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!

Awards & Prizes

*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

Rules & Terms

The Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film & Theater Festival Submission Guidelines and Rules are as follows:

• All works submitted must have a story line that is relevant to youth and appropriate for an audience under the age of 18. This includes the title of your project. It must be appropriate for an audience under the age of 18 in order to be considered. These guidelines must also be respected:

*No profanity. *No nudity. *No drugs. *No alcohol. *No guns. *No sexually explicit content. *No racial slurs/hate speech

There are no exceptions to this guideline. Filmmakers who violate these guidelines will be immediately disqualified.

• Guidelines and rules must be followed exactly in order for your project to be accepted for review. Failure to do so will result in automatic disqualification. Your film will be listed as "not selected" if we do not deem it to qualify for consideration.
• If accepted into the Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film & Theater Festival, Entrant agrees and accepts to be fully responsible to cover all cost associated to delivery an HD digital video file of the Entry by electronic file transfer or on a physical digital storage device.
• If accepted into the Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film & Theater Festival, Entrant agrees and accepts to be fully responsible to cover all cost associated with providing the festival with the following promotional materials; such as, high resolution stills, production credits, director’s biography, promotional poster, and press reviews.
* If selected into the festival as a finalist, the filmmaker is completely responsible for any and all transportation/travel/lodging expenses. If filmmaker is unable to attend in person their film will not be screened at the festival, but will instead be listed on our website. Only film finalist who are able to attend the festival will have their films screened live at the event.
• Once selected, entries may not be withdrawn from participation in the Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film & Theater Festival.
• Short-films must have a run time of 2 to 10 minutes. Filmmaker must submit a cover letter that includes your age and a brief detail of your career experience. Cover letter should indicate why you feel your film is a good fit for our festival. Year’s of experience as a filmmaker is limited to 4 year’s or less.
* Must send a digital copy of the film in MOV. or MP4 format for screening purposes. If using Vimeo it must have a setting to permit downloading. Entrants may submit their Entry via FilmFreeway; or via email to us at: justbeyoufestival@gmail.com, using a file transfer website such as DropBox or WeTransfer. Please be sure to set the expiration date for downloading your film to at least 90 days after submitting.
* Excepting films in English and foreign language. If foreign language there must be English subtitles or dubbed in English. All international/foreign submissions (outside of the United States) MUST BE SUBMITTED IN NTSC FORMAT (National Television System Committee) (not PAL). There are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT.
* Foreign/International films that do not have subtitles will immediately be disqualified and labeled as "not selected".
• Short-documentaries must have a run time of 2 to 10 minutes. Filmmaker must submit a cover letter includes your age and a brief detail of your career experience. Cover letter should indicate why you feel your documentary is a good fit for our festival. Year’s of experience as a filmmaker is limited to 5 year’s or less. Must send a digital copy of the documentary video, in MOV. or MP4 format for screening purposes. If using Vimeo it must have a setting to permit downloading. Entrants may submit their Entry via FilmFreeway; or via email to us at: justbeyoufestival@gmail.com, using a file transfer website such as DropBox. Excepting documentaries in English and foreign language. If foreign language there must be English subtitles or dubbed in English. All international/foreign submissions (outside of the United States) MUST BE SUBMITTED IN NTSC FORMAT (National Television System Committee) (not PAL). There are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT.
• Animation and live action must have a run time of 2 to 10 minutes. Filmmaker must submit a cover letter that includes your age and a brief detail of your career experience. Cover letter should indicate why you feel your animated or live action project is a good fit for our festival. Year’s of experience as a filmmaker is limited to 4 year’s or less. Must send a digital copy in MOV. or MP4 format for screening purposes. If using Vimeo it must have a setting to permit downloading. Entrants may submit their Entry via FilmFreeway; or via email to us at: justbeyoufestival@gmail.com, using a file transfer website such as DropBox or WeTransfer. Please be sure to set the expiration date for downloading your film to at least 90 days after submitting. Excepting animation and live action projects in English and foreign language. If foreign language there must be English subtitles or dubbed in English. All international/foreign submissions (outside of the United States) MUST BE SUBMITTED IN NTSC FORMAT (National Television System Committee) (not PAL). There are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT.
* Foreign/International films that do not have subtitles will immediately be disqualified and labeled as "not selected".
• Music videos must have a run time not to exceed 4 minutes. Dance films will be considered as music videos. Filmmaker must use original music that he/she created or has license/permission to use in the video. Filmmaker must submit a cover letter that includes your age and a brief detail of your career experience. Cover letter should indicate why you feel your music video is a good fit for our festival. Year’s of experience as a filmmaker is limited to 4 year’s or less. Must send a digital copy in MOV. or MP4 format for screening purposes. If using Vimeo it must have a setting to permit downloading. Entrants may submit their Entry via FilmFreeway; or via email to us at: justbeyoufestival@gmail.com, using a file transfer website such as DropBox or WeTransfer. Please be sure to set the expiration date for downloading your film to at least 90 days after submitting. Excepting projects in English and foreign language. If foreign language there must be English subtitles or dubbed in English. All international/foreign submissions (outside of the United States) MUST BE SUBMITTED IN NTSC FORMAT (National Television System Committee) (not PAL). There are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT.
* Foreign/International films that do not have subtitles will immediately be disqualified and labeled as "not selected".
• Short-play scripts must have an on-stage performance run time maximum of 10 minutes. Stage play performance can also be in the form of a monologue or choreopoem. Playwright must be based in New Jersey, U.S.A.; and must submit a cover letter that includes your age and a brief detail of your career experience. Cover letter should indicate why you feel your play is a good fit for our festival. Cover letter must indicate rather the play is in production or nonproduction. Year’s of experience is limited to 4 year’s or less. Playwright must also submit the full script not to exceed 15 pages (not including the cover page). Playwright’s last name and the play’s title should be printed on the upper right corner of each page. Each page must be numbered. Entrants may submit their Entry via FilmFreeway; or via email to us at: justbeyoufestival@gmail.com, using a file transfer website such as DropBox, or as a PDF file attachment, or WeTransfer. Please be sure to set the expiration date for downloading your film to at least 90 days after submitting. All international/foreign submissions (outside of the United States) MUST BE SUBMITTED IN NTSC FORMAT (National Television System Committee) (not PAL). There are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT.
* Youth Photographers may follow the same instructions as filmmakers/playwrights to submit their works. Must submit at least 3 photographs taken by you; the photographer.
* Dance video submissions may follow the same instructions as filmmakers, and must be based in New Jersey, U.S.A.
*Actors/Actresses may follow the same instructions as filmmakers and see the submission tab for complete instructions
*Comedians may follow the same instructions as filmmakers and see the submission tab for complete instructions

• We gladly accept submissions from all over the world.
• We especially encourage submissions from: New Jersey filmmakers/playwrights, minorities/people of color, African-Americans, grade school students, youth in the foster care system, churches with a youth ministry, female filmmakers. Filmmakers with disabilities.
• Entrant hereby irrevocably grants the Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film & Theater Festival the following rights with respect to the Entry on a “free-use” “free-to-use” “no-fee” basis: the right to exhibit the Entry publicly one or multiple times during the Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film & Theater Festival event.
• If accepted into the festival Entrant shall receive notification in writing; via email, along with any additional guidelines for the presenting of their work during the festival; which shall include a liability, media release, code of conduct, and reproduction agreement. Failure to comply with any of the guidelines herein will result in immediate disqualification.
• Entries will not be returned.
• This festival is for independent filmmakers/playwrights/photographers.
• Projects submitted to the festival must have been completed after January 1, 2019.
* No submission fees will be waived.
* Submission fee for Adult Filmmakers/Playwrights/Actors/Actresses/Comedians (18 years-old and up) is $18 due at time of submission.
* There is no submission fee for youth filmmakers (ages 5 to 17 year's-old). Proof of age is required at time of submission. Along with submission filmmaker's parent/guardian/teacher/mentor must upload a current copy of the filmmaker's student ID. There is no exceptions to this. Proof of age for all youth filmmakers is required.
• If you have questions about the submission process you may contact us via email at: jusbeyoufestival@gmail.com. Please include your name and the words “JBY Festival Submission Inquiry” in the subject line of the email. We will respond to your inquire as quickly as possible. Inquires requesting fees to be waived will not be responded to.
* If you project is labeled as "not selected" into the festival we are unable to respond to any inquires therein.
• By submitting an Entry to the Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film & Theater Festival, you attest and certify that all information provided is accurate and complete, that you have the authority/authorization to submit said Entry for consideration, and that you have read, understand, and agree to all terms of Entry.

9 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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  • Mohammad ferajzadeh

    I am glad that my film was present at the festival.
    I hope the festival is sustainable

    January 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Mohammad, thank you for submitting to our festival. We are making plans to present the festival in 2021. These are very uncertain times, but we are dedicated to showcasing the amazing work of our filmmakers. We appreciate your talent and thank you for this wonderful review. Cheers, Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film Festival.

  • Esabella Strickland

    What a great event excited to submit my next film project

    September 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Esabella Strickland, congratulations to you again. You are an amazing talent and we are honored that you submitted to our festival's 2nd season. By all means please submit to season 3. We'd love to have you! Best wishes, Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film Festival

  • Jil Ross

    The 2019 JustBeYouPerformingArts Fest was held at the Rahway Public Library. It's centrally located and easily accessible. The event was well attended and enjoyable. In addition to the films, there were awards, snacks and live entertainment. Good time had by all.

    September 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Jil Ross, we are so thrilled that your travels from Chicago was well worth it to attend the festival. It was a true honor to meet you. We are excited to have you as our featured filmmaker. Everyone enjoyed and laughed out loud to your marvelously crafted children's series "CHI-nanigans". Please keep up the good work. Your voice and unique perspective is needed in the film industry. Best wishes, Just Be You Performing Arts Youth Film Festival

  • Max Shoham

    I was honoured to have my film selected for the Just Be Your Performing Arts Youth Film Festival. Thank you!

    April 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Max, it was a joy to have your film be a part of the festival last year. We are always striving to help young artists and filmmakers reach their fullest potential. We know more great films are coming from Max Shoham!!!

  • Matthew Carew

    Unfortunately I could not attend, but I was honoured to be nominated in the Youth Photography category. Already entered a film of mine for the 2019 festival! Highly recommend this festival to anyone!

    December 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Greetings Matthew, we were thrilled and blessed to have you be a part of the festival in 2018. Thank you for your wonderful feedback. It is our sincere desire to help youth all over the world to express themselves artistically in a supportive, positive, youth driven festival. Young people deserve a voice! We look forward to your submission(s) for 2019. Best wishes to you in your journey as a filmmaker/photographer!