Thomas Edison Film Festival (TEFF) is an international touring festival with an abiding commitment to the short form. We seek out and celebrate independent and innovative short films. Not a conventional destination film festival – we are a socially conscious traveling festival, reaching out to diverse audiences with provocative, timely, and compelling new works.

TEFF is proud to be an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival for animation and experimental shorts. We provide a platform for accomplished and emerging artists emphasizing artistic excellence and promoting empathy and engagement through films that both teach and entertain.

Our annual collection of international films is screened to audiences throughout the world virtually and in person. In-person venues in the US include the National Gallery of Art, DC; Lewis Center for the Arts – Princeton University; Anthology Film Archives; Glimmerglass Film Days, Cooperstown, NY; Hoboken Historical Museum; Syracuse University; University of Delaware; Savannah College of Art & Design; Towson University; University of Colorado – Boulder, Long Beach City College; and many more.

TEFF offers a variety of in-person and on-line events throughout each touring season. Given our extensive annual tour throughout the US, opportunities to meet and greet audiences are considerable. Please note - We DO NOT offer fixed stipends for travel, housing or speaking at TEFF events. We DO NOT provide rental or screening fees. TEFF notifies filmmakers if their film has been chosen to screen at either an in-person or virtual event.

The collection is perpetually available for online screening and a work description of each winning film is included in our annual print and digital booklet - a comprehensive and scholarly publication which lists and describes the selected works and awards.

TEFF is pleased to announce a Student Filmmakers category as part of the 45th Annual Festival Tour. This new addition to TEFF is open only to students attending a US college or university. Student filmmakers MUST upload their official college ID as part of the submission process.

TEFF INDEPENDENT & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS:

*Jury's Stellar Award for Animation
Jury's Stellar Award for Documentary
*Jury's Stellar Award for Experimental
Jury's Stellar Award for Narrative
Jury's Stellar Award for Screen Dance
Global Insights Stellar Award - Demonstrating insight into global issues
DEAI Stellar Award - Demonstrating insight into diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.
Jury's Choice Award - 1st prize
Jury's Citation Award - 2nd prize
Director's Choice Award - 3rd prize
Honorable Mention - 4th prize

*Please note - The Jury's Stellar Awards for Animation and/or Experimental are eligible for Academy Award® consideration.

TEFF COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY AWARDS:

Jury's Stellar Award for Animation
Jury's Stellar Award for Documentary
Jury's Stellar Award for Experimental
Jury's Stellar Award for Narrative
Jury's Choice Award
Jury's Citation Award
Made in New Jersey Award - Students only. Film must have been created (shot, edited, etc.) primarily in the State of NJ.

TEFF RULES & TERMS FOR INDEPENDENT & INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER SUBMISSIONS:

1. We accept short films of all genres under 45 minutes. SHORT FILMS UNDER 15 MINUTES RECEIVE FOREMOST CONSIDERATION!
2. ENTRY FEES ARE NEVER WAIVED.
3. TEFF DOES NOT PAY RENTAL OR SCREENING FEES.
4. All applicants must complete the official festival submission form located on FilmFreeway (https://filmfreeway.com/ThomasEdisonFilmFestival). TEFF reserves the right to disqualify any film not submitted through FilmFreeway without refund of any application fees.
5. All applicants MUST include support materials in their FilmFreeway submission including:
• Downloadable link for pre-screening & jury
• Film Stills – hi and lo res for web and print
• Brief Film Description: (25-75 words)
• Filmmaker(s) Bio & Artist(s) Statement
• Contact information - Current email, mailing address & phone
• Trailer preferred
6. The applicant holds the sole responsibility of copyright clearance of any copyrighted material in the film. Films including unauthorized copyrighted material are ineligible.
7. Films not produced in English MUST be subtitled in English.
8. Captions are required for all films with dialog. Please submit an .SRT file and/or a burned in subtitled version of your film.
9. Multiple versions of the same film will not be considered.
10. If the submitted film does not play on FilmFreeway, TEFF will make an attempt to contact the applicant based on the information supplied. If a replacement is not available, the film will be disqualified without refund.
11. Only completed films may be submitted. No rough cuts or works in-progress.
12. Filmmaker must own all rights to their film and music and/or have secured rights.
13. Inclusion in the festival does not insure a public screening; however, the festival collection will be made available on-line, in perpetuity. Honorable Mention awarded films are available for viewing on-line, and are only considered for public viewing upon request by a host venue or if appropriate for a specific theme-based curation.
14. TEFF does not provide comments, critiques or feedback regarding submitted films.

TEFF RULES & TERMS FOR US COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY FILMMAKER SUBMISSIONS:

1. Student filmmakers MUST upload their official college ID as part of the submission process. Go to MY PROJECTS > PROJECT FILE > then under FILES & ATTACHMENTS section along the right side of the page. UPLOAD A COPY OF YOUR STUDENT ID for verification to the 'Files & Attachments' section of your project.
2. We accept short films UNDER 10 MINUTES ONLY.
3. ENTRY FEES ARE NEVER WAIVED.
4. TEFF DOES NOT PAY RENTAL OR SCREENING FEES.
5. All applicants must complete the official festival submission form located on FilmFreeway (https://filmfreeway.com/ThomasEdisonFilmFestival). TEFF reserves the right to disqualify any film not submitted through FilmFreeway without refund of any application fees.
6. All applicants MUST include support materials in their FilmFreeway submission including:
• Downloadable link for pre-screening & jury
• Film Stills – hi and lo res for web and print
• Brief Film Description: (25-75 words)
• Filmmaker(s) Bio & Artist(s) Statement
• Contact information - Current email, mailing address & phone
• Trailer preferred
7. The applicant holds the sole responsibility of copyright clearance of any copyrighted material in the film. Films including unauthorized copyrighted material are ineligible.
8. Films not produced in English MUST be subtitled in English.
9. Multiple versions of the same film will not be considered.
10. If the submitted film does not play on FilmFreeway, TEFF will make an attempt to contact the applicant based on the information supplied. If a replacement is not available, the film will be disqualified without refund.
11. Only completed films may be submitted. No rough cuts or works in-progress.
12. Filmmaker must own all rights to their film and music and/or have secured rights.
13. Festival winners will have an in-person premiere at a NJ university separate from TEFF and be available to screen on the TEFF website and at additional venues by request.
14. TEFF does not provide comments, critiques or feedback regarding submitted films.
15. If a student filmmaker wants their submission to be considered for TEFF, they must submit separately to TEFF. Students may submit to both TEFF and TEFF's student category.

Overall Rating
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  • We had the privilege of participating in the Thomas Edison Film Festival in 2024, and it was a truly fantastic experience. Our short documentary, "13 Driver’s Licenses," was screened at multiple locations across the USA, and our team was fortunate to attend some of these screenings. The audience engagement was remarkable, with meaningful and thought-provoking dialogues at each event. The program organizers were absolutely brilliant, ensuring a smooth and enriching experience for filmmakers and attendees alike. I highly recommend everyone to attend their screenings or consider submitting films to this extraordinary festival.

    January 2025
  • Christopher Kulikowski

    I had the good pleasure and good fortune of being accepted into the Thomas Edison Film Festival. The staff and communication was terrific and the festival engaging. Thank you for an enjoyable run. :-)

    January 2023
  • Maureen Zent

    This is a super program and it was an honor to have my film in it.

    January 2023
  • Marcelo Lagreze

    It was a great joy and honor to be part of the Thomas Edison Film Festival with my short film "Utopia Of The Outraged". Congratulations for the great work you do, the great predisposition and excellent communication. Hopefully in the following opportunities I will have the opportunity to attend in person. Thanks. Regards.

    January 2023
  • It was a huge honor that our short film “The Black Sheep” got the Honorable Mention Award, this gave us great encouragement, thanks a lot.

    January 2023