersey, the US and abroad, including some made using Super 8 cameras. In addition, many filmmakers will be available for introductions and question-and-answer sessions after the screenings. This is a great opportunity for the audience to learn more about the films and the filmmakers.
The NJ Super 8 Film & DV Festival is a project of the Rutgers University Program in Cinema Studies. Its goal is to secure the legacy of Super 8 film in the era of HD. The event is hosted by Professor Albert Nigrin, the director of the New Jersey Film & TV Festival and the United States Super 8 Film & DV Festival. The screenings will take place in Voorhees Hall at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Advance tickets are available online.