Ribbon Cutting: New Jersey Film Academy

New Jersey took a bold step in reshaping its cinematic future today as Diane Raver, founder of the Garden State Film Festival, a long term WORKHOUSE client, unveiled the New Jersey Film Academy — a project that has been years in the making. Launching this January at Brookdale Community College, the Academy will expand to 13 community colleges statewide, offering practical training to build a film-ready workforce and solidifying the state’s reputation as a growing hub for the industry.

Currently, New Jersey boasts 15 major studio films in production or pre-production—more than California, New York, and Georgia combined. With Netflix, Lionsgate , and other major players building state-of-the-art facilities, the industry here is poised for exponential growth.

This is more than a moment of progress; it’s a homecoming. New Jersey, the birthplace of film—from Edison’s first motion picture camera in Menlo Park to Fort Lee’s reign as America’s original filmmaking capital—is reclaiming its legacy. Backed by competitive incentives, a dynamic film office, and one of the most diverse landscapes in the country, the Garden State is proving it’s not just part of the story—it’s where the future of film is being written.