Student film entries are being sought for the category NJSBA sponsors each year in the Garden State Film Festival.
The “New Jersey Hometown Documentary Short” category is now open for films that are written, directed, and edited by New Jersey high school students.
Films must be five minutes or less in length and focus on some aspect of the student’s hometown. The film may feature the arts, culture, history or may be a profile of an interesting resident.
Nominated films will be screened at the Garden State Film Festival from March 26 through March 29, 2026, and the winning film’s school district will receive $500 to support the purchase of TV/film equipment for the district’s TV/film curriculum.
There is no entry fee for each submission and the deadline is January 7, 2026.
“These films make a great project that TV and film students can work on together either over the summer or once the new school year begins in September,” said Robin Kampf, digital media producer at the NJSBA.
Contact Robin at rkampf@njsba.org for more information.
Key details:
The deadline for entries is January 7, 2026. Enter at www.filmfreeway.com/Gardenstatefilmfestival
There is NO entry fee with a waiver code. Use this waiver code: NJHOMETOWNDOC2026
Good luck – and be creative!
