(ASBURY PARK, NJ) --  The Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) has chosen Linda Krebs and Erin Gomez, as the GSFF's 2019 Educator of the Year recipients. Both women are members and facilitators of the Monmouth County Shore Consortium for the Gifted & Talented (SCG&T), an organization dedicated to providing curriculum-driven enriching opportunities to smaller school districts. This honor is in recognition of their heartfelt devotion to their students and exceptional achievements in education, especially in film and video production as well as in the community. Linda and Erin will receive their awards at the black-tie-optional Awards Banquet at The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park on March 31st.  

Now in its 17th year, the Garden State Film Festival, is New Jersey's premier independent film festival® and was founded to promote the art of filmmaking on all levels by showcasing a wide variety of film, video and animated works, as well as provide educational programs in the creative arts to the public by industry leaders.The festival will take place March 28-31, 2019 in Asbury Park, NJ. 

Linda Krebs has over 20 years of experience in public education in New Jersey. Starting out as a teacher for the Gifted & Talented, Linda went on to teach middle school language arts and then became a school library media specialist, taking on additional roles as enrichment coordinator, technology coach, and returning to her roots as a teacher of the gifted and talented. Currently Linda is the school library media specialist at HW Mountz School in Spring Lake, a position she loves. She has experience in the public school environment working with students from preschool through grade 8. Linda received her BA in American Studies from Drew University; an MA in American Studies from the University of Wyoming; completed graduate education courses through Kean University, and holds a Master of Library & Information Science from Rutgers University. Linda is an active member of the Shore Consortium for the Gifted & Talented. 

Erin Gomez has over 20 years teaching experience within the state of NJ. After receiving her BA in Education from East Stroudsburg University, PA, she started her career as a Kindergarten teacher at St. Jerome School in West Long Branch, NJ. Five years later she began working in the Keansburg School District as a 5th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. During this time period, Erin earned her MA in Education with a Reading Specialist Certification from Georgian Court University. For the last 15 years, Erin has been instructing the Gifted and Talented Program. She enjoys working with the G&T students in grades 2-8 and providing enrichment to the first grade students of the district. She is an active member and Secretary of the Shore Consortium for the Gifted & Talented.

GSFF accepts film submissions of all genres from documentaries, animation, children's, narrative, trailers, Web Series/ New Media, and short films, as well as music videos, commercials, trailers, music competition, and student projects.

Each year, GSFF attracts record crowds and many big names within the industry, including the festival's biggest supporter, Ed Asner, hundreds of industry professionals, actors, producers, financiers, sponsors, fans as well as an active global community of filmmakers, producers, composers and actors. In 2018, the festival featured 246 films from 22 countries, an open talent casting call, panel discussions, and opening and closing ceremonies with multiple appearances by celebrities and honorees.