Wall High Grad Wins Film Festival Award

graduate and Hollywood film producer netted a comedy award for her first feature film at the Garden State Film Festival, held this past weekend.

“Hoplessly in June,’’ is a film about the clash of cultures between two people from vastly different backgrounds who find each other in the murky dating scene of Los Angeles. It won the Bud Abbott Award for feature-length comedy.

While it was not Vanore’s first film at the annual East Coast festival, it was the first full-length film she produced. , held in Asbury Park.

“Of course I’m excited because I’m from this area,’’ Vanore, who now lives in L.A., said. “We had a really good showing, a good turnout and we won the award. It was a really great experience.’’

Vanore, who graduated from in 2000, said production wrapped on the film about a year ago, but this was the first award it has received. The film features several well-known Hollywood actors, including a performance by Ed Asner, who also received a lifetime achievement award at the festival.

Vanore, who grew up on Squankum Road in Allenwood, took an interest in film from a young age, making movies and telling stories to present to her family. In high school, Vanore said she took an active interest in television and photography, while also playing on the high school soccer team and in the school band.

Vanore is now working on a new film, “Love in the time of Monsters,’’ which will begin shooting in the California redwoods in May, she said.