Jersey Devil Film Festival
More Than Weird

Jersey Devil Film Festival is a grassroots, DIY celebration of cryptids, forests, and dark folklore. Rooted in the legend of the Jersey Devil, the festival welcomes films that explore myth, monsters, rural fear, liminal spaces, and the strange stories that live in the margins.

The film festival takes place as part of a full-weekend street festival, creating an immersive environment where screenings exist alongside live events, vendors, conversations, and community storytelling. While the Jersey Devil is our guiding presence, submissions may engage broadly with cryptids, regional legends, folk horror, experimental narratives, and unexplained phenomena.

This festival is part of a larger, passion-driven storytelling event devoted to folklore, mythmaking, and outsider voices. Selected filmmakers may also have opportunities for interviews and expanded exposure through The Pod Barrens, a live podcasting space, and the Evidence Room, dedicated to deeper discussion and context around the films.

If your work belongs in the woods, the shadows, or the folklore archive, it belongs here.

Awards & Prizes

Prizes will be awarded in:

Best Short
Best Long Short
Best Animated Short
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.

Technical Requirements:
Accepted Formats
Digital file (.mov or .mp4)

Codec
H.264 preferred
ProRes 422 accepted

Resolution
Minimum 1920×1080 (1080p)
Maximum 3840×2160 (4K)

Frame Rate
23.976, 24, 25, or 30 fps

Audio
Stereo (2.0), 48 kHz

Subtitles
English subtitles required for non-English films

Runtime
Under 23 minutes (including credits)
17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Paul Juser

    Having been a big fan of the Paranormal Museum for a long time, it was a big honor to be a part of this festival. Kathy was wonderful to work with, and it was great meeting so many of the filmmakers. I can't wait to submit again next year!

    May 2026
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  • Scott Bekisz

    Unfortunately we couldn’t attend the festival but the team was awesome to communicate with the whole way through. A huge thanks to the Jersey Devil Film Festival for including our short, BLOOD RAIL in this year’s fest!

    May 2026
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  • Ernest Anemone

    Great programming and communication. The whole festival is a wonderful exploration of the strange and unusual. It's a great time in a great place with great people.

    May 2026
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Ernest! We are grateful for your involvement and appreciate these kind words.

  • Dragan Jovićević

    I am so happy to be the part of Jersey Devil Film Festival and to be awarded for my short horror film A Boy Opens the Door. The communication with Kathy and the idea behind the festival are just perfect! Thank you once again! Love you <3

    October 2025
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  • Stash Prada

    Hands down one of the best festival's we have ever been a part of! From the bottom of my heart thank you for everything! Also, one of the best concept logos name ideas and everything Jersey Devil film fest is what art is all about!

    May 2024
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