(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) has announced the addition of, David Angstadt Sr., David Bowd, Robin Kampf, and Tess O'Dwyer to its board of directors. They join current board members Eric Ascalon, Heather Brittain O'Scanlon, Stephanie Clineman, Diane Raver, Rosalie Rosen, David Holtzman, Joseph Sernio, David Schoner Jr. and Brian J. Sheehy Sr.
Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director, Garden State Film Festival, said, "We are pleased and grateful to have added a depth of talent and wisdom to our board of directors this year," said Lauren Concar Sheehy, executive director. "We're in a very pivotal stage of the festival's growth, and the leadership of these new members will be valuable in shaping both next year's festival and the future of our organization."
David Angstadt, Sr. is a Spring Lake resident who brings a wealth of experience in finance and business to the board. After a highly successful 14-yr career as a player, coach, and general manager in the European Professional Basketball League (5 years in Spain, 5 years in Switzerland, 4 years in Belgium), Dave launched a second 23-yr career in financial services where he served as Chief Marketing Officer of Thrivent Financial in Minneapolis, MN and Senior Vice President of Sales for Genworth Financial in Richmond, VA. Currently living half the year in Spring Lake, NJ and half in Ojochal, Costa Rica, Dave is the Managing Partner of both Park Avenue Tennis Center in Oakhurst, NJ and Dulce Pacifico Racquet Club in Uvita, Costa Rica.
David Bowd, a lifelong hotelier hails from Asbury Park and is an accomplished international hotel operator. His passion for service ensures the best possible experience for his guests. Salt Hotels' CEO David Bowd started his first job as a hotel houseman at 15 and over a 35-year career David would work his way up from houseman to hotel manager to chief operating officer for some of the most prestigious hotels and hotel companies in the world and finally to CEO of his own company. David is deeply passionate about the community of each of his hotels along with education and training founding Salt School in 2016.
Long Branch resident, Robin Kampf's contributions as an educator have inspired generations of filmmakers. She has served as an adjunct professor, teaching television at Brookdale Community College, Montclair State University, Union County College, Seton Hall University and Monmouth University. Kampf is currently the media video production specialist for the New Jersey School Boards Association in Trenton, New Jersey. She also manages the television studio at SCAN-TV where she teaches television and film production to active senior citizens who produce public affairs programming about older adults for cable TV throughout New Jersey.
Tess O'Dwyer, originally from Colts Neck joins the other new members and brings decades of fundraising expertise to the GSFF board. A specialist in campaign fundraising, O'Dwyer provides nonprofit management and fundraising counsel to arts, education, and social justice leaders of the nonprofit sector. Her clients include the" Who's Who" of art and design museums, performing arts centers, policy centers, and social justice agencies. Tess served leadership roles at the Whitney Museum (Development Director), Lincoln Center (Associate Director/Individual & Major Gifts), and Americas Society/Council of the Americas (VP of Cultural Affairs & Development). Her fundraising operations were ranked Top 10 by the Association of Art Museum Directors in a survey of 200+ museums nationwide. Her galas ranked 1st place in net revenue and Top 10 in style by Bizbash.
Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director, Garden State Film Festival, commented, "Every year we see even greater growth and recognition as the premier film event both in New Jersey and at the Shore. The well-rounded nature of our board of directors brings enormous talent and expertise to lead continuous improvement of the festival to the benefit of film enthusiasts, the entire state of New Jersey and the Jersey Shore community," Concar Sheehy said.
Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director, Garden State Film Festival, said, "The fundamental goals still remain to develop strong relationships with established and emerging filmmakers and to accelerate our support of community educational initiatives."
The Garden State Film Festival was born in 2002 after a chance encounter in a Sea Girt, New Jersey grocery store by film industry veteran Diane Raver and the well-known Hollywood actor Robert Pastorelli. Through their deep ties to Hollywood, Mr. Pastorelli and Ms. Raver were able to bring an all-encompassing event to the State of New Jersey. It premiered in 2003 and was immediately deemed a huge success.
Since that time, industry notables such as Glenn Close, Matthew Modine, Christopher Lloyd, Batman producer Michael Uslan, Austin Pendleton, Kurtwood Smith, James Gandolfini, Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen, Lainie Kazan, Diane Ladd, Laura Dern, Bebe Neuwirth, Armand Asante, Sally Struthers and our biggest supporter Ed Asner as well as others have lent their support.
GSFF staff are currently guiding other film festivals with how to navigate the future, preparing their outreach schedule, and gearing up for its 2021 festival bringing together a live, diverse audience to experience true independent film. Save the date for the 19th annual GSSF in March 24-28, 2021.
The Garden State Film Festival embarked on our momentous Eighteenth Anniversary in 2020. GSFF presented to a worldwide audience and invited a new group of film lovers to experience Asbury Park. In British Vogue and Vogue Australia, GSFF was highlighted "Among the first to pivot to a fully digitized event was Garden State Film Festival, the independent showcase based in Asbury Park, New Jersey. After the state's governor, Phil Murphy, announced tighter restrictions on public gatherings, organizers set up virtual screenings of more than 240 films for an audience of 15,000. Each screening block was then followed by interactive filmmaker talkbacks on Facebook. "Launching it as a digital experience provided a new reach that was global in scale," explains Lauren Concar Sheehy, the festival's executive director. "Data shows that we screened in the Netherlands, Ireland, the UAE, the UK, Canada, Italy, Australia, Finland, Belgium and Croatia, and filmmakers and fans from around the world reached out to us to show their support."
Know a filmmaker, screen writer or music composer? The GSFF 2021 call for entries is now open! For more information and news about the festival, visit gsff.org
THE GARDEN STATE FILM FESTIVAL is New Jersey's Premier Independent Film Festival®. Now in its 18th year, the GSFF, a 501-c-3non- 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.
