LOCAL LANDMARKS: “AlieN Film” by Charles Rosenberg, part of the 2026 Princeton Student Film Festival, is among the entries to focus on familiar sights. But the festival is national and international in scope.

By Anne Levin

With 65 entries from aspiring young filmmakers, the Princeton Student Film Festival’s screening committee had a considerable task winnowing the list down to 10. The dramatic features, documentaries, and animated films came from as near as Princeton Day School and as far as animation schools in France.

The winning 10 will be screened on Wednesday, July 29, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room of Princeton Public Library, which is in its 23rd year of hosting the festival. Many of the filmmakers will be on hand to discuss their films at the event, which is intended for teen and adult viewers.

“What is so exciting about this year’s lineup is the appearance of so many local landmarks,” said Megan McCafferty, youth services library associate and co-chair of the event. “Several were shot on location in Princeton, New Brunswick, Trenton, and Lawrenceville, and it is just so much fun to see these familiar places on screen. From right outside the library to the train station, and various locations in New Brunswick, if you’re a local you will spot them right away.”

Among the most moving, said McCafferty, is Taking the Lead, a documentary about a young activist in Trenton testing lead in her community. Another focuses on a young person whose father was deported by ICE, and the devastating impact it had on his family.

“On the lighter side, we have AlieN Film by our youngest filmmaker, from Princeton Day School,” said MCafferty. “It’s about two aliens who are on a quest for the perfect slice of pizza, hitting up places all around Princeton and New Brunswick.”

The screening committee also chose 11 Honorable Mentions for this year’s festival. Those entries, along with the 10 films chosen for the screening, will be available for streaming online from July 30 through August 6.

This is McCafferty’s third year co-chairing the festival. “I think it was the most challenging yet for choosing a final lineup for the in-person screening,” she said. “The bar for technical and artistic excellence is high.”

Filmmakers ranged from high school students to those pursuing advanced degrees in filmmaking or animation. “We had a lot of entries from Cal Arts [California Institute of the Arts] this year,” said McCafferty. “And every year, we are fortunate enough to get these stunning entries from animation schools in France. They always blow us away. But Cal Arts is definitely giving them a run for their money. The films are all very different from each other, both on a technical and storytelling level. As always, we look for a balance between dramas, documentaries, animation, and films with darker and lighter tones. We showcase local talent, but it is truly a national and international affair, too.”

Visit princetonlibrary.org for more information.