Short Film Contest
CONTEST / 3-12 MINS
NJFAME is New Jersey's top student short film competition for middle and high schoolers. Students create original short films—both linear and non-linear—entirely on their cell phones, proving powerful storytelling can come from everyday tools. Each year, films revolve around a theme designed to enlighten, encourage, inspire, and empower, amplifying youth voices and fostering creativity.
THE
CONTEST
Welcome to the 2024–2025 NJFAME Statewide Student Film Competition!
Before you begin filming, your team must choose ONE of the following three storytelling challenges to enter. Each track is inspired by this year’s SEL-focused theme: “Stories That Shape Us.”
2025/26
COMPETITION CONCEPTS
Each team may only register for ONE of the following three contest categories:
1
“Behind the Smile”
Synopsis: A student who’s always seen as the class clown secretly struggles with overwhelming anxiety. Through a series of journal entries and encounters with friends and a counselor, the audience sees how humor masks emotion—and how self-reflection and support help the student find healthier ways to cope and express themselves.
2
“The Middle of the Argument”
Synopsis: When two best friends fall out over a group project, their misunderstanding spirals into a schoolwide conflict. Told from both perspectives, the film explores how miscommunication can fuel division—and how empathy and honest conversations can mend even the deepest rifts.
3
“The Promise List”
Synopsis: A student discovers an old list of promises they made to themselves at the beginning of the year. As they face choices that test their character—cheating on a test, peer pressure, quitting a team—the list becomes a guiding mirror for self-assessment and growth. The film ends with a new list, written with clarity and purpose.