Your Guide to New Jersey Film Festivals

Features Popular Independent, Non Studio Film Makers 

New Jersey Film Festivals

New Jersey hosts a number of film festivals throughout the year, allowing filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts to come together and showcase their love for cinema. These film festivals range from events focused on independent cinema to those concentrating on specific genres, catering to a diverse group of audience.

These New Jersey Film Festivals showcase quality production and content from independent, non-studio film makers.

They are a popular attraction for students, emerging film producers, directors, performers and film buffs.
They are are themed and cover a wide range of creative arts on Super 8mm/8mm film, Digital video, and 8mm video formats on a variety of themes including: educational, cultural, documentary, non-mainstream, spiritual, animation, music video, local, national, and international.


Note: Sometimes conditions require cancellations or changes of dates, times and location which are not reflected in the original schedule. Before planning a trip to visit one of the listed events, it is suggested that you call the event sponsor to confirm the event schedule or for additional information on the event.


Upcoming New Jersey Film Festivals

New Jersey Film Festival - Fall  2023
New Jersey Film Festival Spring 2024
Weekends between January 26 until February 18, 2024.
Rutgers University
Voorhees Hall #105
71 Hamilton Street
New Brunswick, NJ
(848)932-8482
Schedule/Tickets
Note: The Festival will be a hybrid one as They will be presenting it online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. Each ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person screenings. The in-person screenings will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University beginning at 5PM or 7PM on their show date.



West Orange Film Festival
Annual West Orange Classic Film Festival
Sunday, March 3rd, 2024
AMC Dine - In Theatre in Essex Green Shopping Center
Prospect Avenue
West Orange, NJ.
Facebook
The West Orange Classic Film Festival provides lovers of cinema a chance to experience their favorite films as they were meant to be seen on the big screen. Love to laugh? They do, too and that's why when they close out the 2024 on Sunday, March 3rd we aim to leave you laughing. After a vote, which ended on Sunday, December 17th, 2023, they will screen the winner from the choices; A Shot in the Dark (1964) The In-Laws (1979) Airplane (1980) A Fish Called Wanda (1988) Groundhog Day (1993)

Garden State Film Festival
21st Annual Garden State Film Festival
March 21 - 24, 2024
Multiple venues In Asbury Park,Cranford and Ocean Grove, NJ
877-908-7050
Website & Tickets
The artistic philosophy of the Garden State Film Festival is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and the creation of a forum where local and other independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. In addition, our event provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in a career in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals in an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and mentoring. Past attendees include Glenn Close, Paul Sorvino, Budd Schulberg, Kurtwood Smith, James Gandolfini, Celeste Holm and Clarence Clemons.

NJ Jewish Film Festival
Annual New Jersey Jewish Film Festival
March 28 - April 14, 2024
New Jersey Jewish Film Festival
760 Northfield Ave
West Orange, NJ
Phone: 973-530-3400
Email: [email protected]
Website & Submissions
New Jersey Jewish Film Festival (NJJFF) fosters the growth of Jewish culture, identity, and community in New Jersey by presenting a wide range of exceptional films of Jewish interest. NJJFF offers audiences direct exposure to directors, performers, writers, reviewers, and scholars.
Vision New Jersey Jewish Film Festival strives to offer our region a rich tapestry of Jewish film programming. Their springtime festival features high-quality, award-winning films. They invite film creatives and other speakers of interest and renown to lead our post-screening discussions.
Films submitted to the New Jersey Jewish Film Festival must be of Jewish content or created by Jewish filmmakers.

Annual Princeton Environmental Film Festival
Annual Princeton Environmental Film Festival
April 5-14, 2024
Princeton Public Library
Princeton, NJ
Website
The mission is to share exceptional documentary films and engage our community in exploring environmental sustainability from a wide range of angles and perspectives. Most of our screenings are accompanied by a Q&A with film directors and producers, as well as other talks by invited speakers who visit for the festival or live here in our local community.
Accepting film submissions now through January 15, 2024.

New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival
New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival
April 19, 20, 21, 2024
NJ Expo Center
97 Sunfield Ave.
Edison, NJ
Website
Cost: Cash only at the door: Friday: $30 Saturday $35 Sunday: $30 3 Day pass: $70 Children: 10 and under free with paying adult
This event features amazing Horror films in the indie scene and also an opportunity to mingle with big names in horror. Horror fans can also participate in Q&A sessions, see the amazing vendors from around the Horror scene and watch the best indie films around. The event will include over 20 well known celebrities, many Indie Horror films, Film Awards, Exclusive Q and A panels, 100 + vendors, Cosplay, Trivia Contest, Photo Ops and more!



Passaic County Film Festival
Passaic County Film Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2024; 11:30am
Passaic County Community College
Public Safety Academy
300 Oldham Road
Wayne, NJ
973-569-4720
Website - Submission Entry Form
This is a juried exhibition of student and independent filmmakers' work. The Festival will showcase a wide range of film projects created by students and independent filmmakers who live, attend school, or work in Passaic County.
The objective of the Film Festival is to support student and independent film makers by providing a public forum in which to showcase their work and provide an opportunity to interact with members of the television and film making community.

Lighthouse International Film Festival
Lighthouse International Film Festival
June 5 - 9, 2024; 10:00 am - 11:30 pm
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences
120 Long Beach Blvd
Beach Haven, NJ
(646) 245-8400
Website/locations/tickets
The festival will showcase films handpicked from the top film festivals worldwide, including Sundance, SXSW, TIFF, and more. ​ As the festival approaches, the excitement is palpable. Filmmakers and movie buffs from around the globe.
The festival offers five days of films, panels, Q&A's, networking, beachy parties and surfing, and draws some of the industry's top film critics, producers and distributors. This beachside festival also serves the community at large by presenting unique programs that inspire, engage and challenge via the art of film.
Choose from an All Access Pass for entry to any film or party, a Films Only Pass for all film screenings, or individual tickets for less commitment. No matter which option you choose, we invite you to enjoy the Lighthouse International Film Festival's exceptional program of films, workshops, and parties. ​

Burlington County Short Film Festival
Burlington County Short Film Festival
Friday, Saturday, June 14, 15, 2024
The Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts
432 High Street
Burlington, New Jersey
Website/Submissions
Burlington County Parks is creating an opportunity for visual storytellers to have their work critiqued by a panel of filmmakers and educators. Burlington County Parks challenges filmmakers to create a compelling story in under 30 minutes. A special category will be set aside for PARKS Films. Filmmakers who tell a PARKS related story, shoot a film in one of our parks or use the park as a backdrop to the story will be awarded separately from the other categories regardless of genre or style.
Submission now accepted

The Golden Door International Film Festival
13th Annual The Golden Door International Film Festival
June 20-22, 2024
Nimbus Arts Center
329 Warren Street
Jersey City, NJ
Website
These films are not Capra-esque platitudes. Nor are they antagonistic cant. They reflect the process of creativity and the striving that shapes our wonderful reality. They are as varied as our community, one of the most densely populated cities in the world and one of the most diverse. The showings will be held in venues within the ultra-hip downtown area of Jersey City as well as uptown at the Loew's Landmark Theater. Set amidst the backdrop of the beautiful NYC Manhattan skyline, Golden Door Film Festival is recognized as being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established filmmakers and directors.
Submit entries on Filmway

The Newark Black Film Festival
The Newark Black Film Festival
July 10 - 14, 2024
Newark Museum
49 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102
973.596.6550
Website
The Newark Black Film Festival (NBFF)is one of the nation's defining voices on behalf of independent film. The festival is a showcase for films that focus on the experiences and concerns of contemporary African Americans, as well as an outlet for films about the African-American experience from earlier eras. Each film selection encompasses a wide range of cinematic forms and formulas, from documentary to the avant-garde.
The festival provides emerging filmmakers, writers, directors and producers with a high profile outlet for their work. In 2024, thwy will continue this legacy with exclusive screenings of films from the last three years, live in-person panel discussions with filmmakers, and throwback screenings of classics.