Monmouth Film Festival

Monmouth Film Festival May 29-31, 2026 @ Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ!

A prestigious celebration of storytelling and cinematic excellence bringing together industry professionals, visionary filmmakers, and passionate audiences for an elevated cinematic experience.

Celebrating our Special Award Recipients at the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival!!These awards recognize filmmakers and films...
06/02/2026

Celebrating our Special Award Recipients at the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival!!

These awards recognize filmmakers and films that embody creativity, innovation, artistic vision, and the spirit of independent storytelling.

🏆 Innovation Award — Split!
🏆 Kevin Smith Director Award — You Know What You Are (Director: Rose Trimboli)
🏆 Visionary Spirit Award — Union County

Congratulations to these outstanding filmmakers for their remarkable achievements. Your passion, originality, and dedication to the craft of filmmaking continue to inspire audiences and fellow creators alike.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival Jury Awards!These films and filmmakers distinguishe...
06/02/2026

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival Jury Awards!

These films and filmmakers distinguished themselves through exceptional storytelling, creativity, craftsmanship, and artistic vision. We are proud to recognize the outstanding work that left a lasting impression on our jurors.

🏆 Best Narrative Feature — Power Ballad
🏆 Best Narrative Short — Message to Jacob
🏆 Best Documentary Feature — All of the Above
🏆 Best Documentary Short — Greetings From Seaside Heights
🏆 Best Student Film — Fjallferð
🏆 Best New Jersey Film — Untouchables
🏆 Best Animated Film — There's a Robbery in Progress
🏆 Best International Film — Happy Birthday
🏆 Best Screenplay — Like Angels with Burning Wings

Congratulations to all of this year's winners, and thank you to every filmmaker who helped make the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival such an incredible showcase of independent film.

Check out the winners of the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival Audience Awards!These awards hold a special place in our festiv...
06/02/2026

Check out the winners of the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival Audience Awards!

These awards hold a special place in our festival because they come directly from the people who experienced the films throughout the weekend. Congratulations to the filmmakers whose work resonated most deeply with our audiences and earned their votes.

🎟️ Audience Award – Short Film — VIENNA: Suddenly An Angel
🎟️ Audience Award – TV Pilot — Can't Quit Moving
🎟️ Audience Award – Feature Film — Untouchables
🎟️ Audience Award – Student Film — Wildcat
🎟️ Audience Award – Animated Film — Not A Hero by Accident

To every filmmaker who shared their work with us this year, thank you for trusting us with your stories. Every film in this year's lineup helped make MFF 2026 a memorable celebration of independent cinema.

OPENING NIGHT JUST HIT A HIGHER NOTE! The 2026 Monmouth Film Festival (MFF) is excited to announce a special Opening Nig...
05/28/2026

OPENING NIGHT JUST HIT A HIGHER NOTE!

The 2026 Monmouth Film Festival (MFF) is excited to announce a special Opening Night presentation update for Power Ballad, starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas!

In collaboration with Lionsgate and Cinemark Theatres (Hazlet, NJ), this highly anticipated film will now receive an exclusive theatrical screening presentation at Cinemark Hazlet 12 on Friday, May 29, at 9:00 PM. (Previously scheduled for 8 PM @ Bell Theater/Bell Works).

Your existing MFF Tickets & Passes for Power Ballad are all you need to attend the screening. Simply stop by the MFF check-in booth at the Cinemark 12 in Hazlet, NJ, beginning at 8:15 PM on Friday, May 29, to check in for the event. The MFF booth will be located in the Cinemark lobby beside our exclusive MFF Red Carpet backdrop, the perfect spot to kick off your screening experience!

Day #1 of MFF 2026 kicks off at Bell Theater (Bell Works) with the NJ Premiere of the acclaimed international feature film from Egypt, Happy Birthday, at 1:00 PM, followed by the NJ Premiere of the feature documentary All of the Above + Q&A at 3:00 PM. Make sure to stick around for “Shorts Block A” at 5:00 PM, our first curated shorts presentation of the weekend, leading right into the official Opening Night festivities at Bell Works in Holmdel with our Red Carpet and Mixer Event from 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM, setting the stage for an unforgettable start to MFF 2026. From there, audiences will head just minutes away to continue the evening with this exciting big-screen cinematic event!

This special presentation expands the Opening Night experience beyond Bell Works, bringing both the MFF and local community together for an even bigger shared experience of Power Ballad alongside fellow film lovers, filmmakers, artists, and special guests.

The excitement doesn’t stop there. All screenings, panels, workshops, parties, and festival events throughout the weekend will continue at Bell Works as planned from Friday, May 29, through Sunday, May 31!

Tickets, Passes & Full Festival Guide:
www.monmouthfilm.org/guide See less

The Monmouth Film Festival is proud to welcome special guest Eric Eremita, known for his work on HGTV’s Love It or List ...
05/28/2026

The Monmouth Film Festival is proud to welcome special guest Eric Eremita, known for his work on HGTV’s Love It or List It, Brother vs. Brother, and Hulu’s Designed to Last.

A familiar face to home renovation and design fans, Eric brings his energy, personality, and television experience to the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival for a special red carpet appearance!

🎬 MEET & GREET
📍 Atrium Red Carpet at Bell Works
🗓 May 29, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM

Join us for photos, autographs, and a chance to meet Eric Eremita live at Bell Works during the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival!

Register FREE at: http://monmouthfilm.org/ericeremita

The Monmouth Film Festival is proud to welcome special guest Robert Funaro, best known for his role as Eugene Pontecorvo...
05/28/2026

The Monmouth Film Festival is proud to welcome special guest Robert Funaro, best known for his role as Eugene Pontecorvo from HBO’s legendary series The Sopranos.

Fans will remember Funaro from the unforgettable Season 6 episode “Members Only,” one of the most talked-about chapters in the show’s history. His powerful performance helped cement Eugene Pontecorvo as one of the series’ most memorable characters.

🎬 MEET & GREET
📍 Atrium Red Carpet at Bell Works
🗓 May 29, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM

Join us for photos, autographs, and a chance to meet one of The Sopranos’ standout cast members live at the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival!

http://monmouthfilm.org/robertfunaro

📺 From Pitch to Platform: Selling and Developing Content for NetworksWhat does it take to turn an idea into a project th...
05/27/2026

📺 From Pitch to Platform: Selling and Developing Content for Networks

What does it take to turn an idea into a project that networks and streamers want to buy? From Pitch to Platform: Selling and Developing Content for Networks offers a behind-the-scenes look at how original content is developed, packaged, pitched, and brought to market in today’s evolving media landscape.

This session explores the full journey of content creation, from shaping compelling concepts and building effective pitch materials to navigating networks, streamers, legal considerations, and production partnerships. Attendees will gain valuable insight into what buyers are looking for, how projects are positioned for success, and the realities of getting content in front of decision-makers.

Featuring:

• Christopher Adams (VP, Nickelodeon Standards & Practices)
• Randi Davis (Black & Blue Entertainment / NYU Tisch School of the Arts)
• Alex Aldea (Entertainment Attorney / Producer)

🎤 Moderator: Sean Dowd

Perfect for creators, producers, filmmakers, writers, and storytellers looking to develop and sell projects for television, streaming, and emerging platforms.

📅 Sunday, May 31, 2026
🕓 4:00 PM EDT
📍 Thesis Room @ Bell Works

Located on the lower level of Bell Works, just steps from the Bell Theater. Make your way to the center of the Metroburb and head downstairs to the Conference Center.

🎥 Making the Film: A Director’s PerspectiveWhat does it take to bring a film to life from behind the camera? In this fea...
05/27/2026

🎥 Making the Film: A Director’s Perspective

What does it take to bring a film to life from behind the camera? In this featured panel, New Jersey–born filmmaker Kevin McMullin offers an inside look at the director’s role in shaping a project from script to screen.

Drawing from his experience directing national commercials and the A24 feature Low Tide, McMullin will discuss his approach to storytelling, collaborating with cast and crew, and navigating the realities of production. Attendees will gain insight into the creative and practical decisions that shape a film at every stage,
from development and directing performances to managing production challenges and building a career in today’s industry.

McMullin’s credits include writing projects for Amazon and Sony, landing a screenplay on the Black List (First Harvest), and developing projects for Netflix, Apple, and 20th Century Studios.

Featuring:

• Kevin McMullin (Writer / Director – Low Tide, A24)

🎤 Moderator: Chris Adornato (Solari Creative / Monmouth Film Institute)

Perfect for filmmakers, directors, writers, students, and creatives interested in the craft of directing and translating vision into a finished film.

📅 Sunday, May 31, 2026
🕝 2:45 PM EDT
📍 Thesis Room @ BBell Works
Located on the lower level of Bell Works, just steps from the Bell Theater. Make your way to the center of the Metroburb and head downstairs to the Conference Center.

✍️ Inside the Screenwriting ProcessEvery great film starts with a great script. Inside the Screenwriting Process offers ...
05/27/2026

✍️ Inside the Screenwriting Process

Every great film starts with a great script. Inside the Screenwriting Process offers an in-depth look at the craft of writing for the screen, from the spark of an initial idea to the development of a polished, production-ready screenplay.

This workshop explores the essential elements of screenwriting, including story structure, character development, dialogue, pacing, and rewriting. Led by industry professionals, attendees will gain practical tools and insight into how successful scripts evolve through the creative process and what makes a screenplay truly compelling.

Featuring:

- Randall Dottin (Chair of Film Arts, New York Film Academy) - Lizzie Finn (Screenwriter / Story Coach)
- Stephen Gardell (Law Enforcement Technical Consultant)

🎤 Moderator: Stephen Gardell

Perfect for writers, filmmakers, students, and creatives looking to strengthen their storytelling skills and bring their ideas to life on the page.

📅 Sunday, May 31, 2026
🕜 1:30 PM EDT
📍 Thesis Room @ Bell Works
Located on the lower level of Bell Works, just steps from the Bell Theater. Make your way to the center of the Metroburb and head downstairs to the Conference Center.

✍️ NY Film Academy – The Art of the StoryGreat filmmaking begins with great storytelling. NY Film Academy – The Art of t...
05/27/2026

✍️ NY Film Academy – The Art of the Story

Great filmmaking begins with great storytelling. NY Film Academy – The Art of the Story explores the essential foundations of compelling narratives across film and media, from story structure and character development to the emotional beats that keep audiences invested from beginning to end.

Led by filmmaker and educator Randall Dottin, this engaging session offers insight into the creative process behind building impactful stories and bringing ideas to life on screen. Attendees will learn practical storytelling techniques used across film, television, and emerging media while gaining a deeper understanding of how narrative drives emotional connection.

Featuring:

• Randall Dottin (Chair of Film Arts, New York Film Academy)
Randall Dottin is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been recognized by HBO, Fox Searchlight, Tribeca Film Festival, Sundance Institute, and the American Black Film Festival. His projects include A-ALIKE, LIFTED, FEVAH, and the animated pilot MINE.

Perfect for writers, filmmakers, students, content creators, and storytellers looking to strengthen their craft and bring meaningful stories to the screen.

📅 Sunday, May 31, 2026
🕧 12:15 PM EDT

📍 Thesis Room @ Bell Works
Located on the lower level of Bell Works, steps from the Bell Theater. Make your way to the center of the Metroburb and head downstairs to the Conference Center.

Address

101 Crawfords Corner Road
Holmdel, NJ
07733

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