Get Ready for the 11th Annual Nassau International Film Festival! 

THE award Winning FILM FESTIVAL Will BE HELD SATURDAY December 5, 2026. Stay tuned for more details!

Featuring Short Films In The Categories of Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Horror and Student Films

 A Celebration of SCREENING THE BEST IN Short Films From Around the Globe

RECOGNITION OVER THE YEARS:

In 2020, Nassau International Film Festival (NIFF) was voted the best comprehensive short film festival in New Jersey in the ArtPRIDE NEW JERSEY PEOPLE’s choice awards. Since then, NIFF has consistently been recognized for the quality of films screened and as a springboard for filmmakers whose films have been recognized at the festival as superior by both the judges and the Festival Going audience.

The 2025 Nassau International Film Festival (NIFF) screened short films (20 minutes or less) in the following categories: fiction, documentary, animation, horror and student films. Best of Festival Awards were given in each of the categories and attendees had a chance to network with actors, actresses, directors, writers, producers and directors of photography at a special festival event. Audience members had the opportunity to participate in a question and answer panel discussion with filmmakers whose films were selected to screen at the festival and those filmmakers receiving honorable mention laurels for their films. 

NIFF Founder and Festival Director Lew Goldstein started the festival in 2015 after noticing a gap in the area for filmmakers who focused on short films and audiences who enjoy watching short films.  Each year the number of film submissions for Festival consideration has grown with over 400 Submissions in 2025. “As the festival has grown more filmmakers are realizing that this is a festival which is drawing serious attention in the film community. We are seeing a growth each year in submissions and the festival going audience has increased each year knowing that the films chosen to be screened by the judges are of high quality,” Goldstein said.

NIFF highlights extraordinary independent short films from filmmakers representing countries in six continents. Additionally, films from the USA as well as regional and local filmmakers are highlighted. The works of selected new student filmmakers are also screened.

Over the years, NIFF has earmarked funds donated from patrons and sponsors each year to assist various non-profit organizations. Those organizations the Festival has donated to over the years include the American Cancer Society, Womenspace, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), the Community Foodbank of New Jersey - a Feeding America affiliate as well as Mercer Street Friends, the Lisa Goldstein Education Foundation, the Family Resource Network, Toys For Tots and the Salvation Army. Over $112,000 total has been donated by NIFF over the years to these non-profit organizations.

some of our Festival Award winners OVER THE YEARS:

Watch the Films →

Thanks to all the filmmakers who submitted films for the last Nassau International Film Festival. The response to the festival has been overwhelming with films coming in from around the globe as well as from local and student filmmakers!

North America • Europe • Asia • Australia • South America • Africa

This film festival gives an opportunity for new and current filmmakers to have their short films screened.  THE PRINCETON TIGER AWARD - AN Audience Award - will be given in EACH OF THE categories. THE HIGHEST AWARD - the BEST OF FEST JUDGES’ AWARD - for excellence in Filmmaking - IS ALSO ANNOUNCED IN EACH OF THE CATEGORIES. AWARDS ARE ANNOUNCED ONE WEEK AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE FESTIVAL.