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Nature Unraveled: Eye-Opening Environmental Stories
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Get ready for an unparalleled screening at this year’s Garden State Film Festival! Film Block TA14 will showcase an exciting selection of accepted films on Sunday, March 30 from 11:30 AM - 1:45 PM at Asbury Hall.
This film block is proudly presented by our
Environmental & Sustainability Founding Sponsor,
New Jersey Natural Gas.
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Whether you’re into eye-opening stories, powerful visuals, or important global issues, this environmental block features documentaries, shorts, and more that shed light on the world’s most pressing ecological challenges.
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MYSTERIES OF THE 9° NORTH
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Dena Seidel is an award-winning science filmmaker and interdisciplinary social scientist, specializing in anthropology and storytelling to enhance science communication and sustainable food systems research. As a researcher at Rutgers University, she collaborates with scientists to create innovative science-in-action films. Seidel is the founding director of the Rutgers Center for Digital Filmmaking, where she helped design the BFA in digital filmmaking, and leads the Immersive Science Learning Through Storytelling Lab. With a master's in anthropology, her work emphasizes experiential learning, sustainable development, and food systems.
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Jeanpaul Isaacs
Cinematographer
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Jeanpaul Isaacs is a cinematographer and independent filmmaker with a passion for both documentary and narrative filmmaking. A Rutgers School of Communications graduate, Jeanpaul launched his documentary career with The Women of Nsgonwe, a short film about the agricultural initiatives of Dr. Jim Simon from Rutgers’ School of Environmental and Biological Sciences in Zambia. JP's diverse skill set spans both fiction and non-fiction storytelling, and he was honored to be part of the 2014 Academy Awards 'Team Oscar', a group of rising stars selected to represent the next generation of filmmakers.
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BITING BACK: THE LIFESAVING POTENTIAL
OF CATNIP
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Directed by Ori Doni and
Emily Schneider
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Watch the Trailer for Biting Back The Lifesaving Potential of Catnip:
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Daniel Feighery
Writer, Director,
& Producer
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Daniel Feighery is a New York-based director and cinematographer with experience on Oscar-winning films, presidential campaigns, Sundance documentaries, and Clio-winning commercials. With a background in painting, photography, and music, his early caregiving experience shaped the empathy he brings to his work. He trained with top cinematographers in the International Cinematographers Guild and has worked with directors like Ang Lee, Ridley Scott, and Spike Lee. Recognized by the American Society of Cinematographers in 2022, Daniel has won awards for his work on Inner City Fencers and Heaven. A grant recipient from the New York Foundation for the Arts, he also teaches cinematography at the New York Film Academy.
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Director's Statement
"I hope this film will encourage the importance of building the muscle to observe, contemplate, and look deeply at art and nature. To slow down, connect with our environment and help remind us what we can lose if we don’t take care of the world around us."
- Daniel Feighery
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Meet the Directors:
Mark Shapiro & Douglas Brian Miller
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Left to Right: Mark Shapiro, Douglas Brian Miller
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Mark Shapiro and Douglas Brian Miller, co-directors of the award-winning, Oscar-qualifying documentary Downwind (2023), have been collaborating since 2005. Their early work involved creating short-form content and mini documentaries for Monster.com's Diversity Leadership Program, supporting marginalized and underrepresented college students across the U.S. They have also produced and directed original content for global companies such as Starbucks, Apple, T-Mobile, The Home Depot, Boeing, and the U.S. Department of State.
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Watch the Trailer for The Invisible Enemy:
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Ben Berry, a Kirksville, MO native, has been passionate about filmmaking since he was 10. After earning a BS in Digital Cinematography from Full Sail University, he founded Mtn Craft in 2013. With a focus on team building and client relations, Ben has helped grow Mtn Craft from a solo venture to a dynamic 8-person creative team. As Director of Business Development, he guides the company’s growth while ensuring every project stays focused on storytelling and human connection.
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Watch the Preview for Beehold:
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Kateryna Kurganska
Writer & Director
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Kateryna Kurganska is a Ukrainian-American filmmaker based in Los Angeles, with roots in Eastern Ukraine. After moving to the U.S. as a refugee in 2014, she became a U.S. citizen in 2024. Kateryna holds an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. Her work has been recognized at notable festivals, including the Hawai'i International Film Festival, St. Louis Film Festival, and Cannes Film Festival. A Student DGA Award winner and College Television Awards nominee, she is known for her collaborative spirit and belief in the power of teamwork.
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Watch the Trailer for Two Breaths:
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Jeffrey Christian
Director
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Jeffrey Christian, co-founder of Side Road Media since 2016, has directed a range of commercials, branded documentaries, and episodic web series. With a 20-year career in television, his work has taken him from Ames, Iowa to LA, New York, Paris, and beyond. As a cinematographer, Jeff produced stories from The White House, three Olympic Games, and major global news events. His time as a staff photographer at NBC News in New York City saw his work featured on NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, and Dateline. Jeff has received two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, 20 regional Emmy Awards, and was a runner-up for Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association.
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Sludge: A PFAS Uprising | IMDb
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Secure your tickets now and join us for a spectacular celebration of cinema. We can’t wait to see you at the Garden State Film Festival and share these amazing films with you!
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THE GARDEN STATE FILM FESTIVAL is New Jersey's Premier Independent Film Festival®. Now in its 23rd year, the GSFF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a global destination festival that stimulates economic growth in New Jersey through the arts. It also promotes student creativity, makes the arts accessible to underserved populations and preserves heritage arts.
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