2026 Schedule
Here's a schedule of events for the 2026 New Jersey WebFest!
We are finalizing a couple of other speaker times, so we will have more to come soon!
Workshops/Panels: 505 Bloomfield Ave
Screenings: The Clairidge Theater, 486 Bloomfield Ave
Friday Night After-Party, Just Jake's, 30 Park St
Montclair, NJ
The Gala: The Brookside Banquets, 41 Broughton Ave
Bloomfield, NJ
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Get Your Passes
9:30AM
Meet, greet, and welcome!
10:30AM
Networking 101: How to Make the Most of Your WebFest Experience
with Ned Donovan
The New Jersey WebFest is about more than screenings and awards—it’s an opportunity to build relationships with creators and industry professionals from around the world. Award-winning multi-hyphenate creator Ned Donovan shares practical tips for making meaningful connections, starting conversations, navigating networking events, and turning a few days at a festival into relationships and opportunities that can last long after the event is over.
12:20PM
Screenings and Talkbacks begin! View Screening Schedule.
9:00PM
Opening day after-party
Friday, September 25, 2026
Get Your Passes
9:00AM
Going Union on an Indie Budget: A Practical Guide for Independent Creators
with Sarah Seeds and Stephanie Perry
Going union doesn’t have to mean blowing your indie budget. This practical conversation breaks down what independent filmmakers need to know about working under a SAG-AFTRA contract—from choosing the right agreement and understanding microbudget options to navigating costs, protections, and the application process. Our panelists will share both the union and creator perspectives, address common misconceptions and mistakes, and discuss how SAG-AFTRA can fit into productions of all sizes. Whether you’re a first-time producer, an experienced indie filmmaker, or an actor creating your own work, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of when, why, and how to go union. The session concludes with an audience Q&A and an opportunity to connect with our panelists.
10:30AM
Inside the Writers’ Room
with Emmy-Winning Writer Chris Cluess
Step inside the writers’ room with Emmy-winning writer/producer Chris Cluess (MADtv, Night Court, Newhart, SCTV, The Simpsons). Attendees will break into small groups to tackle the same scene, then pitch their best ideas to Chris as he leads a live rewrite - revealing how professional writers collaborate, develop ideas, and turn a good scene into a great one.
Creators of all mediums will benefit from Chris Cluess's Emmy-Winning knowledge!
12:30PM
Screenings and Talkbacks continue! View Screening Schedule.
7:00PM
After-Party at Just Jake's!
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Get Your Passes
9:00AM
NJ WebFest $200 Dash Pitch Competition
Exclusive for VIP Pass Holders, this pitch competition gives you the opportunity to explain your project in 75 seconds or less, for a chance to win $200 cash.
You can pitch your project that was selected by NJ WebFest, or go for an entirely different concept. The judges will be your peers. Both web series/film creators AND audio fiction creators get their own competition. Both winners will each be awarded $200 at The Gala!
10:45AM
Storytelling With Constraints: Turning Limitations Into Strengths
with Dan Pasternack
Veteran producer Dan Pasternack has spent decades finding creative ways to make ambitious ideas work across television, film, digital media, and audio. Drawing on that experience—including the deliberately lo-fi spectacle of The Spoils of Babylon—Dan explores how creators can turn limited budgets, locations, casts, resources, and even the unique challenges of telling stories through sound into creative strengths. Then bring your own production constraint to the room, and Dan will help you turn that limitation into a storytelling opportunity.
12:30PM
Screenings and Talkbacks continue! View Screening Schedule.
9:30PM
Saturday Night After-Party
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Get Your Passes
11:30AM
ARRIVAL FOR THE AUDIO FICTION GALA
12:00PM
AUDIO FICTION GALA KICKS OFF!
5:30PM
ARRIVAL FOR THE WEB SERIES/SHORTS GALA
6:00PM
WEB SERIES/SHORTS GALA KICKS OFF!