The 2019 Garden State Film Festival Took Place March 27th-31st

Thousands of people attended the Garden State Film Festival’s 17th annual celebration in Asbury Park last weekend (March 27-31,2019). The spectacular event spanned FIVE DAYS for the first time in the Festival’s history, and welcomed over 26,000 celebrities, honorees, film industry execs and movie fans to multiple iconic venues throughout Asbury Park. In honor of the recently restored New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program, state VIPs Governor Phil Murphy and Secretary of State Tahesha Way helped to launch the Festivities at GSFF’s elegant star-studded Red Carpet Gala Networking Event and Cocktail Party. The Festival included networking opportunities, industry workshops, informative panel discussions, open talent casting call, live screenplay reading, star-studded red carpet gala and entertaining parties – all in addition to the screenings of over 245 films from over 20 countries around the globe. The weekend culminated with the 2019 Garden State Film Festival Awards Gala Dinner event on Sunday evening, where this year’s honorees were recognized and Festival winners were announced. This was also the first year GSFF recognized actors with awards.

Several of the more notable winners at this year's Garden State Film Festival were:

Narrative Feature
“Burning Kentucky”
Bethany Brooke Anderson, Ben Fuqua, Elsa Ramo and Ryan Lacen, Producers
Bethany Brooke Anderson, Director

International Narrative Feature
“The Bird Catcher”
Lisa Black and Leon Clarence, Producers
Ross Clarke, Director

M. Carroll Raver Award for Cinematography
John Christian Rosenlund
“The Bird Catcher”

Horror Feature
“Clinton Road”
Steve Stanulis, Richard Grieco and Noel Ashman, Producers
Steve Stanulis and Richard Grieco, Directors

Narrative Short
“Missed”
Niels Neeskens and Fokke Baarssen, Producers
Fokke Baarssen, Director

Science Fiction Short
“The Beacon”
Chris Staehler, Christopher P. Purdy and Thomas Haley-Hermiz, Producers
Chris Staehler, Director

Lou Costello Award for Comedy Short
“Swung”
Keith Armonaitis and Fokke Baarssen, Producers
Fokke Baarssen, Director

International Narrative Short
"Are You Volleyball?"
(Iran)
Nima Rabiei, Producer
Mohammad Bakhshi, Director

International Comedy Short
“Kapital”
(Russia)
Ivan Perekatov and Natalia Bannikova, Producers
Ivan Perekatov, Director

Emanuel “Manny” Berlingo Award for Best Feature Length Documentary
“Funny You Never Knew”
Andrew Hunt, Producer/Director

Short Documentary
“One Less Flight”
Jennifer Hahn and Alan Goldsher, Producer
Jennifer Hahn, Director

International Short Documentary
“Portrait of the Milliner as yer man himself”
(Ireland/Canada)
Godfrey Jordan, Producer/Director

Animated Short
“Two Balloons”
Mark C. Smith, Producer/Director
Teresa Darling, Naomi Fish, Wendy Fuller, Beth Gavigan, Javan Ivey, Misha Klein, Sihanouk Mariona, Vanessa Pridgen, Bartiek Prusiewicz and Suzanne Twining, Animators

Commercial
“Art of Play”
Dan Buck and Dave Buck, Producers
Homer Liwag, Director

Web Series/New Media
“Hooked”
Brittany Portman, Producer
Anthony Patellis, Director

Music Video
“Waiting Tables”
Sakinah Iman, Producer
Evan Seplow and Sakinah Iman, Directors

Trailer
“Shady Glen”
Ron Harner, Director

Feature – College
“Olympia”
(DePaul University)
Elliott Lonsdale, Lucy Lola Manda and Gregory Dixon, Producers
Gregory Dixon, Director

Narrative Short – College
“The Chrysalis”
(Quinnipiac University)
Matt Kravitsky, Richard Olsen and Ross Cohen, Producers
Matt Kravitsky, Director

Documentary Short - College
“Reberth”
(Rowen University)
Montana Marose, Peter Chamalian and Tyler Kubicz, Producers
Peter Chamalian, Director

International Narrative Short – College
“Toward the Sun”
(London School of Film)
Rosa Santis, Producer
Monica Santis, Director

Narrative Short – High School
“Grab Him by the-”
(Interlochen Arts Academy, MI)
Lane McKenna, Director

Documentary Short – High School
“Inclusion on the Air”
(Mamaroneck High School, NY)
Eli Canter, Director

The Garden State Film Festival would like to recognize films shot in the State of New Jersey with the following winners in the “Home Grown Award” categories:

Home Grown Feature
“The Incoherents”
Alex Emanuel, Jared Barel, Jeff Auer and Jordan Barel, Producers
Jared Barel, Director

Home Grown Documentary Feature
“Roadie My Documentary”
TJ Hoffmann, Producer
Andy Strohl, Director

Home Grown Short
“Scar”
Alison Hale, Jo Sanford, David Ramirez and Spencer Bacon, Producers
Alison Hale, Director

Home Grown Comedy Short
“Masters”
Mark Ward and Shannon Meehan, Producers
Mark Ward, Director

Home Grown Documentary Short
“First Steps”
Lou Marillier, Chloe Mamelok and Sara Obeidat, Producers
Lou Marillier and Chloe Mamelok, Directors

Home Grown Music Video
“Everybody Said”
Brian Ostering, Producer
Amanda Duncan, Director

Home Grown Commercial
Nike Spec Commercial “Can’t Catch the Dark”– 126 (38)
Jordan Hidalgo, Director

Home Grown Student Short - College
“Catalina”
(Montclair)
Afrotwin Productions and Paola Ossa, Producers
Poala Ossa, Director

Home Grown Student Documentary Short - High School
“Sonic Highways Middletown”
(Middletown South High School)
Keeley Giblin, Jolene Gianone and Toria Pater, Directors

Home Grown Student Short - High School
“Tillie”
(Fieldston)
Olivia Anton, Writer/Director

Home Grown Student Short - High School Honorable Mention
“The Art of Observation”
(Howell High School)
Annie Fleisch, Director

Home Grown Student PSA - High School
“Are you Enough”
(Communications High School)
Summer Ward, Director

The Garden State Film Festival Movie Music Competition Winners:

Best Theme From A Comedy
"He's A Beautiful Boy (Theme from Lil' Balzac)"
Composer: Jan van Oene
Performed by: Jan van Oene, Evan Lincoln, and Shannon Burke

Best Orchestration From A Documentary
"World Water Puerto Rico – Main Theme"
Composer: Kenneth Blaine
Performed by: Kenneth Blaine

Best Theme From A Home Grown Feature
"The Hospital Room"
Composers: Alan Parness & Larry Weissblum
Performed by: The Stonebridge Jammers

Best Orchestration From An Animation
"Never Give Up"
Composed, orchestrated and conducted by: Sandrine Rudaz
Performed by: Seattle Studio Musicians

Best Musical Score from a Short
"Circus Fantasy"
Composer: Kevin Stahl
Conducted by: Kevin Stahl

Best Musical Score from a Feature
"Fox Medicine”
Composer: Josh Coffey and Otto Sharp
Performed by: Josh Coffey, Otto Sharp, Stephen Montgomery

Home Grown Alternative Rock
"How the Hell Am I Getting Home?"
Composer: Milan Lazistan III, John Busse, Edwin Estevez Jr.
Performed by: Milan & The Sour Goat III

Best Ballad From A Short Film
"Wild One” (The Ballad of Brando)
Composer: Philip Curcuru
Performed by: The Atomik Age Project

Best Pop Song
"Far Away Places"
Composed by: Toni Cornell
Performed by: Toni Cornell

Best Orchestration From An Animated Short
“Skip Rescues Pip”
Composer: Cristina “Trinity” Vélez-Justo

Best Music From a Home Grown Student -Elementary School
"MP News Theme"
Composer: Robert Shiffman

Best Home Grown Pop Duet
"You"
Composed by: Marc McBarron
Performed by: Marc McBarron Kessler and Aileen Quinn

Garden State Screenplay Competition Winner
Drew Henriksen
“A Brooklyn Christmas”

The Garden State Film Festival (“GSFF”) is proud to announce the winners for its first ever acting awards:

Best Actor – Feature Film
Jeff Burrell – “Robin”

Best Actress – Feature Film
Sarah-Sofie Boussnina – “The Bird Catcher”

Best Supporting Actor – Feature Film
Jacob Cedergren – “The Bird Catcher”

Best Supporting Actress – Feature Film
Talulah Riley – “The Last Witness”

Best Actor – Short Film
Dan Franko – “The Recursion Theorem”

Best Actress – Short Film
Casey Landman – “Scar”

Best Supporting Actor – Short Film
Matt Riker – “Let Mercy Come”

Best Supporting Actress – Short Film
Michelle Hurst – “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home”

Ensemble Acting
“Breathing”
Ali Ataeehoor, Salar Daryamadj, Hamed Sheikhi, Saeed Ahmadi, Hesam Kalantari, Meysam Damanze, Sajad Rostami and Arash Gholam Azad

Honorees

Honorary Chair
Dr. David Stout

Broader Vision
John R. Elliott Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers

MVP
Kim Waltrip

Educators of the Year
Erin Gomez & Linda Krebs

Exceptional Women in Film Award
Lisa G. Black

Spirit of New Jersey
Brian O'Halloran

The Garden State Film Festival Rising Star Award for Acting
Allison Strong

Independent Spirit Award
August Diehl

A complete listing of all winners can be found at: https://www.gsff.org/winners/

•Dr.David Stout –2019 Honorary Chair: Dr. David Stout currently serves as President of Brookdale Community College. Prior to his selection as the College’s 7th President, David served in various roles at Brookdale over 21 years, including Vice President for Student Success, Dean of Enrollment Development and Student Affairs, Dean of the Freehold Campus, Department Chair and Professor of Psychology and Human Services, Student Development Specialist, and Learning Assistant. As President, Dr. Stout has enacted strategies to predict and influence enrollment trends, address facility needs, analyze and control expenditures, update major institutional strategic plans, build financial reserves, and develop programs that address the needs of Monmouth County residents.

•Kim Waltrip– 2019 MVP: Director, producer, actress and long time GSFF supporter and friend, Kim Waltrip started her career as a model in New York City. Her projects have premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival and Palm Springs Film Festival. She has been the catalyst to bring GSFF some of its favorite films as well as VIPs.

•Lisa G. Black – Exceptional Women in Film Award: The Producer of this year’s opening film, The Bird Catcher, Ms. Black founded her company Garnet Girl, LLC with a niche focus on content international co-ventures. Successfully producing award-winning international independent feature films in ten years of launching her company. Ms. Black is a member of the Producers Guild of America, Co- Founder, US-Norway Film Development Initiative. Board of Directors for the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce-Philadelphia, Board member of the United States Economic Small & Medium Business Council, Former Co-Chair, Delaware Film & Television Board. Ms. Black holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategic Leadership, and BA in English Literature. Often a speaker and panelist at industry trade events and festivals providing valuable insight on international co -production, brand marketing, and analytics. Some of Ms. Black's other film production credits include: Miles starring Molly Shannon, Almost Paris, Dear Annabel, Indigo Valley, Afterlands and Dulcinea de Las Vegas.

•Brian O’Halloran – Spirit of New Jersey: Brian O’Halloran was born on December 20, 1969 in New York City, New York, USA as Brian Christopher O’Halloran. He is an actor and producer, known for Clerks (1994), Mallrats (1995) and Clerks II (2006).Brian has been working in film and theater industry for over 30 years. He started performing in live theater in high school but it was with his first film role being Dante Hicks in Kevin Smith’s 1994 cult indie hit Clerks, it is the role he is most noted for. Brian has worked with some of the film industry’s best such as Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, George Carlin, John Leguizamo, Rosario Dawson, Ally Sheedy. Brian has been in over 30 film productions such as Kevin Smith’s: Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Vulgar, Clerks 2, and The Canadian film and LIIFE award-winning Drop Dead Roses. He worked with director M. Night Shyamalan on The Happening and director James L. Brooks’ comedy How do you know? He also worked on director Steven Mena’s film Brutal Massacre– a comedy also a LIIFE award winner. His work on television includes Kevin Smith’s TV show on AMC Comic Book Men and Clerks the Animated Series on ABC. He has also been a voice on the Pokemon cartoon TV and movie series. Brian has attended numerous film festivals around the world, including Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto. He has be a jury member and awards host at the Nashville, Long Island, Humboldt, and Phoenix film festivals. As well as being involved in the development of a number of new plays and films in the past few years, he has jumped on the other side of the camera producing independent films. He currently has three films in post-production. As well as working with Jason Mewes on Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, he worked with Jason on and looks forward to the release of Jason’s directorial debut of Madness in the Method. He also continues to work with production companies to produce and perform in theater productions. When not working on films or plays he can be seen around the world at various Comic Cons and Comedy clubs. You can follow him on Twitter & Instagram: @BrianCOHalloran

•Allison Strong – Rising Star Award: The award, which recognizes up-and-coming actors for achievements in theater, film and television, is open to actors of all ages and affiliations. Eligible candidates must showcase an undeniable passion for acting, with a progression of work in theater, commercials, television or film. Actress and singer Allison Strong was born and raised in Hudson County, New Jersey and is proud of her Colombian heritage. She can be seen starring alongside Adam Sandler and Chris Rock in the Netflix original feature The Week Of, released on April 27th in 2018. She is currently recurring as 'Talia Goldstein' in Season Two of the Emmy-winning Amazon Series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Strong’s other television credits include NBC’s The Blacklist and Nickelodeon’s Dora and Friends. As a teenager, Strong made her Broadway debut as an ensemble cast member of Bye Bye Birdie. She has since gone on to perform in the Broadway cast of Mamma Mia, while simultaneously completing her studies as a Musical Theater Major and honors student at Montclair State University. She also starred as 'Ado Annie' in Daniel Fish’s Oklahoma! at Bard Summerscape. Ben Brantley of the New York Times called her performance “captivating.” Strong’s theater aspirations began at age 9, when she became a member of the Metropolitan Opera Children’s chorus and appeared in productions of Carmen and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Strong is an alumna of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Songwriter’s Project and ASCAP’s Pop Songwriter’s Project. In 2014, she released her debut album March Towards The Sun and was featured in Diego Luna’s Fusion Network documentary series Back Home, filmed in her family’s native Colombia. She continues to record original music in English and Spanish, and will be releasing a new single early this year.

• August Diehl -Independent Spirit Award: August starred in Stefan Ruzowitzky’s The Counterfeiters, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2007. He is best known for his stand out performances in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds and Salt opposite Angelina Jolie. He has most recently been seen as one of the leads in Stephen Poliakoff’s Close To The Enemy for BBC1 and in cinemas in Robert Zemeckis’ Allied for Paramount with Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. August can next be seen playing lead roles in Raoul Peck’s Le Jeune Karl Marx, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and in Terrence Malick’s highly anticipated Radegund. He has just wrapped on the independent features, The Bird Catcher and Thomas Vinterberg’s Kursk.

• The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers® - 2019 Broader Vision Award For Filmmaking Dedicated To The Greater Good: A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preventing drunk driving deaths and injuries by promoting the use of responsible designated drivers. The HERO Campaign was established by the family of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, who was killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver in July 2000, two months after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. The HERO Video Network produces and showcases videos honoring victims of drunk driving tragedies, videos made by high school students to promote the use of designated drivers, commercials and news and event videos. As part of an exciting student-initiative, the Campaign works with high school students across the state, asking them to develop ideas, create and then submit public-service announcement videos that promote being a designated driver. The videos are then uploaded to social media and the HERO Campaign student website.

•Linda Krebs 2019 Educator of the Year: Linda Krebs has over 20 years of experience in public education in New Jersey. Starting out as a teacher for the Gifted & Talented, Linda went on to teach middle school language arts and then became a school library media specialist, taking on additional roles as enrichment coordinator, technology coach, and returning to her roots as a teacher of the gifted and talented. Currently Linda is the school library media specialist at HW Mountz School in Spring Lake, a position she loves. She has experience in the public school environment working with students from preschool through grade 8. Linda received her BA in American Studies from Drew University; an MA in American Studies from the University of Wyoming; completed graduate education courses through Kean University, and holds a Master of Library & information Science from Rutgers University. Linda is an active member of the Shore Consortium for the Gifted & Talented, an organization dedicated to providing curriculum-driven enriching opportunities to smaller school districts.

•Erin Gomez 2019 Educator of the Year: Erin Gomez has over 20 years teaching experience within the state of NJ. After receiving her BA in Education from East Stroudsburg University, PA, she started her career as a Kindergarten teacher at St. Jerome School in West Long Branch, NJ. Five years later she began working in the Keansburg School District as a 5th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. During this time period, Erin earned her MA in Education with a Reading Specialist Certification from Georgian Court University. For the last 15 years, Erin has been instructing the Gifted and Talented Program. She enjoys working with the G&T students in grades 2-8 and providing enrichment to the first grade students of the district. She is an active member and Secretary of the Shore Consortium for the Gifted & Talented, an organization dedicated to providing curriculum-driven enriching opportunities to Gifted Students in some of Monmouth County’s smaller school districts.

Other filmmakers and actors who attended the 2019 Garden State Film Festival included: Kate Walsh, Ronnie Marmo and Arthur Hakalahti.

Lauren Concar Sheehy, Garden State Film Festival Executive Director, describes this year’s Festival as being “absolutely impressive” with “filmmakers and fans from around the world networking and enjoying themselves.” Sheehy says, “This year, we celebrated the Festival’s 17th anniversary, and it truly was a great celebration! We screened over 245 outstanding films from around the world. Plus attendees took advantage of the networking opportunities throughout the weekend. Overall, everyone really seemed to enjoy the films and the workshops and parties… It was a lot of fun! Thank you and congratulations to all the participants, and especially to this year’s honorees and winners.”

Garden State Film Festival Founder Diane Raver says, “We are so impressed by the thousands of entries we receive for the Festival each year, and this year was no exception! Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating our 17th Anniversary! We hope to see you next year for our 18th annual Festival."

The official call for entries for the 2020 Garden State Film Festival will start on June 1st this year, with the entry deadline set for December 1, 2019. For more information, please visit the Garden State Film Festival website at www.gsff.org or call 877-908-7050.