The Queen City Film Festival (NJ), a A Queen City Film & Television Workshop event, is a community centered film festival based in the historic city of Plainfield, New Jersey; a central jersey hub for culture, cuisine, music, art and film. Located 25 miles southwest of Tribeca in lower Manhattan, Plainfield is set with two train stations along the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line and is a quick easy commute to and from from New York City. QCFTVW is a NJ nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing Tv and film production training to area youth, free of charge
 
With tree-lined streets and Victorian homes set against a unique urban landscape, the city is a perfect location for the festival, which attracts cinephiles from all around for two days of movies, workshops, networking, vendor opportunities, parties and an awards ceremony. Community partners include restaurants, shops, air b&b stewards and other local businesses .
 
The festival, now in its 8th year, started out as a pop-up short film showcase featuring both Plainfield filmmakers as well as films produced within its borders. The goal of the festival is to provide a platform for developing and seasoned filmmakers with a platform for their work. To Connect audiences with emerging talent while curating impactful films. To create a space for film professionals to access continuing education and development in and effort to encourage career preparedness for the television and motion picture industry.

The festival also pledges to continue its youth mentoring and internship programming through various nonprofit components. The Plainfield Film and Television Production Training Program has afforded dozens of local youth access to the tools of film production, direct contact with accomplished professionals and career counseling and placement in industry.

Projects with socially impactful themes in their storytelling will be given the primary consideration from the judge’s panel . The class of 2018’s included films from Writer Okema T. Moore, Jacqueline Howell-King, Jamal Hodge, Director Patrick Coker as well as renowned novelist and Plainfield’s own, JM Benjamin.

Despite the challenges presented by COVID 19 - the Queen City Film Festival continues to thrive. We have amassed thousands of views on our Facebook and YOUTUBE pages by hosting live screenings of official selections. We returned to live Screenings at CINEMARK THEATER in October of 2021 to great success. Though we have also been virtual hybrid event since April of 2020, the Queen City Film Festival has weathered the pandemic conditions and remains dedicated to providing a multiverse space for filmmakers - ONLINE,DRIVE IN THEATER EXPERIENCE and IN PERSON. Four days of film, workshop and development as well as an awards show.

Join us October 16 - 19,2025 as we bring the best independent short and feature length films, series,animation, horror, music video, documentary and screenplays. New Jersey's most important film festival for underrepresented artists from around the globe.

#blackfilmmakers #latinxfilmmakers #asianfilmmakers #womenfilmmakers #indigenousfilmmakers #lgbtqfilmmakers

Laurels and trophies for top categories

Grand Jury Prize
Possible Production Deal fueled by Nonstop Show Group and Tryboro Productions

AWARD CATEGORIES

Best Director
Best Cinematographer
Best Short
Best Documentary
Best Music Video
Best Digital Series
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best ScreenPlay
Best Jersey Film

Honoree Awards incl. -
Vanguard Filmmaker Award
Festival Ambassador

Queen City Film Fest (NJ) Entry Submission Guidelines

Queen City Film Fest (NJ) is now accepting film entries for our 2025 Festival. We are seeking films from a wide variety of independent filmmakers from every walks of life. We are filmmakers and enjoy watching well made, crafted productions that open our minds to worlds previously unimagined.

Please read the following information fully and complete the online submission form found on FilmFreeway. Note: if your film was shot in New Jersey or there are any verifiable New Jersey ties of your principals (NJ residence) there is a $10 entry fee reduction (Early Bird, Regular or Late deadlines applies). You are encouraged to submit prior to the deadline for a reduced fee. Please state why your film is eligible in this category.

QCFFNJ Eligibility

Entries must be written, directed, produced and/or principally acted by a person of color. Works in progress are not considered.
More than one entry can be submitted; however, each entry must be accompanied by a separate online submission form, entry fee, color JPEG publicity photo, one - two sentence synopsis and URL link and password.
Year of completion must be 2022 or later.
Foreign language films must have English subtitles.

Online submissions must include the fully completed submission form, entry fee, JPEG publicity photo(s), downloadable trailer link, two sentence synopsis and URL link (Vimeo preferred). The URL link and password for selected films must be available until Nov 1, 2025.

Completion of the entry form certifies that you are the rightful owner of the submitted work and own all rights and releases necessary for public screening. All legal clearances and releases including, but not limited to talent, intellectual property, music or stock footage are the responsibility of the filmmaker. The submitted film is not subject to litigation and is not threatened by litigation. If selected, you agree to provide a final exhibition downloadable link and password no later than May 1 , 2025. You give permission for QCFFNJ to utilize clips or stills of your entry for festival promotional purposes (including but not limited to television, web, and presentations).

QCFFNJ encourages at least a NEW JERSEY premiere for the selected films and shorts, but is not required. Projects may have distribution but not yet had a theatrical release, airplay on television, or broadcast on the Internet (excluding webisode series).
Official Selection Announcement will be made the week of Oct 9, 20245, via email. It will be followed up by an official acceptance sent via email.

Submission and Judging Categories include:

- Feature Film (narrative fiction): (60 minutes or less)
- Short Film (20 minutes or less) All shorts must provide a link and password.

- Documentary: (88 minutes or less)
- Digital Series (two in a series; each not to exceed 30:00 min)
- Music Video (must be an original song, not a cover and not to exceed 6:30)

- Student Shorts (up to 10 minutes); must be written, shot, directed and produced by
students who were in college during the time of its production and submission.
(Student shorts are not eligible to be submitted in the Shorts category;
QCFFNJ reserves the right to move them to the Student category)

BEST OF recommendations will be based on the judge's evaluations.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Queen City Film Festival is my favorite film festival. Beautiful films are selected, networking amongst like minded filmmakers, and watching your film in an amazing theater is unmatched.

    November 2024
  • Suga Productions

    Such a wonderful experience. The films were good, the people were kind, respectful, communicative, joyful, appreciative and present. The theatre seats were comfortable and a huge clear screen. Q&A's were insightful, informative and inspiring. Great festival experience!

    October 2024
  • Queen Stewart

    Words truly cannot describe the level of joy that I experienced at the 7th Annual Queen City Film Festival. As a first time filmmaker, I felt very welcomed. The atmosphere was supportive and warm.

    October 2024
  • Jennifer Arjune

    I couldn't have thank everyone who was involved in this festival enough for such an AMAZING experience for my first festival in peron. The staff was very kind and most definetely made us filmmakers feel welcomed and in my case, like a family. I felt heard, appreciated and seen as a filmmaker. Thank you for choosing "Purpose" as the best student film award and all the nominations. Im very grateful for you all and I will definitely be returning ! :)

    December 2023
  • Rae Ashe

    Awesome film festival!!!! Thank you!!

    November 2023