The Stars Will Shine at the Garden State Film Festival

The Festival opens with its sold out red carpet Friday night Gala cocktail party at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park on March 24th and its first screening: The Baker featuring Ron Perlman, Harvey Keitel, Elias Koteas, Joel David Moore, and Emma Ho in this action film.
 

Billionaire Edward Powell has just died, leaving his vast estate to his four children: The money, however, comes with one catch: the siblings must spend the weekend together at the family beach house. One of the kids sees this as the perfect opportunity to re-connect with his estranged family and introduce them to his fiancé. His family sees this as the perfect opportunity to bump-off Daniel and take his share of the inheritance. As the bodies stack up and plans go awry, one thing becomes painfully clear: Daniel’s going to find out what family means, even if it kills him. Daniel’s Gotta Die screens Saturday, March 25 8:30–10:45pm at the ShowRoom.

If We Run
In If We Run we join four friends are on their way to their first party of the summer. Upon their arrival in the town of Jackson, NJ, a horrific series of events ensues, forcing the group to fight for their lives. Starring Michael Gandolfini from The Many Saints of Newark, Lauren Bell, Kyle O’Leary, Yosmi Trinidad, and Joe P as himself. With guest appearances by Kevin Interdonato from The Sopranos, and Josh Hamilton from The Walking Dead.  If We Run screens Saturday, March 25, 6:00–8:00pm  at the Asbury Lanes.

Terrifier 2
The lineup also includes many horror films, but gore fans are excited for Terrifier 2 by director Damien Leone, produced by GSFF alumni Phil Falcone, Steven Della Salla, Jason Leavy, Michael Leavy and costume designer GSFF alumni Olga Turka. After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County where he targets a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night. WARNING: This film contain sex, nudity, violence, gore, profanity, alcohol, drugs, smoking, frightening and intense scenes. See this film Saturday, March 25th 8:30pm-11:15pm at the Asbury Lanes.

GSFF Mustangs 
Horse and nature lovers will want to see the poignant and important documentary Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West, screening on Sunday, March 26 from 11:45 am to 1:45 pm at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. Shot over several years, filmmaker Ashley Avis (Disney’s Black Beauty) shares this immersive journey into the profound beauty and desperate plight faced by the wild horses in the western United States in hopes of protecting them, before wild horses disappear forever. 
 

Liam Neeson Brings Ireland to the GSFF
The glorious spirit of Ireland comes alive in the gorgeous travelogue Ireland, screening on Sunday, March 26 from 3 to 5pm at the Asbury Hall in the Asbury Hotel. Narrated by internationally acclaimed actor Liam Neeson, this is a journey to a magical land of stunning natural wonders, ancient clifftop marvels, and a rich, cultural heritage called Ireland. Made for Imax, this cross-country adventure explores Ireland’s fascinating history; wild, natural beauty and Irish heritage. Experience the cultural wonders of Dublin and Belfast and spectacular natural landmarks like the giant Cliffs of Moher, the volcanic wonder of Giant’s Causeway and the rugged Skellig Islands, where scientists are studying the Atlantic puffin population. At each stop along the way, be immersed in the vibrant traditions, fascinating stories, and sacred customs of this ancient land. 

Global Wagner
[Subtitles]-For Richard Wagner there only seems to be either lovers or haters! No other composer is – rightly – as highly controversial as Wagner. With more than 125 Wagner Societies all around the globe, How, to until this day, did such massive hype and such an almost religious like, cult following develop all over the world, GLOBAL WAGNER visits Capitalists and Communists, Jews and Muslims, some of the biggest names in classical music, to the butchers in Bayreuth – from Los Angeles to New York, from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv, from Tokyo to Riga, from Venice to Bayreuth we’ll meet Wagnerians and learn about their passion and admiration of Richard Wagner and why people in Newark are performing a RING with only “people of color” and why even in Israel, people are saying that you have to differentiate between the horrible person and the beautiful music… With: Katharina Wagner, Christian Thielemann, Alex Ross, Barrie Kosky, Yuval Sharon, Valery Gergiev, Placido Domingo, Piotr Beczala, Anja Harteros, Catherine Foster, Kevin Maynor, Jonathan Livny, Koichi Suzuki, Sheikh Minister Zaki Nusseibeh, Maris Gailis and many others.  Global Wagner screens Saturday, March 25, 1:15–3:30pm at the Cranford Theater.

Garden State Film Festival Highlights 
The GSFF provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in careers in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals and film fans a chance to see new feature and short-length dramas, thrillers, comedies, documentaries, student films, foreign films, videos, web series, music, and the works of many area producers, writers, actors, musicians and technical crews. Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director of the Festival, says, “You will be thrilled with the total festival experience.”

Other events held throughout the festival include a panel discussion with 2023 Lifetime Achievement for Cinematography Honoree Ron Vidor. Vidor takes you behind his award-winning lens as he shares stories from the sets of some of Hollywood’s best-known blockbusters, including hazardous, challenging, and near-death experiences, from his five-decade career. Hear what it’s like to work with directors like Spielberg, Reiner, Stallone, and others. Exotic locations, death-defying feats…it’s all in a day’s work, to get those perfect shots he is best known for.  It will be followed by a Q&A session. 

These special events are not to be missed! 

About the Garden State Film Festival

The Garden State Film Festival is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization, created to promote the art of filmmaking on all levels. This globally recognized festival also provides creative arts education programs and creates a forum where local and international independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. Their outreach programs also support the U.S. Military, seniors, children, and underserved populations.  Since 2003, thousands of films have made their public premieres, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have attended; and the total infusion of cash to local businesses since inception exceeds $10 million. It is held in Asbury Park and surrounding area as well as Cranford, NJ. 

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 be present each spring in Asbury Park and to serve as an added engine for the city’s vitality through arts, commerce, and culture. 

For social media updates on the GSFF, please visit the sites below:

GSFF was named winner of the 2023 & 2022 M&A Today Global Awards – Best Independent Film Festival – USA, 2022 Global 100 Best Independent Film Festival –USA, Corporate Vision Media Innovator Award 2021, Film Festival of the Year (New Jersey) 2021 – Lauren Concar, 2021 Corporate America Today Best Independent Film Festival –USA, 2020 Brookdale Community College Foundation for Service to the Community, 2019 Spinnaker Arts & Culture Award from the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, 2018 Corporate USA Today Best Independent Film Festival – USA, and the, 2017 Global Excellence Awards & Best Independent Film Festival – East Coast’ by TMT News, 2014 International Film Festival Manhattan Best Music Video, 2012 Monmouth Ocean Development Council Silver Gull Award for Tourism Achievement.

The 21st Annual Garden State Film Festival could not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors: