|
 |
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 FINAL SCHEDULE: 3-4:15 PM: Screening Session One |
Parking and Check-In
You can check in at the door of the Student Center Theater with your name if you bought your ticket in advance-no need for tickets or QR codes! Tickets purchased at the door may be paid for with cash or Tap to Pay. Parking for this event will be in lot 1 near the A Building (Health and Sciences Performing Arts Center) of the Sussex County Community College. The showing for the Film Festival will be in Building D (The Student Center). If you have any questions, please contact SCAHC at 973-383-0027 or email us at scahc@scahc.org during our office hours, Tue.-Fri. from 10 AM-4 PM. |
Take a look at the films on view!
Session One Films |
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.
Don't miss the Q&A session with John Schnall!
John Schnall is an animator who has been making films for over 40 years, and even hosted a regularly broadcast radio show on WFMU. His work also incudes animated segments for Sesame Street in 1990 and 1993. One example has a man demonstrating surprise when he pulls a cow out of his hat (instead of the expected rabbit). He has a wonderful & absurdist sense of humor that never disappoints.
“I still draw on paper, then I scan and trace bitmaps into Animate, then finish it from there. I've developed a really streamlined way of doing this so that a minute-long video might have seven pieces of paper in it, but with 10 characters all carefully worked out.” Schnall has also continued to consult on animated series for Sesame Workshop. Currently, Quality Schnallity is a one-man operation. From commercials and music videos to web projects and app breakdowns, animation studio Quality Schnallity Inc. has built its experimental empire on taking a product’s message and unpacking it “in a way that’s not boring.” - John Schnall.
Session Two Films
The Ballad of Holland Island House – Animation - 2015 4 min. by Lynn Tomlinson, Owings Mills, MD, USA “The Ballad of Holland Island House” tells the true story of the last house on a sinking island in the Chesapeake Bay, brought to life through fluidly transforming animated clay-on-glass paintings. The house sings of its life and the creatures it has sheltered and contemplates time and environmental change. Told from the house's point of view, this film is a soulful and haunting view of the impact of sea-level rise.
250km – Narrative - 2024 22 min. by Hasmik Movsisyan, Yeravan, Armenia When a war suddenly breaks out, a 14-year-old boy finds himself faced with a decision that could save his family. With no time to think, he embarks on a treacherous 250-kilometer journey to safety. Based on actual events.
Note of Defiance – Documentary - 2024 15 min. by Brian Henderson, Greenbay, WI, USA Filmed in early 2023, on the Ukrainian-Russian border, “Note of Defiance” explores two artists' use of art as a means of cultural survival. In Kharkiv, Ukraine, attacks on civilian centers have forced cultural sites to close. The Kharkiv State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of the biggest cultural sites in the city forced to close due to these attacks. These two featured performers provide concerts and lessons anywhere they can; from parking garages to bomb shelters.
Freedom for Freedom - Experimental - 2024 4 min. by Yuri Alves, Newark, NJ, USA Poet Bimpé Fageyinbo delivers a powerful ode to the memory and spirit of Harriet Tubman, while evoking the urgency of real freedom for Black people, then and now.
The Anarchist and the Fridge – Documentary - 2026 14 min. by Yunchang Zhang, Jersey City, NJ, USA “The Anarchist and The Fridge” tells the story of a man named Thadeus who moved from Boston to New York over 20 years ago to pursue his ideals. Inspired by the organization, “Food Not Bombs” he survived cancer, gained community support, and established New York's first free fridge in Bed-Stuy. Now, he sees replenishing the fridge as his duty, using free food to unite the community.
Assemblages – Experimental - 20259 min. by Martin Mulcahy, Chicago, IL, USA An experimental animation exploring core memories through the objects that trigger them, including digital stop motion, found footage, found objects, collage, image composites, visual effects, and sound effects.
The Undying Pain of Existence – Animation - 2026 5 min. by Oscar Jacobson, Ludwigsburg, Germany A nude model poses with statuesque stillness for an elite drawing class – until an unfortunate mosquito bite challenges his self-control. Driven into madness by the itch, he’s caught between the ruthless demand for perfection and his most unhinged, animalistic impulses. |
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. |
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.
|
Gallery Hours: Office Hours: |
Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.