Lights, Camera, Creativity: Kent Place Hosts 16th-Annual Film Festival

The stage was set, the lights dimmed, and excitement filled the air at the Hyde and Watson Theater at Kent Place as the school welcomed filmmakers and enthusiasts to its 16th-Annual Film Festival on Thursday, April 11.   

From across northern New Jersey, students from various schools poured into the theater with their families, friends, and teachers. With a record-breaking 60 submissions, the selection committee had the daunting task of curating a lineup that would captivate and inspire.

The audience was treated to a diverse array of 15 films. Experimental films, stop-motion animation, comedies, dramas, and homages to film noir transported viewers during the evening.

Following the screenings, a lively panel discussion, led by Kent Place’s visual arts teacher Ken Weathersby and Film Club President Stephanie James ’24 and Vice President Emily Martin ’25, provided a platform for budding filmmakers to delve into the intricacies of their craft. 

“The filmmakers always talk passionately about their love for films and the experiences they had while making them,” says Emily. “We enjoy listening to all they have to say about their journeys and how far they’ve come. Many different filmmakers came this year to the festival and spoke on the panel. It was amazing to hear their stories regarding making comedy, serious, and stop-motion films.”

Among the awards:

• Best Cinematography: The Last Call, by Joseph Guzzone, Christian Guzzone, and Luke Zeveney (Middletown High School South)
• Best Representation of Theme: Obtrude, by Euridice Sagastume (East Brunswick Magnet School)
• Audience Choice: The Half-Naked Gun, by Luke Zeveney, Alex Ross, Ben DeMarco, and Michael Puma (Middletown High School South)
• Jury Award: Cycle, by Miryana Cespedes (Warren Hill Regional High School)

Behind the scenes, the dedicated members of the Kent Place Film Club, under the leadership of Stephanie, Emily, and board members Morgan Reis ’25, Zoë Espiritu ’25, and Supriya Kamilla ’26, worked tirelessly to bring this cinematic tradition to life. This year’s festival trailer can be viewed here. The Film Club is advised by Middle and Upper School Head Librarian John Walz and Acting Math Department Chair Peter Wertz.

To view the 2024 festival’s selections, please click here.

Participating Schools

• Columbia High School
• East Brunswick Magnet School
• Howell High School
• Middletown High School South
• Passaic County Technical Institute
• Warren Hills Regional High School