Collingswood|Featured Event
An Evening of the World’s Best Short Films
WORLD’S BEST SHORT FILMS RETURN TO CAMDEN COUNTY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15th
Garden State Film Festival and Asbury Shorts USA Present an Evening of Award-Winning Films from Around the World, Including Work by Local Camden County Filmmakers and Students
COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — Asbury Shorts USA, now in its 44th year, and the Garden State Film Festival will once again bring an evening of award-winning short films from around the world to the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Presented in association with the Camden County Board of Commissioners, this year’s “Best of the Fest” program will feature an eclectic collection of outstanding short films from filmmakers around the world, including works with strong local connections to Camden County.
Joining the evening will be Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. and Commissioner Colleen Bianco Bezich, as the program celebrates independent filmmaking, international storytelling and the creative talent emerging from South Jersey.
Among the locally connected films featured in this year’s program is Terroir, filmed at Amalthea Cellars in Atco, which follows a young wine critic who returns to a French vineyard one year after delivering a bad review.
The program will also feature Outside the Lines, a documentary chronicling the Winslow Township Girls Track Team. The film was created by students through Studio 106, Winslow Township High School’s television production and media program, placing the work of young South Jersey filmmakers on the same big screen as award-winning shorts from around the world.
Eric Ascalon, Chair of the Garden State Film Festival Board, said, “There’s something magical about seeing a great short film with an audience—the entire world can change in ten or fifteen minutes. This event brings some of the best short films from around the world to one of South Jersey’s great venues, and we’re incredibly excited to bring it back for another year.”
Kerry Richards, South Jersey Film Cooperative coordinator, remarked, “We are so proud to be bringing back this important event.”
The Scottish Rite Auditorium is located at 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, NJ 08108. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/FilmFest26.
About Asbury Shorts USA
Founded by Doug LeClaire, Asbury Shorts USA is now in its 44th year of presenting and celebrating outstanding short-form filmmaking. The New York-based touring exhibition has become one of the country’s longest-running showcases devoted to short films, bringing acclaimed comedy, drama, documentary and animation to audiences throughout the United States and internationally.
Asbury Shorts programs combine award-winning contemporary films with memorable selections from past festivals, creating a fast-paced theatrical experience designed to introduce audiences to some of the best short filmmaking from around the world.
About the Garden State Film Festival
The Garden State Film Festival (GSFF), New Jersey’s Premier Independent Film Festival®, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art of filmmaking at all levels and providing opportunities for independent filmmakers to exhibit their work.
Since its founding in 2003, GSFF has welcomed filmmakers and audiences from around the world while providing educational opportunities for emerging filmmakers and supporting programs serving students, members of the U.S. military, seniors, children and underserved communities.
The Garden State Film Festival’s “Best of the Fest” outreach programs bring independent film beyond the annual festival, presenting selected films at venues throughout New Jersey and beyond to celebrate filmmakers while culturally enriching and engaging local communities.