Local Filmmaker Wins Award at Garden State Film Festival

Seven13 Films and New Jersey-based PEI Kids will be recognized with the Broader Vision Award from the Garden State Film Festival on Sunday April, 2nd in Atlantic City. Seven13films is made up of award-winning filmmakers Joseph A. Halsey and Bellmore resident Lee Kolinsky. PEI Kids is a not-for-profit organization, whose mission is dedicated to promoting and maintaining a safe environment for all children.

Together, these companies produced the documentary film, PEI Kids: Generation Change, a film that interviews adjudicated and at-risk Trenton city youth and how they would solve current problems in their community. The film’s director and producer Joseph A. Halsey is New Jersey resident grew up in Trenton and is excited to have been recognized for the social awareness movie.

"The idea is to inspire young people to seek out the art of filmmaking by exposing them to the process right in their own back yard," said Joseph A. Halsey, co-owner of seven13 films. “We are hoping to bring the filming process into areas where film companies typically don’t operate.”

Moderator of the film and National Correspondent, ABC News Adrienne Bankert said, "Working on this project was a gift. It was definitely a learning lesson for the youth, and for me. Some of the best moments were when cameras stopped rolling and we talked about their dreams for career and the future. At the end of the day we all just want to be heard and appreciated."

The world premiere of PEI Kids: Generation Change will be shown at the Garden State Film Festival on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at Dante Hall Theater, 14 N. Mississippi Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401. The Gala where seven13 films and PEI Kids will receive the award will be at the Resorts Hotel in Atlantic City.

“It’s an honor to show our film as well as be recognized by the Garden State Film Festival with this award, “said Lee Kolinsky, Co-owner of Seven13 Films. “We created Seven13 Films in hopes to bring people together through the art of filmmaking while at the same time saying something about the world we live in and how it can be improved for everyone.”

PEI Kids’ mission is dedicated to promoting and maintaining a safe environment for all children. The agency’s Juvenile Intervention Services programs work with first-and second-time juvenile offenders and youth at-risk of juvenile justice involvement, helping them change the trajectory of their lives. Executive Director Roz Dashiell explains, “I welcome opportunities that give our youth a platform to share their voice and tell their story. It is important that our young people have a seat at the table for these discussions because with their insight, we can start to consider the appropriate point of entry to bring healing around some of the issues that fracture our community.”

About seven13 films

Seven13 films is made up of award-winning filmmakers Joseph A. Halsey and Lee Kolinsky. Seven13 films is dedicated to providing social messages that spark conversation through the art of filmmaking. With several years of experience in television and film, seven13 films offers comprehensive media strategies designed to drive education, awareness, community outreach and engagement on important public issues. To learn more about seven13 Films visit http://seven13films.nyc.