"Lights, Camera, Jersey! Celebrating Student Cinema."
What is NJFAME
NJFAME is a statewide short film competition for New Jersey middle and high school students. Using only their cell phones, students create powerful short films and compete against teams from schools across the state.
Get Started
Sign up your team and access your personalized NJFAME portal with everything you need to succeed—step-by-step guides, resources, and tools.
2026
COMPETITION FILM THEMES
This year’s NJFAME theme, “Stories That Shape Us,” invites students to create short films—using only a cell phone—that reflect identity, values, and growth. Students will choose from three core concepts aligned with New Jersey’s STEAM, literacy, and SEL standards. Film entries must be under 15 minutes
2026
"Built Not Born" Series
Every champion has a story. Built Not Born is an NJFAME series dedicated to the grind—the hours unseen, the failures repeated, and the mindset molded by discipline. These short films follow the making of student athletes who forged greatness through effort, not ego.
Watch and Vote
Your vote helps recognize and celebrate the voices of New Jersey's next generation of filmmakers.
Sources
Explore the creativity of New Jersey's young filmmakers by watching their original short films, all crafted entirely on cell phones. These stories, centered around the theme "Stories That Shape Us," showcase the talent and perspectives of students across the state.