(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Four years after moving to Atlantic City, the Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) is returning to Asbury Park where the festival first began. The return comes in 2018 and marks the festival's "Sweet 16" anniversary and follows a very successful run in Atlantic City.
"We are coming back largely due to the popular and steady demand of our legions of fans," said GSFF Board Chairman, Nicholas J. Falcone said. "While many factors played a role in our decision to return to our original home, we had to listen to them. This move is in no way is a statement about our four-years in Atlantic City, where we were given an incredible reception and great cooperation."
Atlantic City has seen the closure of many of its larger properties and gaming/resort hotels, which made locating the multiple mid and large size venues needed by the festival a harder and harder task.
The festival has a well-developed legacy in Asbury Park, a town which has its own rich history as an entertainment hub. Recently voted the "coolest small town in America", the Oceanside resort has been undergoing a town-wide revitalization, and offers event goers screening locations, a diverse assortment of hotel and restaurant options, NJ transit service, and a bustling nightlife and music scene.
Founder Diane Raver said, "We cannot say thank you enough or more sincerely to Mayor Don Guardian, the city council, leading businesses, casinos and sponsors. We also send a most important thank you to CRDA and especially their Executive Director Chris Howard, who worked so hard to make our stay in town as productive and pleasant as possible. We also thank our many fans and attendees, and our amazing team of volunteers. We maintain a positive relationship with Atlantic City and plans are underway to host the "Best of the Fest" at Stockton University's Dante Hall and other south jersey locations, in and around the city."
The 2018 festival dates are March 22 to 25, 2018. More details will follow regarding the locations of the 2018 festival. The Call for Entries will open on July 1, 2017.
The Garden State Film Festival was envisioned by 25-year film industry veteran Diane Raver and the late Hollywood actor Robert Pastorelli in 2002 and launched the following year. Since 2003, thousands of films have made their public premiers, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have attended; and the total infusion of cash to local businesses since inception exceeds $5 million. It was held in Asbury Park, in and around the Convention Center complex. From 2014 to 2017, it was held in Atlantic City. Beginning in 2018, it will move back to Asbury Park. The GSFF is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization.
