This is a grassroots festival celebrating the outliers and fringe dwellers. What fears may come in the deep dark woods? That's what we want to know! Filmmakers are encouraged to explore the deep dark woods, the creatures that people them, and any other strange phenomena that might occur!

Films DO NOT have to be related to the Jersey Devil, but cryptids, witches, folklore and mythology are all good places to start.

Micro Shorts- Films under 3 minutes. These arere little snapshots of ideas and experimental images. Animation, stop motion, pretty much any thing that scares you.

Shorts- 3-10 minutes A deeper exploration of your idea and narrative.

Long Short up to 20 minutes- This allows for character development and a greater depth to the plot and story you want to explore.

Awards & Prizes

Prizes will be awarded in:

Best Student Short
Best Short
Best Long Short
Best Animated Short
Best Actor/Actress
Best Direction
Best of the Fest

Rules & Terms

General Eligibility

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

Films must be submitted as an online streaming video via a participating submission platform ( FilmFreeway), a password-protected streaming URL. DVD will be accepted with prior approval

Films that have been submitted to JDFF in previous years are eligible to be resubmitted, provided they are eligible according to all of JDFF’s current rules.

Films with US distribution (obtained prior to being selected for AFF screening) or films produced, financed or initiated by a major film studio or television network are ineligible for competition, but may be considered for a special screening. Selection for screening will be determined no later than 14 days prior to the festival.

Short films that are publicly available online prior to the Festival may be considered for exhibition during the Festival,

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

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.

9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Lorenzo P. Adams

    The Jersey Devil Film festival is highly reccommended for their commitment to highlight the works of up and coming filmmakers without huge platforms. Although, I couldn't attend due to health challenges, I was honored to have my short film "SIMONE" screen here in 2023 and look forward to submitting my prequel to the 1978 horror classic "Halloween."

    January 2024
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  • Shankar Sudhakaran

    Thank you for selecting and uplighting first time filmmakers. Our film, Devil's Stew, was originally a Cleveland 48 Hour Horror Film, and remains unpolished from the first 48 hour screening competition. The festival was very communicative and portrayed a sense of care and compassion for all the films that were submitted.

    June 2023
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  • Logan Dunn

    Jersey Devil Film Festival was a wonderful experience, we were honored to win Best Short and really appreciated them posting a video of the judging stage for our whole crew to be able to share the moment!

    May 2023
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  • Harry Waldman

    Thanks for selecting "Enter the Room" into your festival. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend, but the festival did a good job of keeping me in the loop, which hasn't been the case with some of the other in person festivals that "Enter the Room" has been a part of. I had a good experience overall and will definitely consider submitting future films to Jersey Devil Film Festival.

    May 2023
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  • Tanner Beard

    What an incredible group running this festival, we were so happy to compete in this competition and hope to return!

    May 2023
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