the just be you film festival returns in 2026!
Live Event
Spring 2026
JBY is committed to youth creativity!
Despite the many challenges film festivals faced during the pandemic of 2020 and still even now, JBY is dedicated to providing a positive platform for youth in the arts to showcase their talents. We didn't close up simply because times got tough! Instead, we pivoted! We are excited about hosting an in person live event in the spring of 2026 in New Jersey (the birthplace of JBY). Be sure to follow us on Facebook for details. www.facebook.com/justbeyoufest - and follow us on Instagram @jbyperformingarts
"OUR AWARD WINNERS 2021-2023- SEASON 3 - part 2"
AND THE AWARD GOES TO...
Best International Youth films and Best Live Action Youth Made
· Lasting Impact
· Miss Fittz
· My Diary at the End of the World Football Edition
· Satin & Velvet
· Solitude
Best Actress Youth Division
· Condemned by Inaction
Best New Jersey Filmmaker Youth Division and Best Live Action Youth Made
· Corona Stars
· Do’s and Don’ts
Best Short Film Adult Division
· French Club
Best Short Animation Youth Made
· A Lego’s Luck
· Cry of the Corals
· Dams – the Pros & Cons
· Difficulties
· Return
· Robot Stories
· Ruth & Nick – A Confectionery Tale
· System Error
· The Moments
· Yellow Days
Special Presentation – Short Animation Premiere
· God’s Amazing Comfort – by: Harmony Barlow
Best Short Documentary Youth Division and Best Live Action
· Auschwitz – Our Final Trip
· Perspective the Effects of Covid-19
· The Basic History of Video Games
· The Making of One Minute Meetings
· Warning
Special Presentation – Short Film Premiere
· Kendra the Rabbit – Movie Premiere – by: DJ Clarke
Best Short Film Faith Based Youth Division
· Lasting Impact
Best Short Film Drama or Comedy Youth Division
· A Conversation with E
· Empathy Rocks
· Superstar
· Taste Buds
· The Hill We Climb
· Voices
Best Stand-up/Sketch Comedy Performance Youth Division
· The Science of Stress During Remote Learning
CONGRATULATIONS!
WEAR YOUR LAUREL WITH PRIDE!
"OUR AWARD WINNERS 2020 - SEASON 3 - part 1"
AND THE AWARD GOES TO...
SHORT-FILM ADULT DIVISION
WE RIDE
Joshua M Thomas
USA
SHORT-FILM YOUTH DIVISION
PERFECTLY IMPERFECT
Millie Williams, Mallory Henderson
USA
THE VOICE FOR THE FUTURE
Anni Spacek
USA
THE WORLD THAT WAS
Dylan Stegemoller, Caden Smith
USA
ONE AT A TIME
Jacob Reinhart
USA
INVISIBLE INK
Logan Marber
USA
ROUTINE
Abdulaziz Sarhan
USA
DELIVERING SUNSHINE
London Mitchell
USA
DEADLINE NIGHTSHADE
Students TUMO CCA
GERMANY
FEELINGS
Malo Riou
USA
THE TERM PAPER
Joey Sceiza
USA
SHORT DOCUMENTARY ADULT DIVISION
STEWY BABY A DOGUMENTARY
Kristin Cooper-Herby
USA
SHORT DOCUMENTARY YOUTH DIVISION
VOID
Brooke Anderson, William Coles, Katia Crawford, Marc Cruise, Jayla Elliott, Joelle Faison, Kailah Hall, Michelle Hill, Eric Hunter, William Mitchell, Sama Muhammad, Ade Ogunshina, Eva Ojekwe, Brian Thompson, Ayanna White
USA
STRONGER THAN STEEL
Jacob Pincus
USA
SHORT ANIMATION YOUTH MADE
FIRST DAY A CHICK
Anastasia Shinkarenko
UKRAINE
THE GRANDPA, PAST AND PRESENT
Ting-Yuk Yuen
TAIWAN
AYEO
Jacob Updyke
USA
FRIENDS LOVE
Miss Diya M.
INDIA
COMFORTABLE POSITION
DRF Children Animation Studio
UZBEKISTAN
SHORT LIVE ACTION MADE
THE TRUTH OF BEAUTY
Ellis Clark
USA
TIL DEATH DO US PART
Valeria Perez
USA
THE JOURNEY OF THE STORY FLOAT
Yung-Lin Chen
TAIWAN
THE BUTLER AND THE BALL
Andrew Chan-Possemato
USA
THE GRAND HOTEL DUNASZEKCSő
Veronika Gyurin, Eszter Weissmann, Gergő Rumann
HUNGARY
SHORT INTERNATIONAL FILM YOUTH DIVISION
MANUEL
Javier Robles Álvarez
SPAIN
I GOT INFECTED
Zaya Durand
LUXEMBOURG
THE NOTE BOOK
Esabella Strickland
CANADA
GRAND HOTEL DUNASZEKCSO
Veronika Gyurin, Eszter Weissmann, Gergő Rumann
HUNGARY
SEROK
Zhivar Farajzadeh
IRAN
SHORT INTERNATIONAL ADULT DIVISION
THE TREE MAN
Surendar Saau
INDIA
POLIETILENO
Mukisa Prosie Kenisha
UGANDA
SHORT NEW JERSEY FILM YOUTH DIVISION
THE FRENCH GENIE
Sidney Nowack
USA
EUPHORIA
Daniele Yohannan
USA
THE RUNAWAY
Michelle Tang
USA
IDEAL REALITY
Yazemin Yilmaz
USA
SHORT NEW JERSEY FILM ADULT DIVISION
SLIP AWAY
Thais Sherell
USA
MUSIC VIDEO YOUTH DIVISION
COUGHING UP FLOWERS
Lucas Takano featuring Trinity Rose
USA
CONGRATULATIONS!
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!
In the midst of a global crisis with so much uncertainty, we are extremely proud of each filmmaker in this list of OFFICIAL SLEECTIONS for the 2020 Season 3 of the Just Be You Film Festival. Your films were inspiring, entertaining, and proves that even during a pandemic creativity can still shine. As such, you are ALL Award Recipients!
WEAR YOUR NEW LAUREL WITH PRIDE!
"OUR AWARD WINNERS 2019 - SEASON 2"
AND THE AWARD GOES TO...
Best Short Film Adult Division
Jil Ross - CHI-nanigans
Best Photography Youth Made
Will Niles - Cuba
Best Short Animation Youth Made
Hearth - by Max Shoham
Best Live Action Youth Made
My Red Ball - by Esabella Strickland
Best Music Video Youth Made
Do the Dryden Dos - By FrugileFlicks Students
Best Documentary Youth Made
Beyond Dreams - by Yazemin Yilmaz
Best Short Film Youth Division
Harper's First Kiss - by Haley Pine
Best International Film Adult Division
The Priceless Art - by Mohamid Asif Hamed
Best International Film Youth Division
My Black Is... - by Rachel St. Pierre
Best New Jersey Filmmaker Youth Division
The Switch - by James Dowd
Best New Jersey Dance Video Youth Made
Pieces of Mosaic - by Yazemin Yilmaz
CONGRATULATIONS!
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE 2019 FESTIVAL EVENT!
"OUR award winners 2018 - SEASON 1"
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2018 AWARD RECIPIENTS!
*Best Music Video Youth Made - "Maybe the Monster" by Isabella Masrouga
*Best Short-Documentary Youth Division - "The Wong's Wordless World" by Airis Yeung
*Best Short-Film Faith Based - "Twinkies and Root Beer" by Andre Campbell
*Best Short-Live Action Youth Made - "Open Doors" by Evdokiya Mazhurina
*Best Short-Film Adult Division - "1:41" by Marek Stoklosa
*Best Short-Documentary Adult Division - "Of a 6-Year-Old Girl" by Jessica Robles
*Best Short-Animation Youth Made - "The Cliff House" by Lih haur Tan
*Best Short-Film Youth Division - "Good for You" by Ashley Kramer
*Best International Filmmaker Youth Division - "Bigman Businessman" by Clarisse Chua
*Best New Jersey Filmmaker Youth Division - "Double C" by Alex Lehotsky
*Best Photography - "Above" by Julianna Sabile
*Just Be You Performing Arts Triple-Threat" - Airis Yeung
*Just Be You Performing Arts Triple-Threat" - Runner-ups Scholarship Recipients - Ava Remick and Daria Ivan
"our FINALISTS 2018 - season 1"
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2018 FINALISTS!
(film titles listed in alphabetical order)
Best Short Film Youth Division Finalist!
* "Adam" - by Alyce Rogers
* "Beautiful" - by Keaton Habeck
* "Good for You" - by Ashley Kramer
Best Short Film Adult Division Finalist!
* "Baran" - by Mohammad Kheimehgahi
* "Growing Alice" - by Danilo Zambrano
* "Joy" - by Mahanraj Sivalingam
* "Our Park Bench" - by Katya Kaminsky
* "Paris You Got Me" - by Julie Boehm
Best Documentary Youth Division Finalist!
* "Bitter Sweet" - by Jacqueline Prata
* "Tell me, School" - by Anna Leyko
* "The Future of Filmmaking" - by James Thorton
Best Documentary Adult Division Finalist!
* "A Day In the Life of Mehdi Rhazali" - by Xabier Saavedra
* "A Mile in His Shoes" - by Cecilia Duncan
* "Pinhole" - by Elliot Hatch
* "Rails to the Beat" - by Tom Caruk
* "The Talking Drum" - by Azano Michael
Best Animation Youth Made Finalist!
* "Blossom" - by Annie Chien
* "Fisso" - by Raito Yagami
* "Floyd" - by Noah Cutwright
* "Goodbye Galaxy Girl" - by Yden Park
* "Meet" - by HongLiang Yuan
Best Live Action Youth Made Finalist!
* "Fracture" - by Maliha K
* "The Giant and the Moon" - by Max Shoham
Best Music Video Youth Made Finalist!
* "Fangirls" - by Trinity Rose
Best Short Film Faith Based Finalist!
* "Clandestine Magic" - by Megan Maher
* "The Wave" - by Chris Hill
Best Photography Finalist!
* “Black & White” - by Daniel Chan
* “Fire” - by Konrad Miklaszweski
* “Life Moments” - by Lauren Elizabeth Schwartzbard
* “Mountains” - by Matthew Carew
* “No Parking” - by Noah Rodriguez
* “Teardrop” - by Julianna Sabile
THERE'S NO OTHER FESTIVAL LIKE THE JUST BE YOU PERFORMING ARTS YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL!