New Jersey Actress Rachel Kordell Wins Best Actress Award, Championing Local Storytelling and Equity in Film
Montclair, NJ – October 2nd, 2025 — Paramus native Rachel Kordell was awarded Best Actress in a Thriller, Sci-Fi, or Fantasy at the New Jersey Web Festival (NJ Webfest) for her performance in the short film Mori. The festival, held September 25–28 in Montclair, NJ, also honored Mori with the award for Outstanding Sci-Fi.
This marks Kordell’s first nomination and win for acting. A 2013 graduate of Paramus High School, Kordell went on to study Film Production at Hofstra University, graduating in 2017. Since then, she has worked within the film industry while building her acting career, choosing to remain based in New Jersey where she has lived her entire life.
Rachel’s award arrives at a pivotal moment for New Jersey, as the state continues to expand its presence in the national film industry. With the New Jersey Film Division strengthening incentives for filmmakers and Netflix’s state-of-the-art studio at Fort Monmouth slated to open in 2028, local talent like Rachel is at the forefront of showcasing the Garden State’s creative power.
In her acceptance speech, Kordell reflected on the challenges facing actresses in the industry and underscored the importance of valuing women as storytellers:
“Women have value. As a woman, as someone who has dreamed of [this,] my work and my craft and the things that I put into it is how I fight that systematic thing that doesn’t belong in our art. Regardless of who you are, regardless of what your gender or how you present yourself, you are valuable as a storyteller. So to specifically all of the women or femme-presenting people in this room, thank you. This is also for us.”
As New Jersey evolves into a hub for film and television, Rachel Kordell stands at the intersection of local artistry and global storytelling — a voice for both her community and the broader call for equity in entertainment.
Kordell will next appear on stage in Dead Body of Truth, part of the Sex Jokes & Murder Festival at the Vino Theater in Brooklyn, NY. Performances run October 13, 14, and 15 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available at sourgrapesproductions.com/tickets.
You can watch Rachel’s full acceptance speech here:
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About Rachel Kordell
Rachel Kordell is an actress, filmmaker, and producer from Paramus, NJ. A 2013 graduate of Paramus High School and 2017 graduate of Hofstra University’s Film Production program, she has worked across film, theater, and digital media, blending performance with a dedication to independent storytelling. She is a producer of the improv narrative podcast RP Jesters and streams live on Twitch as MajorasRose. You can follow her journey and find more of her work by following @rachelkordell on most social media platforms.
Photo caption: Rachel pictured with family at the screening. (left to right) Mike Annatone, Caroline Annatone, Rachel Kordell, Ruthann Kordell, Raymond Kordell. Saturday 9/27
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