10th Annual Newark International Film Festival Celebrates "Sense of Urgency"
- Create Urgency
- Sep 4
- 2 min read
On Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 2PM, Sense or Urgency will be screening as part of the 10th Annual Newark International Film Festival (NIFF). Click here to get your passes.
For 10 years, the NIFF has celebrated films that inspire, challenge, and ignite conversations in film, filmmaking, and community storytelling.
Directed by Queen Stewart alongside Cenna Wilkerson, Sense of Urgency chronicles a personal and universal odyssey. When Queen—a successful lawyer and mother—receives a devastating stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis on the cusp of turning 36, her life takes on new meaning. Embracing each moment, she documents her transformation—from chemotherapy ward reflections to stepping on stage as a comedian and finding her voice in music—as she pursues fulfillment and self-realization amid treatment.
The film offers rare and candid access to her treatment at MD Anderson at Cooper, and juxtaposes her current struggle with memories from her childhood in Asbury Park, born to a mother battling addiction and a father with a history of incarceration. This backdrop amplifies her resilience and prompts a broader reflection on what it means to live fully—and not just survive.
Sense of Urgency is being screened among the festival’s roster of independent films, documentaries, and shorts speaks volumes. NIFF’s packed six-day program features an abundance of screenings, workshops, panels, and masterclasses designed to support creatives at every stage—from pitch sessions to finance strategies.
Sense of Urgency stands out as a film that’s not only cinematic but catalytic—urging people to reevaluate, reclaim, and act on their dreams. Its presence at the 10th Annual Newark International Film Festival elevated its message, delivering a transcendent viewing experience nestled within discussions of creativity, resilience, and purpose.
