The Barrymore Film Center will host the fourth annual Barrymore Short Film Festival from Nov. 13 to 14, bringing together independent filmmakers, industry veterans, and regional cinephiles for a two-day celebration of short-form storytelling.
Set in historic Fort Lee—widely recognized as a birthplace of the American motion picture industry—the festival will showcase a diverse lineup of narrative, documentary, animated, student, and New Jersey-made films. In addition to screenings, the schedule features filmmaker Q&As, career-focused panels, and networking events designed to connect emerging directors and crews with industry leadership.
A headline feature of this year’s festival is the NYU Tisch Emerging Filmmaker Premiere of Norheimsund (2025), written and directed by Cuban filmmaker Ana A. Alpizar. The acclaimed short has screened at major global festivals—including Venice, Sundance, and Clermont-Ferrand—and recently earned the 2026 Sony Future Filmmaker Student Award.
Nurturing New Jersey’s Cinematic Ecosystem
Industry leaders emphasize that short films serve as a critical incubator for the garden state’s expanding film and television infrastructure.
“The Barrymore Short Film Festival is another example of how New Jersey continues to nurture its film community. Short films are where new voices find their footing, where crews build credits, and where filmmakers prove what they can do with a camera and a great story,” David Schoner, Senior Advisor to the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, said.
Schoner, who also serves on the Barrymore Film Center’s Board of Trustees, noted the direct link between festival platforms and state economic production:
“After 41 years in this business, I’ve seen that a thriving film industry is built one project, one screening, and one relationship at a time. Festivals like this connect creators with audiences, with each other, and with the opportunities that keep production, and the jobs that come with it, in New Jersey.”
The two-day event will bring together a broad roster of producers, directors, executives, and actors to lead discussions on career development and distribution, including:
- Tracey Baker-Simmons, Producer
- Marc Perez, Emmy Award-winning Director and Producer
- Bobby Yan, Emmy-winning Filmmaker
- Nicole L. Thompson and Yvonne M. Shirley, Filmmakers
- Will Sterling, Actor and Director
- Vance Lovett, Producer
- Carylanna Taylor, Film Sales Executive
- David Schoner, Film Commission Senior Advisor
The festival offers local audiences a first look at emerging indie projects while providing regional film students and early-career crew members a direct venue to build industry connections in Northern New Jersey.
