Rochester to Host 90-Second Newbery Film Festival

Annual event encourages youth reading and media literacy through short film adaptations of Newbery Award-winning books.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:22pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating grid of stacked children's books in vibrant neon hues, capturing the playful and artistic spirit of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival.The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival celebrates youth creativity and a love of reading through short film adaptations of award-winning children's books.Rochester Today

The George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York will host the 15th annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival on April 25, 2026. The festival features short films created by children and teens that adapt entire Newbery Award-winning books into 90-second movies, showcasing creativity, humor, and ingenuity. The free public event is co-hosted by festival founder James Kennedy and author Bruce Coville, and is sponsored by several local organizations.

Why it matters

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival aims to promote reading and media literacy skills among youth by challenging them to creatively adapt classic children's literature into short films. The festival provides a unique platform for young filmmakers to demonstrate their talents while also encouraging others to engage with award-winning books.

The details

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival was founded by author James Kennedy to inspire children and teens to read Newbery Award-winning books and then create 90-second film adaptations of the stories. The best submissions from around the country are selected to screen at special events in cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston, co-hosted by Kennedy and other acclaimed children's authors. The Rochester screening will feature films made by local youth as well as some of the top entries from the national competition.

  • The 15th annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival will take place on April 25, 2026 at 2 p.m.
  • The festival has been held annually since its founding in 2012.

The players

James Kennedy

The author of the award-winning YA fantasy novel The Order of Odd-Fish, who founded the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival to encourage reading and media literacy among youth.

Bruce Coville

An acclaimed children's author known for series like The Unicorn Chronicles and Aliens Ate My Homework, who will co-host the Rochester screening of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival.

George Eastman Museum

The Rochester, New York museum that will host the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival screening.

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What they’re saying

“The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival aims to encourage reading and media literacy among youth through the making of films that tell the entire story of a Newbery Award-winning book in ninety seconds.”

— James Kennedy, Founder, 90-Second Newbery Film Festival

What’s next

Details and resources for creating 90-Second Newbery films in 2027 will be available on the festival's website.

The takeaway

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival provides a unique opportunity for young filmmakers to showcase their creativity while also promoting reading and engagement with classic children's literature. By adapting award-winning books into short films, participants develop valuable media literacy skills that can inspire a lifelong love of reading.