FIlm Commission, VFW Kick Off Spring Cliffhanger Film Festival

The Fort Lee Film Commission and the Fort Lee VFW kicked off the 2011 Spring Fort Lee FIlm Commission Cliffhanger Film Festival this past Saturday night, May 7, at the Jack Alter Fort Lee Community Center at 1355  Inwood Terrace.  A large crowd of local residents and veterans viewed parts 1 and 2 of Steven Spielberg's HBO mini series "The Pacific."

On hand to open the event was Fort Lee VFW Commander James Viola and New Jersey Hall of Fame Executive Director Don Jay Smith.  Commander Viola worked with the entire Fort Lee Post and veterans from around the state to petition the state Hall of Fame to induct New Jersey-born World War II  hero and Medal of Honor winner John Basilone.  

Marine Sgt. Basilone was killed in action at Iwo Jima.  Basilone's niece, Diane Hawkins, worked closely on this project with Commander Viola and spoke at the Film Commission program Saturday. We hope to invite Ms. Hawkins back to Fort Lee on July 2 to help us open our annual Fort Lee Film Commission Music & Movies Under the Stars program at the outdoor stage /green of the Community Center.  We hope to screen a trailer for her documentary on her uncle, "Legacy of a Hero," prior to our main screening that night.

The Cliffhanger Film Festival continues on the second floor of the Fort Lee Community Center every Saturday night at 7 p.m. through June 4 and is free to the public. This coming Saturday, May 14th, we will screen parts 3 and 4 of HBO's "The Pacific," and we thank both Time Warner Cable and HBO for allowing us to screen this great film and waiving the license fee. Their geneorisity makes it poossible for us  to honor a great American, John Basilone, and all veterans as we approach Memorial Day.

For more information visit www.fortleefilm.org or call (201) 693-2763.