The Teaneck International Film Festival unveils its 20th anniversary roster! A project of The Puffin Foundation Ltd., the 20th anniversary festival will be held November 6-13, 2025, featuring over 25 films, panel discussions, awards, and parties with filmmakers, actors, elected officials and industry guests attending.
The film festival with a social conscience is committed to telling stories that need to be heard, and inspiring thoughtful discussion, involvement, and activism. The narrative features, documentaries, and shorts cover a broad range of subjects that are of concern to all: civil rights, women’s rights, immigration, threats to free speech, the unhoused and food insecurity, LGBTQ+ concerns, the environment, and more. According to Executive Director Jeremy Lentz, “The work of the Teaneck International Film Festival has become more urgent at a time in our nation’s history where we see threats to our most sacred democratic institutions. The Teaneck International Film Festival stands strong as we celebrate our 20th year in continuing to provide a platform to showcase some of the most compelling independent films that shed light and raise awareness on some of the most pressing issues of our time.” FOR TICKETS AND INFO VISIT: www.teaneckfilmfestival.org.
The opening night film, the documentary feature The Disappearance of Miss Scott, is sponsored by The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Bergen/Passaic Chapter at Teaneck Cinemas, 503 Cedar Lane, Thursday, November 6, at 7:30 p.m. The documentary chronicles the rise and fall of jazz virtuoso Hazel Scott, who was blacklisted from Hollywood and had her American television show canceled during the Red Scare after she refused to perform for segregated audiences.
For the festival’s Narrative Centerpiece on November 8th, Italian filmmaker Riccardo Milani, presents A World Apart (Un mondo a parte) a comedy-drama that follows a Roman teacher who must overcome his "urban inadequacy" to save a tiny mountain school from closing. The film, praised for its heartfelt character-driven story and community spirit, won two Nastro d'Argento Awards in 2024, including Best Comedy Film and Best Actress in a Comedy for Virginia Raffaele. A World Apart is sponsored by Addie Wijnen, a long-time Teaneck resident and, at 92, still an active TIFF volunteer and supporter. Addie's father, who was born in Italy, was a renowned poet who was celebrated posthumously several years ago by his home town. The Centerpiece event includes food and wine, the film, and a talkback. Invitations are extended to individuals who have donated at least $40.
The “in-person” part of the festival will run through Sunday evening, November 9th, when the closing film, Lilly, a narrative feature starring Emmy and Golden Globe winner Patricia Clarkson, will be shown at Temple Emeth, 1666 Windsor Road, followed by a talkback with the filmmaker, Rachel Feldman, Senator Loretta Weinberg, and other surprise guests. Based on a true story, Lilly follows Alabama factory supervisor Lilly Ledbetter as she takes on her employer, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, after discovering she was paid significantly less than her male coworkers.
The movie chronicles her decades-long fight for equal pay, which eventually led to a landmark Supreme Court case and inspired the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. Sponsors of the film are WOW (Women of Wisdom), NCJWBCS (National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section), Senator Loretta Weinberg, Shahanaz Arjumand, and the YWCA of Northern New Jersey. This year, WOW will present its annual award to two Teaneck women – Allison Davis and Hildy Dillon, whose activism and leadership are inspiring.
Included in the festival week, TIFF will also be hosting a free “Filmmaker Bootcamp” at Teaneck’s Fairleigh Dickinson University scheduled for November 12th from 6:30–9:30 pm. Facilitated by Television Executive and Producer, Ashley McFarlin, formally of WeTV/Allbk (AMC Networks). The bootcamp will combine interactive icebreakers, visual presentations, and small-group breakouts to explore the fundamentals of TV/film production and provide hands-on content development experience. Participants will also engage in discussions on financing, staffing, pitching, and distribution, with opportunities for real-time feedback on their ideas.
For those unable to come in-person or for filmgoers in other parts of the country, there are five virtual films that may be watched from the comfort of your own living room any time during the festival week which include moderated talkbacks. TIFF’s youngest audience is not ignored. Prior to the official opening night of November 6th, Little Kid Flicks, the collection of award-winning animated films curated from the New York International Children’s Film Festival will be back again: Little Kid Flicks is for children 4 -8 years old who are invited free with a paying adult through support from the Puffin Foundation and sponsored by the Teaneck Public Library and Barbara Ostroth, Coldwell Banker Realty. Returning again as this year’s emcee – filling the shoes of longtime host Bob McGrath (Sesame Street) – will be Miss Jolie, the Taylor Swift of New Jersey’s youngest set who plays to SRO crowds. Mark the date: November 2 – 1:30 p.m., at the Puffin Cultural Forum, 20 Puffin Way in Teaneck.
Tickets are on sale on October 1st at www.teaneckfilmfestival.org. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at door if available, except: Little Kid Flicks (Kids are free with paying adult thanks to a grant from the Puffin Foundation), Centerpiece Gala and Film – minimum donation of $40 in advance, Virtual Film Series pass includes all five films for $15. Talkbacks will follow most films. And check out all that is on this year’s program – for all interests and all ages.
For the most up to date list of talkback speakers, film sponsors, trailers, and runtimes please visit: https://www.teaneckfilmfestival.org/film-rosters/2025-teaneck-international-film-festival-film-roster-anegh
For the official Teaneck International Film Festival 2025 trailer edited by Lon Garelick please click here: https://youtu.be/A3o97p2Zoj8
Dreamers Unite - Sherri Pullum interviews TIFF Executive Director Jeremy Lentz on The Hidden Power of Film to Make Things Change: 20 Years of TIFF. Click the image to watch. |
| WELCOME TO TIFF WEEKEND!There is no better time to be part of "the film festival with a social conscience". Join us and let's make change happen! Great seats are still available at most films. $10/person in advance/$15 at box office $15/Virtual All-Access Pass $40/person for Saturday Night Gala and Film |
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Important Films - Making a Difference |
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Join the conversation! Saturday at noon, see Screenagers: Next Chapter - a powerful documentary by filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston that dives into the realities of stress, anxiety, and mental health in our screen-saturated world. Come together to explore how we can support our teens, familes and each other. |
|  | CALL TO ACTION: Photographer/Filmmaker Kim Watson joins our talkback following the world premiere of his powerful film, TRESPASS, Saturday at 3:00pm at the Puffin Cultural Forum. Here's his take on the film and the epidemic of the unhoused - and you'll find out what you can do when you join the conversation. PLUS: Please bring a non-perishable food item with you to the screening for the Center for Food Action. |
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JUST ADDED - Expanded talkback for Coexistence, My Ass! Sunday at noon at Teaneck Cinemas - A HOT TICKET film - buy tickets early!
PLUS! Read 20 Years of Activism: Teaneck International Film Festival Unveils Explosive Lineup in the Ridgewood Blog. |
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Celebrating 20 Years of TIFF and a 20 Year Partnershipwith the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. (Bergen/Passaic Chapter) Opening Night at Teaneck Cinemas: |
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