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WORLDWIDE - The Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) presented more than +240 independent films to +15,000 viewers virtually through parallel and dynamic digital streaming in light of the global COVID-19 crisis, and the announcement from the Governor of the State of New Jersey further restricting public gatherings.
GSFF, a grossly underfunded 501(C)(3) executed what other larger and much healthier funded festivals could not and built its own streaming platform in record time and to present securely and on schedule. One upside to this year’s digital experience: Movie lovers around the globe viewed the films. Without delay, the GSFF team worked around the clock to be the first film festival during the COVID-19 Pandemic to live stream over +240 films from around the world to an audience of over +15,000 viewers globally.
The festival, which typically draws more than 25,000 attendees to the Shore town, screens local, national and international movies. GSFF brings the newest wave of indie films but this year our filmmakers were able to reach film lovers all over the world as the data shows we screened in the Netherlands, Ireland, The UAE, The UK, Canada, Italy, Australia, Finland, Belgium, and Croatia to name a few. It brings great joy to the team to have brought a film gathering to your living room at a time when we needed it the most.
Fans who participated in an unprecedented four-day, live-stream event on computers, tablets, and mobile phones found the perfect antidote through innovative entertainment during self-isolation, enjoying popcorn in their PJ's while streaming hundreds of feature-length films, shorts, documentaries, animation, student films, premieres, and more top-quality cinematic showmanship. The fans even had a chance to get interact with the filmmakers. Following each screening block, viewers enjoyed filmmaker talkbacks on Facebook and the audience loved being interactive.
Each film played during their scheduled time over the four-day event. GSFF plays a vital part in educating and showcasing the next generation of filmmakers and had over 40 High school films screen on Saturday and Sunday morning. This year, there were more than 50 world premieres, 80 New Jersey premieres, two dozen East Coast premieres and 15 United States premieres. Visit gsff.org to learn more.
Executive Director, Lauren Concar Sheehy & Vice Chair, Heather Brittain O’Scanlon hosted the Awards Ceremony on Facebook Live by practicing safe social distancing in the comfort of matching pj’s, where the best in various categories of films and celebrity honorees were recognized. A list of winners is included below.
The 2020 Garden State Film Festival, which brings over 25,000 attendees annually, was set to take place over 5 days in Asbury Park, from Wednesday, 25 - Sunday, 29 March 2020. Although, GSFF is an international festival that screens locally within venues found in the city of Asbury Park, NJ, and the surrounding area the GSFF 2020 digital experience provides a new reach, global in scale, to a legion of film fans who can now view the festival on their computer, tablets, or mobile devices and from the comfort of their own homes.
Celebrating its 18th anniversary, the artistic philosophy of the Garden State Film Festival is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and underscores this spirit through dramatic screenings and unparalleled film collaborations attracting a diverse audience. Each year the Garden State Film Festival presents world premieres, high-profile films, industry panels, and celebrity guests. The 2020 edition, now launching via live stream, will deliver a five-day online program stocked with over 240 films, for accredited ticket buyers to view virtually within the wake of coronavirus considerations.
MEDIA REQUESTS Interested media who wish to interview Garden State Film Festival Executives, film talent, obtain screening entry please contact WORKHOUSE, CEO, Adam Nelson via email nelson@workhousepr.com
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Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director, Garden State Film Festival, said,
“I am intensely proud of our team. We believed in the opportunity to venture into a new digital frontier that could serve as a blueprint for festivals worldwide.”
"We had a blast bringing global film fans GSFF 2020 through online and virtual exposures. We continue to engage audiences on an emotional level. We wanted to remove barriers and enable those around the globe to access a “gathering” during a time where social distance is mandatory. We know there a positive impact on the relationship between arts and mental health. Events increase positive attitudes, including positive representations of people’s contributions, capabilities and potential to recover and this online event will have the same impact.“
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Garden State Film Festival, Director of Operations, Kristen Dirato commented,
“We were blown away by the number of people who tuned in to our 18th festival. Our legions of fans backed our monumental decision to stream online and they turned out in record numbers considering the pandemic. Thank you to everyone who was a part of a weekend we will never forget.”
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On the importance of the festival carrying on in this time of crisis Garden State Film Festival, Chairman of the Board, Eric Ascalon stated,
“Over this past weekend, with a shoestring budget, a small underpaid staff, some brilliant technicians, a legion of dedicated volunteers, a whole lot of passion, and a little bit of luck, we became the first indie festival in this Covid-19 world to essentially transform its complete real-time schedule, a weekend of 200+ films, from “live venues” to “livestreams”. Other festivals will follow our nimble lead, and still, others have or will cancel altogether, and that to me is unfortunate.”
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Narrative Feature
“Foster Boy”
Andrew Sugerman, Peter Samuelson, Anne-Marie Mackay, Jay Paul Deratany-Producers
Youssef Delara- Director
International Narrative Feature
“Be Good or be Gone”
Les Martin, Declan Mills, Catha Nally, Cainneach McEoin- Producers
Cathal Nally-Director
Family Feature
“Team Marco”
Sam Sandweiss-Producer
Julio Vincent Gambuto- Director
Bud Abbott Award for Comedy Feature
The Bellmen
Jason Adler, Cameron Fife, Kim Waltrip, Ken Schur, Michael J. Wickham, Samantha Herman, Beau Johnson-Producers
Cameron Fife-Director
M. Carroll Raver Award for Cinematography
“Guru Nanak”
Adam Krell
Horror/Thriller Feature
“Dark Harbor”
Edwin P Stevens, Cecilia E Stevens, Cory Pyke- Producers
Joe Raffa-Director
Narrative Short
“Pipe Dream”
Chris King, Heather King-Producers
Chris King- Director
Narrative Short-International
“It’s Me”
Andrea Casaseca- Producer/Director
Lou Costello Award for Comedy Short
“Age of Bryce”
Brian Elliott, David Feagan-Producer/Directors
International Student-University
Comedy Short
“The West Kerry Cowboy”
Peter Kilmartin-Producer
Cian O Connor-Director
Family Short
“Tati's Fashion Show”
Stephanie Angel, Amir Arison-Producers
Amir Arison- Director
Emanuel “Manny” Berlingo Award Best Feature Documentary
“STALLONE: Frank, That Is”
Chris May, Emmett James-Producers
Derek Wayne Johnson-Director
Best International Feature Documentary
“Guru Nanak: The Founder of Sikhism - Life and Legacy”
Adam Krell-Producer
Gerald Krell- Producer/Directors
Best Short Documentary
“Tofino is a Place”
James Clower-Producer
Ryan Struck- Producer/Director
International Short Documentary
“Arrival Archives”
Suze Armstrong-Producer
Maya Bastian-Producer/Director
Animated Short
“Burning Bright”
Lisa Benson, Franceska Bucci, Aaron Bierman-Producer
Aaron Bierman-Director
International Animated Short
United Kingdom
“Master Moley By Royal Invitation”
Tony Nottage-Producer
Leon Joosen-Director
International Commercial
“Life is a Beautiful Journey”
Sven Greif-Producer/Director
Web Series/New Media
“Detention Adventure”
Executive Producer(s): Lauren Corber, Joe Kicak,
Carmen Albano & Karen Moore
Director: Joe Kicak
Producer: Ryan West
Music Video
“Slow Dance”
Taylor Bradshaw-Producer
Travis Jones- Director
Trailer
“Bharal”
Kathryn Carmichael-Producer
Jake L. Reid-Director
TV Pilot
Divorce School
Julie Zelman-Producer
Dana Marisa Schoenfeld- Producer/Director
Short University Graduate School
“A Home for Curiosities”
Shannon Ryan-Producer
Ben Tobin-Producer/Director
International Short Documentary University
Italy
“Amici del Mare”
Jackson Klarsfeld, Anthony Vitale, Benjamin Thomas Ward-Producers
Tara Guaimano-Director
International Narrative Short – High School
Croatia
“Zoe “
Stjepan Kefelja-Producer
Marta Krunić, Director
Short Animation – High School
“Margo “
(Light House Studio)
Amelia Maxham-Producer/ Director
Libby Slaughter-Producer/ Director
Ben Clark-Producer/ Director
Summers Worthington-Producer/ Director
Johnny Krosby-Groner-Producer/ Director
Jhael J. Rasheed-Producer/ Director
Victoria Stiefvater-Producer/ Director
Conrad Heins-Producer/ Director
Nicholas Tennery-Producer/ Director
Jago Gould-Producer/ Director
Short Documentary – High School
“Dancing on Black & White”
(Metuchen High School)
John Li, Director
NJ Hometown Documentary Short – High School
Barry Rosezweig
(Jackson Liberty High School)
Amber Buckley, Alivia McGarry- Directors
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
“Exit O”
Gregory Voigt-Producer
E.B. Hughes-Producer/Director
Home Grown Short
“Ironrite”
Kelsey Combe-Producer
Clayton Combe-Producer/Director
Home Grown Comedy Short
“Yet Another”
Eric Hartmann-Producer
Tim Disbrow-Producer/Director
Home Grown Animation Short
“Country Things”
B.E.F. Oakes-Producer/Director
Home Grown Animation Short Family
“Kazumi Racecar Pig”
David McBride-Director
Home Grown Documentary Short
“Unclaimed Remains”
Ernie Diorio, Richard Gough, Carol Redlund-Producers
Thomas Phillips-Producer/Director
Home Grown Commercial
Bayshore Center Promo
Collin Pritchard-Producer/Director
Home Grown Student Documentary Short – High School
Relay for Life
(Bridgewater - Ridge High School)
Julia Schnarr-Producer/ Director
Home Grown Student PSA – High School
Words Kill
(Washington Township High School)
Jenna Epley-Director
The Garden State Film Festival Movie Music Competition Winners
Best Orchestration from A Documentary
“Determined - Triumphant Theme”
Composer: Steven Chesne
Performed by: Virtual Instruments
Best Rap Song from a Short
“Comatose”
Composers: Jeremiah Kaufman
Performed by: Jeremiah Kaufman
Best Americana Orchestration from a Narrative Short
“Jake’s Beginnings”
Composer: Cristina "Trinity" Vélez-Justo
Performed by: Virtual Instruments
Best Musical Score from a Historical Drama Short
"Julie’s Theme"
Composer: Pancho Burgos-Goizueta
Performed by: Pancho Burgos-Goizueta
Best Blue Grass Orchestration from a Narrative Feature
"Days of Whiskey and Sunshine”
Composer: Cristina "Trinity" Vélez-Justo
Performed by: Virtual Instruments
Best Period Piece
"Henry the VIII”
Composer: Guy Renardeau
Performed by: Guy Renardeau
Best Musical Score from a Stop Motion Short
“Friends With Death”
Composer: Zac Silva & James McCaffrey
Performed by: Zac Silva, James McCaffrey, Kevin Grossman,
Emily Grove & Cody McCorry
End Title Theme from a Feature Documentary
"My Father’s Brothers”
Composer: Cristina "Trinity" Vélez-Justo
Performed by: Virtual Instruments
Best HomeGrown Indie Pop
“Bets Against the Void”
Composer: Elizabeth Lehman
Performed by: The Scary Jokes
Best Rap Theme from a Documentary Feature
“I’m a Movement”
Composed by: Intelligenz
Performed by: Intelligenz
Best Orchestration from An Animated Short
“The Ribbon”
Composer: Jonathan Galland
Performed by: Virtual Instruments
Best Orchestration from An International Mini-Series
“Walpurgisnacht – Die Mädchen und der Tod”
Composed by: Mathias Rehfeldt
Performed by: Mathias Rehfeldt
Garden State Screenplay Competition Winner-Short
“Standing in Water”
Kathleen Caprario-Ulrich
Garden State Screenplay Competition Winner-Feature Length
“The Last of the Burly Girls”
John Pisano-Thomsen
The Garden State Film Festival (“GSFF”) is proud to announce the winners for its acting awards.
BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURE
Shane Paul McGhie - "Foster Boy"
BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURE
Jessica Sipos - "Dark Harbor"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A FEATURE
Garry Pastore – “Shooting Heroin”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A FEATURE
Jenny-Lee Masterson – “Be Good or Be Gone”
BEST ENSEMBLE (FEATURE)
“Foster Boy”
Matthew Modine, Shane Paul McGhie, Lex Scott Davis, Julie Benz, Amy Brenneman
Evan Handler, Louis Gossett Jr., Michael Hyatt, Michael Beach, Dominic Burgess, Jordan Belfi, Krystian Alexander Lyttle
BEST ACTOR IN A SHORT
TJ Thyne – "Extra Innings"
BEST ACTRESS IN A SHORT
DeAnna Toten Beard – “Age of Bryce”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A SHORT
Josiah Schreiber – “Walking Point"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A SHORT
Marta Belenguer – “It’s Me”
Honorary Chair
Jack Ford
Icon Award
Linda Hamilton
Lifetime Achievement
Matthew Modine
Patriot Award
Robert Patrick
Independent Spirit
Tara Wood
Home Grown Hero
David Burke
Exceptional Women In Film
Arianna Bocco
Broader Vision Award
Rock And Roll Forever Foundation
MVP
Nick Falcone
Educator of the Year
Robin Kampf
Rising Star
Ashley Platz
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THE GARDEN STATE FILM FESTIVAL was born in 2002 after a chance encounter in a Sea Girt, New Jersey grocery store by film industry veteran Diane Raver and the well-known Hollywood actor Robert Pastorelli. Through their deep ties to Hollywood, Mr. Pastorelli and Ms. Raver were able to bring an all-encompassing event to the State of New Jersey. It premiered in 2003 and was immediately deemed a huge success. Since that time, industry notables such as Glenn Close, Christopher Lloyd, Batman producer Michael Uslan, Austin Pendleton, Kurtwood Smith, James Gandolfini, Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen, Lainie Kazan, Diane Ladd, Laura Dern, Bebe Neuwirth, Armand Asante, Sally Struthers and our biggest supporter Ed Asner as well as others have lent their support. The artistic philosophy of the Garden State Film Festival is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and the creation of a forum where local and other independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. It was also created to pay tribute to New Jersey’s legacy as the birthplace of the American filmmaking industry in Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratories where he invented the first film cameras and projectors, to Fort Lee, where the original studios were founded. Our event provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in careers in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals in an atmosphere conducive to learning and mentoring. Further, we are happy to present each spring in Asbury Park and to serve as an added engine for the city’s vitality through arts, commerce, and culture. For more information visit https://www.gsff.org
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