Sayreville School District’s student filmmaker Kate Burns received a standing ovation during the May 20, 2026, meeting of the Middlesex County School Boards Association after her award-winning film, Beyond Bombers Cafe: The Happiest Place in Town, was screened before school leaders, board members and New Jersey’s lieutenant governor Burns earned top honors in the student film category at the Garden State Film Festival, a program sponsored annually by the New Jersey School Boards Association to showcase and celebrate student filmmakers from across the state.
The screening served as a powerful example of how student filmmaking provides young people with opportunities to develop creativity, storytelling and technical production skills while sharing meaningful community stories.
Following the screening, attendees rose to their feet in recognition of Burns’ work and the impact of her film, which captures the spirit and community connection surrounding Bombers Cafe.
“Kate’s film is a remarkable example of the talent and creativity found in New Jersey’s schools,” said Dr. Tim Purnell, executive director/CEO at NJSBA.
The student film category, established through NJSBA’s partnership with the Garden State Film Festival, continues to encourage aspiring filmmakers and provide students with a professional platform to share their work with audiences across New Jersey.
School leaders attending the event praised the initiative as an important opportunity to elevate student achievement in the creative arts and strengthen support for filmmaking and digital media education programs statewide.
For more information about the student film category and future participation opportunities, contact RKampf@njsba.org.
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