originally published: 02/23/2017
(WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Director Shaleece Haas brings her film Real Boy; a coming-of-age documentary about Bennett Wallace, a transgender teenager on a journey to find his voice as a musician, a friend, a son, and a man to Monmouth University’s Pollak Theatre on Monday, March 6 at 7:30pm. The film is free and open to the public. There will be a Q&A with Haas and one of the stars of the film, Joe Stevens immediately following the screening.
Navigating the ups and downs of young adulthood, Bennett Wallace works to gain the support of his mother, who has deep misgivings about her child's transition. As tension mounts at home, Bennett is taken in by his idol, Joe Stevens, the lead singer of the alt-Americana band, Coyote Grace. Exploring how our search for personal identity also involves those closest to us, REAL BOY is a nuanced look at the new American family and the people we turn to when our given families are unavailable. REAL BOY has been screened at more than 70 festivals worldwide, received more than 15 awards, and will be broadcast on PBS’ Independent Lens in June 2017.
Shaleece Haas (Director) is a documentary filmmaker based in Oakland, California. She is the co-producer of the 2013 documentary film, The Genius of Marian, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was broadcast on POV in 2014. Her 2010 documentary short, Old People Driving, premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival and was broadcast on the PBS News Hour as part of the Economist Film Project. In addition to her work as a director/producer, she is an instructor at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, the Berkeley Advanced Media Institute, and the NY Press Association; and serves as the head of submissions for New Day Films. She is a 2015 Film Independent Documentary Lab Fellow, a 2012 Working Films (Reel Aging) fellow and a 2010 Met Life Foundation Journalists in Aging fellow. She is a graduate of the documentary film program at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.
The event is sponsored by Monmouth University’s Department of Communication and the Center for the Arts, and is part of the “On Screen: In Person” film series, which brings six films and filmmakers to Monmouth University as part of a tour of the Eastern seaboard. On Screen: In Person is made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program. For additional information, please call the Center for the Arts at 732-263-5715 or visit online at www.monmouth.edu/arts.
EVENT PREVIEWS
2026 Count Basie Center Breakthrough Filmmaker Fest to Take Place April 25th
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The 2026 Count Basie Center Breakthrough Filmmaker Fest, the annual competition celebrating New Jersey's emerging crop of young filmmakers, takes place Saturday, April 25th on the Count Basie Center campus (99 Monmouth Street) in Red Bank.
Puffin Cultural Forum and Teaneck International Film Festival present "Horsegirls" as part of the 18th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival
(TEANECK, NJ) -- The Teaneck International Film Festival (TIFF) is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with the ReelAbilities Film Festival—the largest film festival in the world dedicated to films by and about people with disabilities. This marks the first time TIFF will serve as an official New Jersey host site for ReelAbilities, further advancing its commitment to inclusive storytelling and diverse voices.
Celebrate Secretary's Day Week with WORKING GIRLS FILM SERIES at The ShowRoom
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Celebrate the grind, the gossip, and the glass ceilings this Secretary's Day week at The ShowRoom in Asbury Park with WORKING GIRLS, a special three-film series spotlighting the humor, frustration, and resilience of women in the workplace. Running from April 19-25, 2026, the series brings together a trio of sharp, character-driven films led by standout ensemble casts.
Learn the Perils of Plastic Pollution During Documentary Screening of "We're All Plastic People" in Surf City
(SURF CITY, NJ) – The Long Beach Island Branch of the Ocean County Library will host a screening of the documentary film We're All Plastic People Now on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 2:00pm. The film investigates the hidden story of plastic and its effects on human health.
New Jersey's Premier Film Expo Returns to East Rutherford April 30th
(EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ) -- On Thursday, April 30, 2026, the Screen Alliance of New Jersey (SANJ) will host its second NJ Film Expo at Meadowlands Arena in Rutherford. Building on the strong success of its inaugural year, the expo returns on an even larger scale with several panels, hundreds of vendors, live music and food trucks to showcase New Jersey's expanding role in film and television.
Lighthouse International Film Society presents Ten Films That Shaped American Comedy
(LOVELADIES, NJ) -- What role does film play in shaping a nation's sense of humor? How have films like Some Like it Hot, Blazing Saddles and Bridesmaids left a lasting impression on American society?
Trenton Film Society presents a Regional Documentary Film Festival
(TRENTON, NJ) -- The Trenton Film Society presents a Regional Documentary Film Festival on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the Mill Hill Playhouse. Screenings are scheduled at 6:30pm on Friday and noon, 3:00pm, and 6:00pm on Saturday, followed by a reception and awards ceremony.
2026 New Jersey International Film Festival to Take Place from May 29th to June 7th
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center, in association with the Rutgers University Program in Cinema Studies, presents the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival which marks their 31st Anniversary. The NJIFF competition will be taking place on the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May 29 - June 7, 2026 and will be a hybrid one as they will be presenting it online as well as doing in-person screenings at Rutgers University.
Emmy-nominated, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor/director Jason Alexander to Lead Acting Masterclass on Long Beach Island
(LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ) -- The Lighthouse International Film Festival (LIFF) presents a rare five-day acting masterclass led by acclaimed actor and director Jason Alexander, taking place June 7–11, 2026 on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, just prior to the opening of the Festival's 18th edition, which runs June 10–14.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Great Muppet Caper – Popcorn & Pajamas Film SeriesFriday, April 17, 2026 @ 7:00pmHamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) Rahway, NJ
The Great Muppet Caper – Popcorn & Pajamas Film SeriesFriday, April 24, 2026 @ 7:00pmHamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) Rahway, NJ
Mulan – Popcorn & Pajamas Film Series At UCPAC’s Hamilton StageFriday, May 08, 2026 @ 7:00pmHamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) Rahway, NJ
