5th Annual Bernardsville Film Festival
April 23-26th 2027

After three years of holding rhetorical festival on October, the Bernardsville International Film Festival is moving to partner up with our sister festival The FenceSitter Film Festival in April to offer twice as many film options to our growing film loving community

Bernardsville sits at the very seat of the American Revolution. This quiet, historical town is the perfect location to celebrate this uniquely American art form. Motion Pictures.
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It is with that spirit that the Bernardville Cinema and FenceSitter Films have found their home in the historic town.
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The goal is to bring movie lovers together to celebrate the future of cinema with four days of parties, award ceremonies, and most importantly, MOVIES!
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The Bernardsville Film Festival highlights a varied and diverse slate of films.

2026 Award Winners:

Best Film; "Just Being Nice"
Best Documentary: “Ball Lighting"
Best Screenplay: - Ross Popick “Sit With Me While I Die"”
Best Director: Fubao Fan "Ball"
Best Actor: Kemly Derby "Safari Disco Club" "
Best New Jersey Film: “love letters"

Awards & Prizes

Best Narrative Film

Best Documentary

Best Screenplay (Narrative and Short)

Best Actor

Best Director (Narrative and Short)

Rules & Terms

 1.  Submissions must be accompanied by the applicable submission fee PER ENTRY and a completed online entry form via FilmFreeway.com.  All films must be in English or have English subtitles at the time submitted.

 2.  All submissions must be submitted as an online streaming video via FilmFreeway.com. 

 3.  BFF screens films as digital files during the Festival. If you are unable or unwilling to provide us your film as a digital file for exhibition, DO NOT SUBMIT your film.

 4.  Films must have been completed after October  1, 2022. Films must be available for screening during the Bernardsville Film Festival, October 19–22, 2023.

 5.  Films with US distribution are ineligible for competition, but may be considered for a special screening. 

 6.  Short films that are publicly available online prior to the Festival may be considered for exhibition during the Festival, but will be ineligible for Jury Awards.  We prefer that shorts not be publicly available online. Online, private screenings through a festival’s online program do not count as publicly available online.

 7.  Private invite-only screenings (for instance for cast and crew or donors) do not affect a film’s eligibility.

 8.  BFF reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.

 9.  Films that are selected to screen at the Festival may not necessarily be selected to be “in competition” for awards purposes. Notifications regarding potential selection for competition status possibly may occur subsequent to notifications of acceptance for exhibition.
15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Linda Collins

    We had a great screening of our film SILENT HARMONY at The Bernardsville Film Festival. The historic theater for the screenings provides a really nice experience on the big screen right in the middle of Bernardsville, NJ with multiple options for meals and hanging out during the Festival. right around the corner. Festival Director Kyle Schickner was great with communications and we really felt welcome! Thank you BIFF!

    May 2026
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  • Joshua Nelson

    We were very grateful to be a part of this years festival with our film The Burden Of Grace! Wonderful people, terrific theatre! Recommended!!! Will submit again next year!

    April 2026
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  • Jack Foley

    Our first visit to the Bernardsville Film Festival could not have been a better experience. Fun pre-party, cool movie theater, engaging Q&A, all followed by a post-screening party. It's just an excellent event to showcase your film and network with other filmmakers. Really looking forward to returning in the future.

    October 2025
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  • Matt Levy

    I had the pleasure of screening my short at the Bernardsville Film Festival in fall '25.

    As soon as I walked into the theater — which was kitschy in all the best ways with its throwback "let's all go to the movies" signage, candy buffet and icee machine — I was greeted by Kyle, the festival director as well as a few other filmmakers. They immediately made me feel at home. This was exactly the warm welcome you dream of when walking up to the theater.

    The screening was an equally wonderful experience. A diverse array of shorts running the gamut from thoughtful dramas to silly international farce to pensive dramedy to cutting social satire all hit the receptive audience made up of locals.

    When all was said and done, Kyle held a thoughtful Q&A.

    Then, as a cherry on top, while walking to the train, I found a nifty collectibles shop selling vintage toys. Picking up Goofy for my daughter and a Marion Ravenwood from "Indiana Jones" action figure for my wife made me a hero upon my return (they didn't attend because I was coming from three hours away).

    Will definitely submit again and I highly recommend to all looking for a warm, friendly fest to add to their run on the circuit.

    October 2025
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  • Matt Dixon

    Kyle and his crew are some of the nicest people you will ever encounter. Thank you for awarding Fading Frequencies best documentary at this year’s festival.

    October 2025
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