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Sussex County Community College and Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council present…
Selected award-winning shorts from the Thomas Edison Film Festival 2026 season and archive from China, England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, and the US.
Sussex County Community College
Student Center Theater
1 College Hill Road - Building D
Newton, NJ
Pricing:
| Sunday, October 25 3-4 PM: Screening Session One |
The Thomas Edison Film Festival (TEFF) is an international showcase celebrating innovation in filmmaking, inspired by the pioneering vision of Thomas Edison. Since its inception in 1981, TEFF has sought to honor Edison’s legacy by promoting creativity and artistry in the moving image, much like how Edison’s films revolutionized visual storytelling, and his phonograph changed the way people experienced sound. As an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival for animation and experimental shorts, and a Canadian Screen Award Qualifying Festival, TEFF is more than just a traditional destination event. It is a socially conscious, traveling showcase that connects diverse audiences to the compelling works of independent filmmakers worldwide. By focusing on underrepresented voices, TEFF provides a platform for accomplished and emerging artists who may lack access to live public exhibitions. The festival emphasizes artistic excellence and promotes empathy and engagement through films that both teach and entertain. TEFF celebrates a wide spectrum of genres, including narrative, experimental, animation, documentary, screen dance, and hybrids. The festival places particular focus on films with a commitment to the human experience such as the environment, LGBTQ+ rights, human and non-human rights, disability advocacy, and social justice. |
Take a look at the films on view!
Leaf Peeper – Experimental - 2026
3 min. by Vito A. Rowlands, NY, NY, USA
Autumn adventurers unite! "Leaf Peeper" takes you on a frantic frolic of fall foliage until your eyes pop out. Shot on Super 8 in single frames with pixilation, puppet stop motion, frenetic pans, and plenty of plaid, this very short film packs every second with as many picturesque and picaresque frames as possible, to capture the sublime bliss of a lovely day out and about.
The Good Farmer and the Failed Son – Documentary - 2026
13 min. by Ailill Martin, Ireland, UK
This story follows Jack, a drag queen, and his father Bryan, as they face an uncertain future for their farm and questions around Jack’s place in it. In the traditional world of farming, much is expected of Jack as the family’s only son. But up until this point he has been largely absent, leaving the day to day running of the farm to his father Bryan. As Jack becomes more involved in the farm he begins work on a series of drag performances, which present a unique view of farming and its ever-changing future.
Chasing Kites – Narrative - 2026
8 min. by Anna Neibert, Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
“Chasing Kites” is a film about loss. Two brothers share the pain of their mother’s death, but each of them deals with it in a very different way. As their flat turns into a sea of paper kites, the older brother faces the impossible challenge of being there for his younger brother without losing parts of himself.
Serious and Lively – Narrative - 2025
5 min. by Jieying Song, Shanxi, China
Evoking the “Prince and the Pauper” by Mark Twain, this delightful film contrasts the lives of two young Chinese boys. The masterful intercutting of the boys’ lives is comical, heartbreaking, and profound.
Swim Sistas – Documentary - 2026
11 min. by Catherine Joy White, Penshurst Place & Gardens, Kent, England, UK
“Swim Sistas” is a love letter to water, sisterhood, and the enduring strength of Black women across generations. Featuring the voice of Academy Award nominee Naomie Harris (Moonlight), the film flows across generations: from a young girl diving into joy, to Great Britain’s first and only Black female Olympic swimmer breaking historic barriers, to a woman learning to swim at 54, defying a legacy of inherited fear.
The Old Young Crow – Experimental - 2024
12 min. by Liam LoPinto, Japan, and NY, NY, USA
An Iranian boy befriends an old Japanese woman at a graveyard in Tokyo.
Tracing Imperfection – Documentary - 2024
8 min. by Chehade Boulos, Pompano Beach, FL, USA
As master conservator Naoko Fukumaru demonstrates “Kintsugi,” the Japanese art of repairing pottery using gold, she recalls how learning the practice has taught her to embrace her own imperfections as its mended her own life.
A is for Ant – Experimental - 2025
10 min. by Jack Davison, Hadstock, Essex, UK
“A is for Ant” is an immersive film by British photographer Jack Davison that explores the alphabet through a captivating blend of live action and animation. This charming and engaging film celebrates concepts of creativity, play, the natural world, beauty and silliness.
Jimmy, Becky, and the Portal to Hell – Animation - 2026
3 min. by John Schnall, Bloomfield, NJ, USA
It's another great day in Anywhere USA... until it isn't. This animation combines the worst of pre-programmed drag and drop app animation with full old-fashioned animation hand-drawn on paper to explore creativity in an age of artificial intelligence and shortcuts. Featuring special guest filmmaker, John Schnall
Funding of the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council has been made available in part by the NJ State Council on the Arts, a division of the NJ Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the State/County Partnership Block Grant Program, as administered by the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council. Additional funding has been made available in part by the New Jersey Historical Commission through the County History Partnership Program, as administered by the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council. Partial funding provided by the Sussex County Board of Commissioners.
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Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.