Our devotion to the youth and our commitment to this film festival is unwavering!
😀We were super excited about the return of our youth film festival coming back in person, but we've decided to postpone the date.
Sadly, the pandemic continues to create logistically issues with the festival. Because we are committed to children, we are revamping the format of the event.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook as we will announce how we're planning ahead for the festival to be an fun indoor and outdoor event in the spring/summer of 2023.
In the meantime, we are putting all of our energy and excitement into the Just Be You Children's Festival of Easton of Easton coming on August 27 & 28, 2022 in Easton, PA.
If you are in the local area, we hope that you will come out and bring the family for a fun wellness and creativity festival for kids!
To all of the amazing filmmakers selected as a FINALIST for season 2020 and 2021 of the film festival, don't worry. We are making plans to showcase your films.
Once we have created the new festival format we will reach out to you via email.
The Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film Festival (Just Be You Festival for short) planned to return in the summer of 2020; with double the awesome! It was our intention to extend the festival to a two day event, in Rahway, New Jersey, the birthplace of Just Be You Performing Arts in 2013. Additionally, we had plans in place to take the festival on a two city tour! First stop, Philadelphia! Second stop, Detroit!
However, due to COVID-19, it was not possible. Despite adjusting the tour dates numerous times, and locations, in accordance with abiding by any state and government mandates. It was impossible to produce the festival as a live event due to the coronavirus pandemic. As such, we had to make a difficult decision to postpone the festival until 2021. However, the pandemic still created a challenge to host indoor events. As the corona virus situation changed due to the Delta variant, we made the difficult decision to postpone the festival in 2021 as well.
We will bring filmmakers and industry professionals together to celebrate works that are relevant to today's youth. We are making a bold statement, that children deserve to be heard, and uninterrupted! The Just Be You Festival has proven to be what we call, "champions for children". We made history in 2018 and 2019 in New Jersey and we plan to continue making a strong influence on the film festival industry.
Our festival is groundbreaking and there was nothing like it in New Jersey. This has lead us to be featured several times in the news, both print and broadcast media. We are honored and feel grateful for the wonderful exposure the festival continues to receive.
There is no submission fee for youth filmmakers (age 5 to 17 year's-old) to submit a body of work to our festival! Since the debut of our festival in 2018, we consistently receive hundreds of submissions from all over the world!
We accept submissions from filmmakers as young as 5 year's old, because even a kindergartner deserves a voice, and has something profound to say.
Our submission process is nation wide and world wide, but with a special encouragement for filmmakers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Female filmmakers, African-American, and Filmmakers of color, are especially encouraged to submit.
Due to the pandemic, we are scaling back on the in-person aspect of the festival. As such, we are streaming parts of the event live on our Facebook page for those who are unable to attend in person.
By attending our festival; you'll benefit from a diverse event geared towards the youth. The 3rd Annual Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film Festival will now be combined with the 4th Annual event; and will be a family-friendly event, that creates a mutually supportive community and a voice for all artists. Rather you attend in person or watch online, you will be inspired.
The festival is created and directed by award-winning triple-threat actress; Mahogany Reynolds (also known as Mahogany Reynolds-Clarke); who hails from Detroit, Michigan, where she began her versatile career as a performing artist. She is the founder/executive director of Just Be You Performing Arts and has successfully developed and produced over 35 productions in the state of New Jersey, all within just 3 years! She is also a seasoned coach and provides one-on-one customized; online and in-person, training for aspiring artist. Find more about her by visiting her website: www.mahoganyreynolds.com
Learn more about this dynamic youth driven festival by visiting: www.justbeyoufestival.com
We are excited to make this announcement. It is our aim to continue building this unique festival despite any obstacles we face. Hence the reason why we decided to postpone the event in 2020 and 2021; instead of converting the festival to an online event. The Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film Festival is better served as a live in person experience. Simply making the festival an online event does not live up to the quality, fun, engagement, and community connection that this festival is known for.
To that end, both season 3 and season 4 will be combined as a hybrid event. We are revamping how to produce the festival and will post an update on our website www.justbeyoufestival.com in the coming months.
Unlike some film festivals that cancelled their events due to Covid-19 in 2020 or in 2021; and will not carry over the films submitted in 2020 or 2021, Mahogany Reynolds feels that it would be grossly unfair to the talented filmmakers who submitted to the Just Be You Festival, to not include their submissions (the ones selected as an official selection) into the 4th season of the festival.
This special development to our film festival will continue our mission to create a positive platform that helps the youth, all over the world, harness their creativity, especially during the health crisis of Covid-19. We want the youth to know that their experiences during this challenging time is important to us. THE YOUTH MATTER!
Thank you for your support and interest in the Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film Festival. We look forward to viewing your marvelous creations!
SEASON FIVE OF THE FESTIVAL OPENS VERY SOON!
We will make an official announcement live during the Just Be You Children's Festival of Easton on August 27 & 28, 2022 in Easton, PA.
Please be safe and stay creative!
*Best Short-Film Youth Division
*Best Short-Film Adult Division
*Best Short-Documentary Youth Division
*Best Short-Documentary Adult Division
*Best Short-Animation Youth Made
*Best Short-Live Action Youth Made
*Best Music Video Youth Made
*Best Photography Youth Made
*Best Short-Film Faith Based Youth Made
*Best International Filmmaker Adult Division
*Best International Filmmaker Youth Division
*Best New Jersey Filmmaker Adult Division
*Best New Jersey Filmmaker Youth Division
*Best New Jersey Dance Video Youth Made
*Best New Jersey Dance Video Adult Made
*Best Actress
*Best Actor