06/09/2025
New Jersey Independent Film Festival Closes 2025 Edition, Announces Award Winners:
Saturday marked the closing night of the New Jersey Independent Film Festival. The festival, now in its fifth year, once again a brought a four-day showcase of independent cinema from around the world at Cranford and. Montclair. The festival also presented an online section, the OFF ON Selection, which remains available for streaming until 14 June (more info on the website: www.newjerseyfilmfestival.com).
Following the sudden collapse of the ceiling at the historic Cranford Theater, the New Jersey Independent Film Festival was forced to relocate this year’s edition to two alternate venues. In a show of solidarity and deep community commitment, the festival organized a special benefit night in support of the beloved local cinema. During the heartfelt evening, Doreen Sayegh of the Cranford Theater delivered an emotional speech, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support and reaffirming the theater’s vital role in the cultural fabric of the region. “The Cranford Theater isn’t just a place to watch films—it’s a place where people come together, where local stories are told, and where community thrives,” Sayegh said. She reflected on the theater’s rich history of hosting world premieres, filmmaker Q&As, student screenings, senior matinees, and even live concerts. “We’ve poured everything into maintaining this space—from upgrades to programming—to ensure it's a welcoming home for every audience member.” The ceiling collapse on April 30 left the theater shaken, but the response from the public was immediate and powerful. “Insurance only covers so much,” Sayegh noted, “but what can’t be written into a policy is the spirit of the people who reached out asking, ‘How can I help bring the Cranford Theater back?’” She praised the NJ Independent Film Festival for its unwavering support of emerging voices in cinema and its role in sustaining independent film culture. “With your support tonight, we’re not just restoring a ceiling—we’re lifting one.” The benefit night served not only as a fundraiser but as a reaffirmation of the essential relationship between independent filmmakers, audiences, and the local theaters that bring them together.
The New Jersey Independent Film Festival is pleased to share with you today the 2025 award winners. This year's official selection was carefully selected out of more than a thousand submissions from around the globe, with 28 films making it to the final selection. The jury members have chosen to award the following films:
Best Narrative Feature Film:
Moi-même (United States) by Mojo L Lorwin, Lee Breuer
Best Narrative Short Film:
A Mother Goes To The Beach (Portugal) by Pedro Hasrouny
Best Documentary Feature Film:
Middletown (United States) by Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Best Documentary Short Film:
The Other Side of Despair (Switzerland) by Varsy Buchmann
Best Animated Film:
The Core (Romania) by Robert Obert
Best Experimental Film:
Moi-même (United States) by Mojo L Lorwin, Lee Breuer
Best LGBTQ+ Film:
Brain Freeze (United States) by Kelsey Comeau
Best Super Short Film
Third Wheel (Switzerland) by Kevin Haefelin
Best Connecting Cultures Film
The Steak (Canada, Iran) by Kiarash Dadgar
Best Latin American Film
The Cascade (Mexico) by Pablo Delgado Sanchez
Best New Jersey Film:
Before Marriage (United States) by Matt Spade
Best Actor (m/f/x):
Oliver Krantz-Mikaelsen in Latchkey Kids (Norway) by Sindre Mangen Haram
Congratulations to all!
See you all next year!
