The Competition component of the Fall 2026 New Jersey Film Festival has just concluded! Here below are the winners of the Festival. All the Official Selection works of the Fall 2026 New Jersey Film Festival were selected by a panel of judges including media professionals, journalists, students, and academics. These judges selected the 19 finalists which were publicly screened at our Festival. The finalists were selected from over 400 works submitted by filmmakers from around the world.
New Jersey Film Festival Fall 2026 Winners
Grand Prize Winners
Winner Best Documentary Film Imprinted – Martina Casas (New York, New York)
Winner Best Feature Film
Your Lips Never Left Mine – Matthew Kozlark (Ridgefield, Connecticut)
Winner Best Short Film
my own box – Filip Jacobson (Belgium)
Winner Best Experimental Film
Listen to the wind eight hundred times – Cherlyn Hsing-Hsin Liu (Valencia, California)
Winner Best Animated Film
Sunspark – Danny Bourque (Seattle, Washington)
Honorable Mention Winners
The Fright Stuff – Mike Meyer (Chicago, Illinois)
Clan of the Painted Lady – Jennifer Chiu (Vancouver, Canada)
Under The Skin – Andrea Otto Longhi (Genova, Italy)
The Flesh People - Keshav Srinivasan (Brooklyn, New York)
Festival Director’s Citations
Performances:
Your Lips Never Left Mine – Cassandra Due
The Flesh People – Louise Heller, Jorge Carrion Alvarez
Matched – Marisa Brau-Reyes
Love New York – Raleigh Cain
Direction:
Your Lips Never Left Mine – Matthew Kozlark
Imprinted – Martina Casas
Clan of the Painted Lady – Jennifer Chiu
The Flesh People - Keshav Srinivasan
Cinematography:
Your Lips Never Left Mine – Marcus Ricci
Clan of the Painted Lady – Antonia Ramirez
Imprinted – Stefan Morel
The Flesh People – Emmet Luciano
Love New York – Ambrose Eng
Editing:
Your Lips Never Left Mine – Felicia Ricci
Clan of the Painted Lady – Aynsley Baldwin
Imprinted – Esteban Aburto
The Flesh People – Tyler Jennings
Screenplay:
Your Lips Never Left Mine – Matthew Kozlark
Clan of the Painted Lady – Jennifer Chiu, Aynsley Baldwin
The Flesh People - Keshav Srinivasan
Production Design:
Your Lips Never Left Mine – Felicia Ricci
The Flesh People – Yulanda Yo-Rong Shieh
Sunspark – Danny Bourque
Music:
Imprinted – Ali Helnwein
Your Lips Never Left Mine – Felicia Ricci
Spheres – Martin Gerigk
The Flesh People – Vova Faust
Sponsors: The New Jersey Film Festival is funded and/or sponsored in part by The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center; The Rutgers University Program in Cinema Studies/School of Arts and Sciences; Middlesex County, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts - Funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund; Grant funding has also been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners - This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts; The Rutgers University Office of Summer and Winter Sessions; OVID/Icarus Films, The Rutgers University American Studies Department; Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program; The Rutgers University Zimmerli Art Museum; The Rutgers University Writer’s House; Pro 8mm; The Rutgers University Office of Disability Services, WRSU; New Jersey Stage; The Home News, The Asbury Park Press; New Brunswick City Center; The Rutgers University Office of Community Affairs; Design Ideas; Advanced Printing; Steven C. Schechter, Esq.; Share and Harris.
Blues-rock powerhouse Kenny Wayne Shepherd celebrates 30 years of his groundbreaking debut Ledbetter Heights with a milestone tour coming to State Theatre New Jersey. In this electrifying live experience, Shepherd and his band perform the landmark album in full, along with a second set of career-spanning favorites that showcase his signature blend of fiery guitar work, blues tradition, and rock energy.
Join the original "Brad Majors"—BARRY BOSTWICK—for a screening of the movie in a new 4k restoration with a live shadow cast and audience participation! Plus a memorabilia display with artifacts and an actual costume from the movie, a costume contest, an after party immersive experience, and more!
The 45th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place between September 4-October 4, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid as we will be presenting it online as well as doing select in-person screenings at Rutgers University. Almost all the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person shows when both are offered. This program is only available Online for 24 hours on this show date!
Fiesta with Flor is a vibrant, high-energy celebration of global music, culture, and community! Grammy® and Latin Grammy® nominee Flor Bromley invites audiences of all ages to sing, dance, move, and celebrate together through irresistible rhythms, joyful songs, and interactive storytelling. Inspired by the rich musical traditions of Latin America, the show creates a welcoming, dynamic experience where everyone is part of the fiesta.
Samara Joy has emerged as one of the most captivating new voices in jazz, bringing a fresh perspective to a beloved tradition. With a sound that feels both rooted in history and uniquely her own, she has quickly drawn the attention of audiences and critics alike. Experience the artistry, warmth, and unmistakable brilliance of a true rising icon—live and in person.
