(NEWARK, NJ) -- The Newark Short Film Awards has been rebranded as the Short Film Festival, affirming the event’s commitment to showcasing high-quality and diverse short films worldwide. The 2023 Short Film Festival is this weekend, October 6-7, 2023.

Friday, October 6, features a filmmaking workshop from 3:00pm - 5:00pm and the Short Film Festival Opening Reception at 6:00pm at Express Newark, 54 Halsey Street, Newark.

Saturday, October 7, will include a full day of short film screenings beginning at noon and running until 6:00pm in the evening. The public is invited to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Jim Wise Theater to watch films, hear from filmmakers, and attend the Award Show following the screenings at no cost to attendees.

This year, creators submitted 56 films from the United States, Puerto Rico, and six countries, including China, the United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

“As a filmmaker myself, it’s incredible to see year after year the increasing caliber of films that we receive, which makes our job harder but more rewarding and fun,” said Rodney Reyez, Film Submission Coordinator.

As in the past, the Short Film Festival offers a unique opportunity for attendees to dive deeper into the art of short films and overall filmmaking. Participants will gather in Newark to network with industry professionals and attend career-enhancing workshops, panels, and filmmaking events.

“We are excited to support the up-and-coming filmmaker, and our event is committed to providing opportunities for filmmakers to display their films and network with their peers,” said Short Film Festival Founder Matthew Williams.

Filmmakers need support, collaboration, and an audience to appreciate their hard work. The Short Film Festival aims to provide this experience.

The Theatre Arts & Technology program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Express Newark are sponsors for the Short Film Festival.

For a full schedule of events and tickets about this year’s event, including film lineups, click here.

The Short Film Festival (formerly the Newark Short Film Awards) is New Jersey’s premier outlet for short-form storytelling. This event brings together a diverse group of filmmakers, multimedia artists, entertainment industry professionals, students, and more, representing the broad spectrum of the human experience.

I’m So Newark is a non-profit multimedia and news organization focusing on Newark and its surrounding communities. Its mission is to offset the negative press prevalent in mainstream media by promoting positive activities within the local community. I’m So Newark focuses on positive journalism, events, art, filmmaking, and local achievements.