The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center proudly announces the 42nd Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival Fall 2023. The festival will be held between September 8-October 8, 2023 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey and will showcase the best in independent film by featuring premiere screenings, special guest appearances by film directors, screenwriters, cast and crew and more. For more information go to www.njfilmfest.com or e-mail us at NJMAC@aol.com or njmac12@gmail.com

New Jersey has only one media arts center programming year-round -- offering over 100 annual film screenings and events: The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center. Founded in 1982, the Rutgers Film Co-op/NJMAC draws thousands of viewers from throughout New Jersey by providing an alternative media culture. The Rutgers Film Co-op/NJMAC is dedicated to the noncommercial exhibition of independent, classic, international, and experimental films and videos. Not only do our audiences have the opportunity to view many independently produced films, but also the added benefit of meeting with the filmmakers, actors, screenwriters and other members of production crew. Some of our guests have included: Todd Solondz, Bill Plympton, Gary Null, Veronica Burstein, Jem Cohen, Peter Sillen, Jason Rosette, Susan Muska, Greta Olafsdottir, Sarah Jacobson, Martin Scorsese, Thelma Schoonmaker-Powell, Paul Morrissey, D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, Tim Kirkman, Joseph Dorman, Ted Sod, Heather McDonald, Mark Rappaport, Sara Driver, Jim McKay, Su Friedrich, Menachem Daum, Ken Smith, Aviva Kempner, David Riker, John Hulme, Charles Creasy, Tony Leahy, Jeff Cline, Diane Bonder, Sarah Karloff, Michel Negroponte, Vlas and Charley Parlapanides, Ethan Falk, David Rick Balcorta, Roger Weisberg, Daina Krumins, Jenny Stein, James LaVeck, D.R. Hernandez, Matthew Garrett, Thomas Franklin, Thierry Daher, Carolyn Travis, Yasuki Nakajima, Aileen Bordman, Patrick Donnelly, Sara Taksler, Naomi Greenfeld, Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno, Jerome Bongiorno, Sanjiban Sellew, Susan Ingraham, Martha Rosler, Mark Berger, Raphael Ortiz, Maureen Gosling, Marc Maurino, Matthew Brown, Moon Molson, Jave Galt-Miller, Micah Baskir, Paul La Blanc, Thurston Smith, Tim Eberle, Damian Kolody, Nancy O’Mallon, Kathy Foronjy, Joe Coburn, Michael Knowles, Luke Mathany, Sarah Wickliffe, Jonathan Budine, Melissa Thomson, Beth Miranda Botshon, Daniel Califf-Glick, Bonnie Blake, Linda Helm Krapf, Christina Eliopoulos, Melissa Whitely, Andrew Liput, Donny Moss, Raul Barcelona, Alex Feldman, Joesph Bierman, Eve Burris, Ken Castellano, Mark Kolu, Peter Koziell, Darren Garnick, Patty Sharaf, Bill Page, Jon Sell, Danny Medoza, Paul Andersen, Christopher Maloney, Thomas Florek, Paul Marcus, Ryan Smith, Matthew Lawrence, Beth Toni Kruvant, Nadirah Bell, Emma Kenney, Shinako Sudo, Richard Haines, Ken Kimmelman, Christopher Bedford, Neil and Lee Selden, Cassandra Evanisko, Corrina May, Judith Vogelsang, Ryan O’Laughlin, Hemant Tavathia, David Svedosh, Fritch Clark, Chris Pepino, Gorman Bechard, Justin Strawhand, Dave Davidson, Bob Bowdon, Jen Di Cresce, Jonathan Kalafer, Brett Plymale, Doug Compton, Ivan Nemergut, Zach Levy, Noelle Brower, Audrey Holland, Kevin Shaw, Frank Prinizi, Jonathan Bogarin, Marko Vuorinen, Rene Blacer, Christopher Wells, Dimitri de Clercq, Bestor Cram, Joe Amodei, Jeannie Bryson, Barbara Vekaric', Matej Silky, Daryl Wein, Zoe Lister-Jones, and many others.

Awards & Prizes

Best of Prizes in Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Short
Narrative, Feature, and Student Film (College or younger)

Rules & Terms

ENTRY REGULATIONS:
This competition is open to U.S. and International entries. Maximum film age is 24 months. No repeat entries. If a work is selected for public screening entrants are contractually obligated to provide an exhibition copy suitable for screening and cannot withdraw their film from the festival. Entry must be a New Jersey or Area Premiere and must not be available to view in full on the internet! Please note we do not pay screening fees. Only finalists are notified in advance that their work has been selected to be part of the Festival.

ENTRY FORMATS:
Submit a DVD or Blu Ray or an On-Line Screener for pre-screening. If chosen for final judging a high quality region free DVD or Blu Ray disc or Hi Res Digital File (mp4 or mov) must be sent for Festival screening.

LIABILITY: Filmmaker shall indemnify and hold New Jersey Film Festival harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim in connection with the Film involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and/or loss of or damage to the screening videos submitted. In particular, Filmmaker expressly warrants it has obtained all necessary copyright clearances for original works of authorship used in the Film.

REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT: Submission of an entry gives the festival permission to have accepted work exhibited, photographed, locally telecast in part, and reproduced either in part or whole, for exhibition purposes.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Judy Drosd

    This wonderful film festival is what everyone hopes a film festival will be: responsive, inclusive, supportive, technically excellent and a true open source for creative ideas. We're honored to have been included.

    October 2022
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  • Charly Santagado

    Wonderful festival that really goes the extra mile to support filmmakers. We had the privilege of attending the event in person this year and are thrilled to have had our film, Soldier Island, selected as the Best Feature Film winner. Highly recommend this awesome fest!

    October 2022
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  • Vincent Stoia

    A wonderful experience. Al was helpful, welcoming and very supportive. Lots of good films as well. I highly recommend this festival.

    October 2022
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  • Larry Hanover

    I can’t say enough about the efforts of the organizers’ efforts to publicize our film. We appreciate the efforts of Al Nigrin and his team!

    October 2022
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  • Willa Cofield

    The New Jersey Film Festival is a powerhouse hybrid festival. Their support is phenomenal and the amount of publicity provided to filmmakers is second to none. Their screening of our documentary greatly helped introduce it to a broad and diverse audience. The New Jersey Film Festival promoted our film with a television interview at a nearby community television station and they also submitted news releases about the film to several media outlets. We felt honored to have our documentary screened on the opening night of the festival. As a result of our inclusion in the New Jersey Festival, many people in our home communities learned about our work and the festival. Although the festival took place during a difficult time when the pandemic appeared to be worsening and therefore many people were reluctant about attending public gatherings, the organizers are to be commended for continuing the festival. We are proud to have been included in this dynamic, well-organized event.

    October 2021
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