THE BEST IN SHORT FILMS: “Bird Drone,” an animated short film by London-based filmmaker Radheya Jang, will be one of 22 films showcased at the 10th annual Nassau Film Festival, set to take place at AMC MarketFair on December 6, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Nassau Film Festival)

By Matt Hersh

In 2015, the Princeton Garden Theatre hosted a one-day movie festival event that showcased submissions by the makers of short films in categories ranging from fiction, documentary, animation, horror and student films. That event proved successful, and it morphed into two days and then four days. With nearly 400 film submissions this year, it was obvious that not only had the festival grown, but it had outgrown its original location.

That festival, the Nassau Film Festival (NFF), will hold its 10th annual event and will show 22 films this year at its bigger home, AMC MarketFair, on December 6 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

NFF Founder and Festival Director Lew Goldstein started the festival in 2015 after noticing a gap in the area for filmmakers who focused on short films and audiences who enjoy watching them.

“As the festival has grown, more filmmakers are realizing that this is a festival which is drawing serious attention in the film community,” said Goldstein. “We are seeing a growth each year in submissions and the festival-going audience has increased each year knowing that the films chosen to be screened by the judges are of high quality.”

NFF highlights independent short films from filmmakers representing countries on six continents. Additionally, films from the U.S. as well as regional and local filmmakers are highlighted. The works of selected new student filmmakers are also screened.

“We were recently rated as the  No. 1 comprehensive short film festival in New Jersey,” said Goldstein. “When I first started the festival, there was no market for short films in New Jersey, so I decided to keep it to under 20 minutes.”

The festival expanded from just local filmmakers to Goldstein receiving international submissions. “I think the quality of these films is going to make for our best year yet, so I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

A Place for Artists

What motivated Goldstein to organize a film festival was simply providing access to new or unknown filmmakers looking to get featured. “I got my share of acceptances and rejections, and I thought of all the filmmakers who put themselves out there and to give them an opportunity to have their films screened,” said Goldstein.

This became a central ethos to Goldstein as the festival grew and attracted submissions from all over the world. “We’re able to show local as well as worldwide filmmakers,” he said.

Goldstein, who screened his own St. Louis Cemetery Number One, about the storied graveyard of the same name, at the New Jersey Film Festival in 2017, said providing these opportunities for filmmakers is not only a way of paying it forward, but creating a venue in New Jersey that represents a growing interest in short films.

Screening for
a Cause

All proceeds, including those from donors and sponsors, go to a different nonprofit each year, Goldstein said, with this year’s proceeds going to the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots. Over the years, NFF has earmarked funds donated from patrons and sponsors to assist various nonprofit organizations.

The organizations that the NFF has donated to over the years include the American Cancer Society, Womanspace, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), and the Community Foodbank of New Jersey – a Feeding America affiliate, as well as Mercer Street Friends, the Lisa Goldstein Education Foundation, the Family Resource Network, and in 2024, Toys For Tots and the Salvation Army. Over $102,000 total has been donated by NFF over the years to these nonprofit organizations.

The success of the festival, Goldstein said, is a mix of the growing field of short filmmaking, growing interest from the public, and also a real love for the work on the big screen.

“I have a real love and affinity for these artists, and I truly enjoy their creativity,” he said. “I’m really pleased to share these talented filmmakers and their films with the community.”

Admission tickets are on sale at nassaufilmfestival.org.