New Jersey Independent Film Festival Announces 2026 Award Winners Following Four Days of Independent Cinema in Cranford

CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY — The 2026 edition of the New Jersey Independent Film Festival concluded on June 13 after four days of screenings at the historic Cranford Theater, bringing together filmmakers and audiences for a celebration of independent storytelling from around the world.

Running from June 10 through June 13, the festival presented a curated selection of 19 films spanning a wide range of formats and genres, including narrative features, short films, documentaries, experimental cinema, animation, and music videos. The program highlighted both emerging and established voices, offering audiences an opportunity to discover bold and distinctive works that challenge conventions and explore new creative territories.

"The strength of independent cinema lies in its diversity," said festival curator Kris De Meester. "This year's program demonstrated the remarkable range of stories, perspectives, and artistic approaches being explored by filmmakers today. We are grateful to all participating filmmakers and to the audiences who joined us throughout the festival."

The festival is pleased to announce its 2026 award winners:

Best Narrative Feature Film:

The Insides of our Lives (Netherlands) by Misja Pekel

Best Narrative Short Film:

Scenario (Japan) by Kazunori Miura

Best Documentary Feature Film:

My Sunnyside (United States) by Matylda Kawka

Best Documentary Short Film:

To the embers (France) by Morgane Ambre

Best Animated Film:

God Dam (United States) by Abigail Hill

Best Experimental Film:

Becoming (United Kingdom) by Shelley Hopkins

Best Super Short Film:

Equinox (United States) by Cris Hunter Skulmoski

Best New Jersey Film:

Nuclear Daydreams (United States) by Alex Swetlitschnyj, Lorenzo Graziano

Best Actor (m/f/x):

Sophie Verbeeck in An excess baggage (France) by Myriam Garcia Marienstras

Audience Choice Award:

The End in Slow Motion (United States) by Joshua Kaufman

While the in-person screenings have concluded, the festival experience continues online. A selection of films from the official program remains available through the festival's streaming platform until July 9, allowing audiences who were unable to attend the screenings in Cranford to discover some of this year's standout selections from the comfort of their homes.

The New Jersey Independent Film Festival remains committed to showcasing innovative and independent voices from across the globe while fostering meaningful connections between filmmakers and audiences.

For more information about the festival, streaming program, and submission opportunities, visit the festival website.

https://www.newjerseyfilmfestival.com

About the New Jersey Independent Film Festival

The New Jersey Independent Film Festival is an annual celebration of independent cinema dedicated to presenting outstanding films from around the world. Through theatrical screenings and online programming, the festival provides a platform for emerging and established filmmakers working across narrative, documentary, experimental, animated, and hybrid forms of filmmaking.

Official Selection / winner of The Tarkovski Grant

Becoming (United Kingdom) by Shelley Hopkins

Franck (France) by Fabio Caldironi

An excess baggage (France) by Myriam Garcia Marienstras

Measurements (Italy) by Marta Capossela

God Dam (United States) by Abigail Hill

Scenario (Japan) by Kazunori Miura

Scarred (Canada) by Zeddy Chevron

Dead tooth (France) by Romane Eilahtan

Hooked (United Kingdom) by Glen Fulthorpe

Supercritical (United States) by John Osment

Equinox (United States) by Cris Hunter Skulmoski

To the embers (France) by Morgane Ambre

Super V (France) by Franck Janin

My Sunnyside (United States) by Matylda Kawka

Greetings from Seaside Heights (Germany) by Klara Schmickler

Nuclear Daydreams (United States) by Alex Swetlitschnyj, Lorenzo Graziano

The Insides of our Lives (Netherlands) by Misja Pekel

The End in Slow Motion (United States) by Joshua Kaufman

The Last Day (Italy) by Michael Fantauzzi

The Run Towards (Belarus) by Pavel Ausiyevich

Dragonfly (China) by Siyang Liu

Home (Belgium) by Hanne Schillemans, Ralph Timmermans

Release (Hungary) by Zoltan Gergely Szabo

Hairy Dreams (Canada) by Lina Cruz