Experience the Magic: Top New Jersey Film Festivals to Attend

Annual West Orange Classic Film Festival
Running from January 12 through March 2, 2025
AMC Dine - In Theatre in Essex Green Shopping Center
Prospect Avenue
West Orange, NJ
Cost: $15
The West Orange Classic Film Festival offers cinema enthusiasts the unique opportunity to enjoy beloved classic films as they were originally intended—on the big screen. Held every Sunday at 2:00 PM (excluding Super Bowl Sunday) at the AMC DINE-IN Theater in the Essex Green Town Center (495 Prospect Ave, West Orange, NJ), each screening features a captivating introduction and an engaging Q&A session led by distinguished guest speakers. These experts include screenwriters, producers, authors, film critics, and educators, providing insights that elevate the viewing experience. Film lovers can also participate in raffles for exciting movie-themed prizes. With tickets priced at just $15, this event combines the magic of timeless cinema with an interactive film class, all for the cost of a regular movie ticket. Don't miss this rare chance to relive cinematic history in a fun and educational setting!

New Jersey Film Festival Spring 2025
January 24 - February 23, 2025
Rutgers University
Voorhees Hall #105
71 Hamilton Street
New Brunswick, NJ
The Festival will be a hybrid one presenting it both online as well as doing select in-person screenings at Rutgers University.
Each ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person screenings.
Tickets: $15=Per Program; In-Person Show Student Tickets=$10 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$120.

Thomas Edison Film Festival
Saturday, February 1, 2025: 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Mahwah Public Library
100 Ridge Rd
Mahwah, NJ
Their mission is to bring extraordinary films made for passion's sake, not for profit, to audiences all around the world. This event will showcase three award-winning documentary films, including Andrew Nadkarni's Academy-Award Short List 2024 + TEFF Global Insights Stellar Award winner Between Earth and Sky, Brian Henderson's TEFF Jury's Citation Award winner Note of Defiance, and Ryoya Terao's TEFF Jury's Choice Award winner 13 Drivers' Licenses. All three of the films' creators will make an appearance for a Q+A after the screenings. While this event is free, registration is required.

New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival
March 1st, 2nd, 2025
NJ Expo Center
97 Sunfield Ave.
Edison, NJ
This event features amazing Horror films in the indie scene and also an opportunity to mingle with big names in horror. Horror fans can also participate in Q&A sessions, see the amazing vendors from around the Horror scene and watch the best indie films around. The event will include over 20 well known celebrities, many Indie Horror films, Film Awards, Exclusive Q and A panels, 100 + vendors, Cosplay, Trivia Contest, Photo Ops and more!

Annual New Jersey Jewish Film Festival
March 20 - April 6, 2025
New Jersey Jewish Film Festival
760 Northfield Ave
West Orange, NJ
The New Jersey Jewish Film Festival presents a wide range of exceptional films of Jewish interest (i.e., films with Jewish themes or content and/or films made by Jewish and Israeli filmmakers).

Annual Garden State Film Festival
March 27 - 30, 2025
Multiple venues In
Asbury Park, Cranford, and Ocean Grove, NJ
The artistic philosophy of the Garden State Film Festival is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and the creation of a forum where local and other independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. In addition, our event provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in a career in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals in an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and mentoring. Past attendees include Glenn Close, Paul Sorvino, Budd Schulberg, Kurtwood Smith, James Gandolfini, Celeste Holm and Clarence Clemons.

Annual Princeton Environmental Film Festival
April 4-13, 2025
Princeton Public Library
Princeton, NJ
The mission is to share exceptional documentary films and engage our community in exploring environmental sustainability from a wide range of angles and perspectives. Most of our screenings are accompanied by a Q&A with film directors and producers, as well as other talks by invited speakers who visit for the festival or live here in our local community.
Submission deadline is January 17, 2025.

Lighthouse International Film Festival
June 4 -8, 2025
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences
120 Long Beach Blvd
The festival is a spectacular showcase of films handpicked from the top film festivals worldwide, including Sundance, SXSW, TIFF and more. ​ As the festival approaches, the excitement is palpable. Filmmakers and movie buffs from around the globe join us on our 18 miles of Jersey Shore paradise to immerse themselves in a world of cinematic artistry, entertainment and stimulating conversation. ​ Choose from an All Access Pass for entry to any film or party, a Films Only Pass for all film screenings, or individual tickets for less commitment.

Annual The Golden Door International Film Festival
June 26-28, 2025
Nimbus Arts Center
329 Warren Street
Jersey City, NJ
This three-day film festival holds the opportunity for filmmakers, actors, and crew to network with colleagues and share their work with the public in the heart of the indie filmmaking landscape. Supported and attended by top industry influencers, distributors, celebrities. In addition, GDIFF has also become one of the most important outlets for raising awareness for Autism and other disabilities through its innovative special needs panels and film platform.

The Newark Black Film Festival
July 16 - 20, 2025
Newark Museum
49 Washington Street
Newark, NJ
The Newark Black Film Festival (NBFF)is one of the nation's defining voices on behalf of independent film. The festival is a showcase for films that focus on the experiences and concerns of contemporary African Americans, as well as an outlet for films about the African-American experience from earlier eras. Each film selection encompasses a wide range of cinematic forms and formulas, from documentary to the avant-garde.
The festival provides emerging filmmakers, writers, directors and producers with a high profile outlet for their work. In 2024, thwy will continue this legacy with exclusive screenings of films from the last three years, live in-person panel discussions with filmmakers, and throwback screenings of classics.

 FilmOneFest
Saturday, July 19th, 2025: 5pm until 11pm (rain date July 21st)
Atlantic Highlands Marina
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Cost: Free
FilmOneFest takes place in a beautiful outdoor setting with the majestic Manhattan skyline as the backdrop. FilmOneFest (a production of the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council) is the Jersey Shore's preeminent showcase for all forms of short films under two minutes in length. FilmOneFest also promotes local and international filmmaking through the use of new media and technology, educational activities and screenings, and supports its local food bank. The Atlantic Highlands Arts Council is comprised of a team of dedicated volunteers who include professional artists, educators, business leaders and community organizers. There will be Artist Vendors, Food Trucks, Live Music, 50/50 Raffle, and more

Northeast Film Festival - Horror Fest
December 6, 2025
The Teaneck Cinemas
503 Cedar Ln.
Teaneck, NJ
The Northeast Film Festival Horror Fest showcases top independent films from celebrated filmmakers, as well as new talent. The diverse array of films, selected by a committee, includes features and shorts from the horror and thriller genres.