Editor’s note: The following article by NJSBA’s Digital Media Specialist Robin Kampf explains why the Association is proud to sponsor a category for student filmmakers in the Garden State Film Festival.
You may have seen the New Jersey School Boards Association sponsoring a category in the Garden State Film Festival and wondered … “Why the involvement in filmmaking?” Since the NJSBA introduced the sponsored category in the film festival seven years ago, more than 20 school districts have participated. Winning schools have been from Gloucester, Morris, Middlesex, Essex and Atlantic counties.
By incorporating filmmaking into New Jersey’s curriculum, schools inspire creativity, foster technical skills, and prepare students for a wide range of filmmaking that is more than an art form — it is a multidisciplinary practice that aligns perfectly with the goals of STEAM education careers. The power of storytelling and visual communication are essential tools for the next generation of innovators and artists.
The NJSBA is proud to support student filmmaking as a vital component of creative arts education. Recognizing the immense value of storytelling, collaboration and technical skill development, the Association has partnered with our state’s largest film festival, The Garden State Film Festival, and the New Jersey Motion Picture and Film Commission to establish a dedicated student film entry category within the festival.
Students from throughout New Jersey are invited to participate by submitting a short, (five minutes or less) documentary featuring an aspect, or a person, from their hometown. Students may work as a team, or individually, with their school district, either as a summer project, or as a project in the fall. Deadline for student film entries is January 8, 2026 for the next festival.
For more information about how to submit entries, please contact Rkampf@njsba.org.
This initiative underscores NJSBA’s belief in the transformative power of filmmaking to inspire creativity, amplify student voices and provide a platform for young artists to showcase their talents. By fostering opportunities in filmmaking, we aim to encourage students to explore their creative potential and prepare them for success in an increasingly visual and media-driven world.
Sponsoring a category in the film festival also complements the Association’s efforts to promote STEAM education through its popular STEAM Tank Challenge, while shining a spotlight on the A – the Arts – in STEAM.
The Role of Filmmaking in STEAM Education
The “A” in STEAM emphasizes the arts as a vital component of education.
Filmmaking embodies this by combining storytelling, visual composition, and emotional expression. It teaches students to communicate ideas effectively while engaging their imaginations.
Modern filmmaking relies heavily on advanced technology, from cameras and editing software to CGI and sound engineering. Students learn to navigate these tools, fostering technical proficiency that can translate to other fields, such as computer science or engineering. Mathematics plays a hidden but essential role in filmmaking. From understanding aspect ratios and camera angles to budgeting and scheduling, math helps bring creative visions to life.
Filmmaking is inherently collaborative, requiring teamwork among writers, directors, editors, and crew members. Students develop critical problem-solving and interpersonal skills as they work together to overcome challenges and achieve a shared vision. Filmmaking provides a platform for students to share their perspectives and stories. It can be especially impactful in diverse communities, helping students find their voice and empowering them to advocate for social change.
As a creative discipline, filmmaking encourages students to think outside the box and experiment with new ideas. This mindset is essential for innovation, not just in the arts but across all STEAM fields.
Personal experience
I have seen all this firsthand as an award-winning film director/producer who has served on the board of directors for the Garden State Film Festival for several years.
As a digital media producer at the NJSBA, I am acutely aware of how STEAM education plays a critical role in fostering well-rounded, innovative thinkers. Filmmaking, as an art form, fits beautifully within the STEAM framework and offers opportunities for students to develop creative, technical, and collaborative skills.
Moreover, as a filmmaker, former adjunct and specialist professor in TV and film for Monmouth, Montclair and Seton Hall universities as well as Union County and Brookdale community colleges, I am excited to see future generations of students have access to so many local opportunities by participating in an NJSBA-led initiative.
When I joined NJSBA, I saw that sponsoring a student category at the festival aligned with the Association’s mission to advance student achievement. With the enthusiastic support of our staff and officers, the NJSBA began our partnership with the film festival and the motion picture and film commission.
We work together to offer students a chance to have their work exhibited on a worldwide platform. NJSBA’s enthusiastic support for the program grows out of its commitment to promote arts education.
“We are incredibly proud of our partnership with the New Jersey School Boards Association,” said Lauren Concar Sheehy, executive director of the Garden State Film Festival. “We’ve worked together to create a unique opportunity for students to not only showcase their talents but also gain recognition for their hard work. This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting the next generation of filmmakers.”
Highlighting New Jersey’s People and Communities
The NJSBA-sponsored student film category is called, “New Jersey Hometown Documentary Short.”
The films must be in documentary format, are five minutes or less, and focus on some aspect of the student’s hometown, which could include a profile of an interesting person, place, period of time, event or subject related to the arts.
Accepted entries are screened at the annual Garden State Film Festival each spring in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The winning film in the NJSBA category is awarded a $500 donation to the respective school district by the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey, which assists the Association in fulfilling its mission to advance public education by securing resources to support school board professional development. Funds go toward purchasing TV/film equipment. Runners-up receive a certificate.
Student Film Showcase at Workshop in Atlantic City
Each fall, the NJSBA screens “the Best of the Fest” New Jersey student films that were submitted in the previous year’s festival. The showcase is set up in true movie theater style with a big screen, popcorn machine and red carpet. Students and TV/film teachers represented are invited to attend the showcase.
New Jersey’s film industry is booming, which is great news for student TV producers and filmmakers! There are more new production houses and active productions taking place now than ever before. At the top of the list is the multi-million-dollar contract that Netflix has signed with the state to build the largest TV and film production studio on the East Coast.
Additionally, New Jersey’s policy of offering tax incentives for production companies that shoot in the state has brought new business and work opportunities for students looking for internships and jobs. By incorporating filmmaking into the curriculum, students can prepare for careers in this burgeoning field, from directing to editing and beyond, without even leaving their community.
NJSBA believes the time is ripe to collaborate with New Jersey’s growing film industry to help open the door to internships, field trips and guest lectures – and we are proud to play a role in igniting a passion to get involved in the arts. By forging connections with fellow student filmmakers and others in the film profession at an early age, students establish a foundation to flourish in the field.
Encourage your district’s students and teachers to contact Robin Kampf, NJSBA’s digital media producer, to get a summer project underway about your hometown. Contact Robin at rkampf@njsba.org.
