Founded in 2016, the Monmouth Film Festival is a Premier East Coast showcase dedicated to elevating independent cinema and spotlighting bold, diverse, and innovative storytelling from around the world! Hosted at the iconic Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ—home to Apple TV’s Severance—the festival offers filmmakers a high-profile platform just minutes from NYC. Through a highly curated selection of features, shorts, documentaries, animation, pilots, and student films, along with panels, workshops, and dynamic networking events, MFF provides a filmmaker-first experience that fosters connection, career development, and artistic growth. With a commitment to creativity, community, and industry access, the Monmouth Film Festival is where powerful independent voices are discovered and celebrated.
ONE Venue to rule them all!
Running miles across downtown to catch over a hundred films at numerous non-traditional venues can be exhausting—and in our experience, it rarely delivers quality programming.
That's why we do it differently! One venue, one screen, one top-quality cinema program. This is what we call the Monmouth difference, and if you've screened with us before, you know it!
The Monmouth Film Festival is proud to call Bell Works our home—an iconic, all-under-one-roof venue unlike anywhere else in the country. Once the historic Bell Laboratories, birthplace of world-changing innovations and home to generations of scientists, visionaries, and creators, this architectural landmark now stands as a vibrant “metroburb” filled with restaurants, bars, cafés, art, workshops, and an electric community energy.
It's also the filming location for Apple TV’s hit series Severance, instantly recognizable as the headquarters of Lumon Industries!
At Bell Works, everything you need for an unforgettable Monmouth Film Festival weekend is just steps apart— a state-of-the-art theater, industry panels, networking lounges, filmmaker meetups, and dining options all within the same building. No shuttles, no venue-hopping, no running across town, and no worrying about unpredictable East Coast weather. With thousands of free parking spaces just a short walk from multiple entrances, and a fully indoor layout that keeps you comfortably inside from the moment you arrive, it’s the most seamless festival experience on the East Coast.
NJ Transit
Bell Works is just a short 10 minute ride from the Hazlet and Middletown NJ TRANSIT stations on the North Jersey Coast Line, offering quick, direct access from New York City via Penn Station or Hoboken. A short rideshare or taxi brings you straight from the platform to the festival doors.
Easy Parking
Located just 5 minutes off the Garden State Parkway (Exit 116) and connected to all major routes—including the I95, Route 18, and Route 34, 35 & 36 - Bell Works is effortlessly accessible from anywhere in the NYC Tri-State Area & surrounding region. Plus, with a few thousand free parking spots you won't be circling around or feeding the meter!
