In support of STEAM education and the “A”(Arts) in STEAM, NJSBA sponsors a student film category at the Garden State Film Festival, the NJSBA New Jersey Hometown Documentary Short. Close to 20 films were submitted by students from throughout the state.
The student films listed below have been nominated from our NJSBA category. The winning school district will be announced at a separate event during the 2026 Garden Sate Film Festival on March 24th at Brookdale College.
The winning school will receive $500 to support TV/film equipment for the district. Two “Honorable Mention” student films will receive a plaque from the NJSBA. The films will also be screened at NJSBA’s Workshop 2026 in Atlantic City.
Below are the nominees, which include the film’s name, school, county, student producer, and TV/Film Teacher.
BERGEN COUNTY
“The Only Place to Be”
(Ridgefield Park Jr./Sr. High School)
Student: Jordan Flynn, Director –
Teacher: Liam Connors –
“Peace4Paws”
(Westwood Regional High School)
Student: Aria Gill, Director –
Teacher: Joan Petrocelli –
“The American Dream”
(Mahwah High School)
Student: William Nixon, Director –
Teacher: Samantha Longo –
Teacher: David Jankowski –
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
“Cipot”
(North Brunswick Township High School)
Student: Prem Desai, Director –
Student: Angel Rodriguez Reyes, Director –
Teacher: Jason Swain –
“Bombers Beyond: The Happiest Place in Town”
(Sayreville War Memorial High School)
Student: Nicholas Taylor, Director –
Teacher: Kate Burns –
“Tray”
(East Brunswick Magnet School – School of the Arts)
Student: Traysten Korpi, Director –
Teacher: Louis Libitz –
HUDSON COUNTY
“Lincoln Theater”
(Kearny High School)
Student: Aurora Latona
Student: Jasmine Viera
Teacher: Ryan Miller –
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
“Legacy On The Lanes”
(Hammonton High School)
Student: Matthew Donio, Director –
Teacher: Gary Joseph –
ATLANTIC COUNTY
“Dunes Art Gallery: Painting The Shore”
(Chatertech High School For The Performing Arts)
Student: Kayn Lowe, Director –
Student: Marcus Anderson
Student: Javier Sanchez
Teacher: Jason Gates –
BURLINGTON COUNTY
“Crosswicks”
(Northern Burlington Regional High School)
Student: Summer Craft, Director –
Teacher: James Dowd –
PASSAIC COUNTY
“Rhythm of my Roots”
(Passaic County Technical Vocational Schools)
Student: Sheyla Hernando, Director –
Teacher: Marie Spiegeland –
“Dingbatz: From The Pit”
(Passaic County Technical Institute)
Student: Dylan Finkbeiner, Director –
Teacher: Jody Lazarski –
ESSEX COUNTY
“We Dream”
(Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology)
Student: Kimberly Higgs, Director –
Teacher: Anthony Perez –
