The eleventh annual Indie Street Film Festival (ISFF), presented by Basie Center Cinema House, announced today its complete selection, which will run for a full seven days from August 17th through 23rd, 2026. ISFF is committed to fostering a space where all stories, big or small, can be shared and appreciated, offering audiences the chance to experience fresh, authentic cinema. With a variety of films that push boundaries and spark conversation, this year’s festival promises to be the most exciting ISFF yet.
The eleventh ISFF 2026 lineup brings over 50 innovative short films and twelve of the year’s most exciting independent feature films to screens throughout Red Bank, including features from ten festival alumni this season. Following last year’s selection of Academy Award®-nominated film Retirement Plan, ISFF has expanded its shorts programming to include titles from over a dozen countries. This year’s lineup will be presented across three narrative programs, three documentary programs, two New Jersey spotlight programs, and one dedicated to animation, which includes Academy Award-winning actress Renee Zellweger’s directing debut.
Artistic Director Allyson Morgan says, “Once again, the films that we’re sharing this year moved us, challenged us, and delighted us, and we’re thrilled to bring these exciting independent voices to the Red Bank community.”
Executive Director and Festival Founder Jay Webb adds, “For the past 10 years, Indie Street has shown that storytelling is most powerful when experienced together. By bringing honest stories and new perspectives to Red Bank, we’ve created moments of laughter, connection, and community that stay with audiences long after the credits roll.
We’ve always taken pride in championing international voices and exceptional films beyond the studio system,” Webb continued. “That commitment is reflected in our programming, with many official selections going on to major recognition—including last year’s Mr. Nobody Against Putin, which won the Oscar just six months after receiving the ISFF Jury Award.”
ISFF 2026 will kick off at the Vogel Theater with the NJ Premiere of feature narrative film In Memoriam, written and directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and New Jersey-native Rob Burnett (The Late Show with David Letterman). The film stars Marc Maron, and features Michael McKean, Lily Gladstone, Judy Greer, and Sharon Stone. Burnett will be in attendance for a post screening Q&A.The slate of Narrative Feature films in-competition this year are all New Jersey Premieres. They include Danny Madden’s Downbeat, Walter Thompson-Hernández’s If I Go Will They Miss Me, Charlotte Glynn’sThe Gymnast, and Adam Meeks’s Union County.
The Feature Documentaries in competition include Shalon Buskirk and Drew Swedberg’s in love, in memory, Gabriela Díaz Arp’s Matininó, Amber Love’s One Another, Seth Porges’ Santacon, and Kaitlyn Schwalje and Alex Wolf Lewis’s Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong.
The winning films will be selected by a jury consisting of industry professionals, including Cayla Clements (POV), Tiana Harris (Tribeca Festival), Alex Megaro (Award-winning filmmaker), and Garrett Bess (Two River Pictures). The winning 2026 filmmakers will be honored during a ceremony open to passholders at TRIUMPH BREWING CO. on Sunday, August 23rd at 4:30pm.
For a complete schedule of events and to purchase festival passes, please visitwww.indiestreetfilmfestival.org. ISFF offers 7 day All-Access passes for $139.00 that grant access to all films, discussions, parties, art events and complimentary food/beverages from participating sponsors. Individual Film Tickets are also now on sale for $14.95.
Festival sponsor Triumph Restaurant and Brewing Company will host a special toast to film, arts, and community in Red Bank with a first look at the festival on
July 30. The preview party can be attended by making free entry reservation or suggested donation tickets are available that include food and a craft beer: https://indiestreet2026.eventive.org/schedule/69aabb2fa80d235a7468262c
The full feature film program for the 2026 Indie Street Film Festival is listed below:
OPENING NIGHT FILM: In Memoriam (United States)
Narrative Feature
Writer/Director: Rob Burnett
Cast: Marc Maron, Lily Gladstone, Judy Greer, Sharon Stone
In Memoriam follows the journey of Langston Stanfield (Marc Maron), a self-absorbed actor who, after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis, becomes obsessed with securing a spot in the Academy Awards “In Memoriam” montage. This leads to a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of ego, humility, and legacy, as Langston tries to find meaning and redemption at the very end of a misspent life, particularly through his therapist (Lily Gladstone), two of his ex-wives (Judy Greer, Sharon Stone), and a daughter he has never met (Talia Ryder).
After the Film: A conversation with Rob Burnett.
CLOSING NIGHT FILM: Union County (United States)
Writer/Director: Adam Meeks
Cast: Will Poulter, Noah Centineo
Will Poulter and Noah Centineo deliver pitch-perfect performances as brothers Cody and Jack Parsons, each navigating a court-mandated drug rehabilitation program in a pocket of rural Ohio hit hard by the opioid epidemic. Provided with hope for the first time since their struggles began and with the support of a tireless counselor (Annette Deao), the brothers work toward a brighter, sober future.
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Downbeat (United States)
Writer/Director: Danny Madden
Cast: Daniel Rashid
Down and out drummer Mauro has to flee the south and crash with his sister Isa in Boston. He takes to the streets, drumming with buckets and pans in an attempt to make money and stay in Isa’s good graces, but he can’t stop screwing things up.
The Gymnast (United States)
Writer/Director: Charlotte Glynn
Cast: Ethan Embry, Margarita Levieva
1993. In a former mill-town devastated by loss of industry, a 16 year-old elite gymnast and her single father, a die hard “gym dad”, fight to reinvent themselves after a potentially career ending injury.
After the Film: A conversation with Charlotte Glynn.
If I Go Will They Miss Me (United States)
Writer/Director: Walter Thompson-Hernández
Cast: Danielle Brooks, J. Alphonse Nicholson
Twelve-year-old Lil Ant transforms his working-class neighborhood beneath the LAX flight path into a living mythology, where family members become gods and the sky is crowded with endless departures. As he searches for connection with his god-like yet conflicted father, he finds support in his close-knit community that helps him reconcile myth and reality.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
in love, in memory (United States)
Directors: Shalon Buskirk, Drew Swedberg
After losing her firstborn son to gun violence, a mother gathers cherished memories and erased histories to connect his death to her city’s haunting legacy of racism. Refusing the carceral frameworks of true crime, this impressionistic counter-narrative refracts quiet scenes of artistic intervention, community storytelling and tender remembrance through a prism of passing time.
After the Film: A conversation with the film team.
Matininó (Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico)
Director: Gabriela Díaz Arp
In Puerto Rico, a multi-generational group of women confront violence and abuse through a shared creative fantasy rich in colour, mythology and play in this visually-arresting, kaleidoscopic documentary. Together, they build an imaginary world that becomes a space for healing, drawing on Caribbean mythology and a vivid visual language to face what they have lived through.
One Another (United States)
Director: Amber Love
As three of the filmmaker’s loved ones confront the possible end of close friendships, One Another follows their uncertainty, heartaches, and attempts to reconnect as they find a way forward.
After the Film: A conversation with the film team.
Santacon (United States)
Director: Seth Porges
Today, Santacon is known as perhaps the single most hated event on the planet. A dreaded day in which tens of thousands of drunk idiots dress like Santa and invade countless cities around the world to live out their drunkest and most violent instincts. But it began as something else entirely: A piece of Dada street theater designed to shock people out of their everyday existence by creating a sense of awe and confusion.
After the Film: A conversation with the film team.
Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong (United States)
Directors: Kaitlyn Schwalje, Alex Wolf Lewis
As America’s aging wastewater systems begin to fail, one plant does all it can to stay afloat. Plant manager Dustin Price, together with his motley crew of unlikely heroes, battle aging infrastructure, forever chemicals and the misconceptions of an odor averse public to keep Portland, Maine clean and healthy.
After the Film: A conversation with the film team.
SHORTS PROGRAMS at ISFF 2026:
NARRATIVE SHORTS PROGRAM: THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL
Love for another comes in all shapes and sizes — and will always defy the odds.
Albatross (United States) Written by Gerardo Coello Escalante and Amandine Thomas, Directed by Amandine Thomas
Talk Me (Spain, United States) Written and directed by Joecar Hanna
Behind This Locked Door (United States) Written and directed by Matthew Brennan
Fan (Canada) Written and directed by Philippe Berthelet
Just (Poland) Written and directed by Olga Kałagate
Verse (United States) Written by Noam Argov and Sappir Argov, Directed by Noam Argov
NARRATIVE SHORTS PROGRAM: DREAMS COME TRUE
Don’t stop believin’.
Flavor of the Month (United States) Written and directed by Nathan Xia
Fantasies of a Rescue Dummy (United Kingdom) Written and directed by
Adrian Maganza
I Think About Killing You (United States) Written and directed by Ran Ran Wang
In the Middle of Something (United States) Written by Lauren Adams and
Julian Velard, Directed by Lauren Adams
Clementine (United States) Written by Charles Warburton, Directed by Mike Doyle
Pinche Nerdo (United States) Written and directed by Jacob Watson
NARRATIVE SHORTS PROGRAM: FAMILY LEGACY
What do we pass on to future generations?
The Invisible Shield (Mexico) Written and directed by Maximilian Barrón
I’m Glad You’re Dead Now (France, Greece, State of Palestine) Written and directed by Tawfeek Barhom
Stronghold (United States) Written by Anna Maria Hozian, Directed by Meghann Artes
Jazz Infernal (Canada) Written and directed by Will Niava
Pale Sun (France) Written by Adrian Moyse Dullin, Directed by Adrian Moyse Dullin and Jawahine Zentar
Seniors (United States) Written and directed by Adam Curley
NEW JERSEY SHORTS: GOING DEEPER
All of these films have a connection to New Jersey — and an exploration of something below the surface.
June & Naya Get a Perm (United States) Written and directed by Katrina L. Rodriguez
Beautiful and Tortured (United States) Written and directed by
Georganne Marie Valera
Oracle of Delphi, Ohio (United States) Written and directed by Carter Stewart
Fifteen Minutes of Fame (United States) Written and directed by Angelina Gabuzda
Heavens to Betsy (United States) Written and directed by Dave Niziolek and
Brendan M Walsh
Waiting for Aphrodite (United States) Written and directed by Richard Stephen Bell
NEW JERSEY SHORTS: LET’S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS
Another crop of home grown shorts! Our protagonists are working…on something.
Beast of the Seine (United States) Written and directed by Jon Portman
Brewer (United States) Directed by Erika Valenciana
Mary and Joseph (United States) Written and directed by Jackson Gagliardi
Perfect Princess (United States) Written by Chris Paseka, Directed by James Kautz
What’s Left (United States) Written by Chris Scott, Directed by Odinger Mitchell
Dr. Sam (United States) Written by Raji Ahsan, Directed by Danielle Beckmann
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS: CARE
All of these protagonists are approaching the world with compassion and curiosity.
Grappling Grace (United Kingdom) Directed by Alexander Kiehl and Misha Novak
Mother’s Influence (United Kingdom) Directed by Meg Wriggles
Animal Eye (United States) Directed by Carlo Nasisse
No Matter The Weather (Canada) Directed by Florence Lafond
Woman in the Sky (United States) Directed by Max Woertendyke
Willie and His Pigs (United States) Directed by Emily Cooper
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS: THE COMMUNITY
When we take care of those around us, we take care of ourselves.
Community Theatre (United Kingdom) Directed by Lewis Baillie
A DERAILMENT (United States) Directed by Nathan Truesdell
La Mayordomía (Canada) Directed by Martin Edralin
Welcome to Tool Shed (United States) Directed by Daniel Talbott and
Andrew Klaus-Vineyard
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS: CHARACTER STUDY
Great, intimate character profiles.
kiss kiss bang bang (Netherlands) Directed by Ollie Launspach
Diminishing Returns (United States) Directed by Colin Whitman
explant / implant (United States) Directed by Josh Weissbach
The Chimney Sweeper (United States) Directed by Jack Raese
A Wolf in the Suburbs (Canada) Directed by Amélie Hardy
Samland (United States) Directed by Grace Poppe
ANIMATED SHORTS
A variety of styles and stories — but for our adult audiences.
1981 (United States) Written and directed by Carolyn London and Andy London
Cabbage Daddy (Canada) Written and directed by Grace An
The Gnawer of Rocks (Canada) Written by Neil Christopher and Louise Flaherty, directed by Louise Flaherty
A Good Heart (Poland) Written and directed by Krzysztof Brzezowski
Ivar (Norway) Written by Signe Dammann Anker, Directed by Markus Tangre
Living with a Visionary (United States) Written and directed by Stephen P. Neary
Miracle Under 34th Street (United States) Written and directed by Owen Andrejco
Paper Trail (United States) Directed by Don Hertzfeldt
THEY (United Kingdom) Written by Paul Smith and Renée Zellweger, Directed by Renée Zellweger
With Tapes and Toasts in the Car (Germany) Written and directed by
Kiana Naghshineh
Venusian Roulette (United States) Written and directed by Connor Lee Rea
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ABOUT INDIE STREET INSTITUTE:
INDIE STREET INSTITUTE is a non-profit organization formed to create interactive art & film experiences that challenge people to connect with and be inspired by new ways of thinking. The organization’s flagship event, THE INDIE STREET FILM FESTIVAL, brings the most talented storytellers from across the globe to the screens of Red Bank, NJ. Born from a cooperative of filmmakers, Indie Street Film Festival combines top-notch independent cinema with industry discussions, live art and music experiences, and social gatherings that look to spark important conversations within our diverse communities. For more details on festival events: indiestreetfilmfestival.org
ABOUT COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie Center mission is to inspire, educate and entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings that embrace and amplify the diversity of the region. As a nonprofit organization, the Basie Center is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity. To learn more about the Count Basie Center for the Arts, including events at its historic Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, its new performance venue, The Vogel, or film screenings at Basie Center Cinemas, visit www.thebasie.org
