NEWS | FEATURES | PREVIEWS | EVENTS

Garden State Film Festival Accepting Entries; Deadline November 12th

originally published: 10/04/2021

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) is is currently accepting entries for it's 2022 festival. Each submission will be screened by a panel of industry professionals and selected submissions will be screened at the 20th Garden State Film being held March, 2022 in Asbury Park and Cranford, New Jersey. The deadline for submissions is November 12. 

The Garden State Film Festival showcases premiere films, renowned and emerging artists, empowering global connectivity between creators, innovators and audiences. The festival was founded to promote the art of film making on all levels by showcasing a wide variety of film, video and animated works, as well as to provide educational programs in the creative arts to the public by industry leaders.  

"Home Grown" -- If your film was primarily shot in New Jersey, it qualifies for the GSFF's "Home Grown" category if 75 percent or more of the film was shot in the state.  This category includes full-length films, shorts, commercials, PSA's, and music videos. 

"New Jersey Hometown Documentary Short" - this category is reserved for films that are written, directed and shot by New Jersey high school and younger grade school students. Films must be five minutes or less and must focus on some aspect of their hometown, including topics like profiles of interesting persons, places, time periods or subjects related to the arts. This film submission category has been created to encourage young filmmaker's creativity while instilling a sense of pride in your student's hometowns and state. Students may submit entries on their own or through their schools.  After the annual GSFF event, the festival presents their High School films at the New Jersey School Board Association Convention that takes place each October.

"Movie Music Awards" - this category welcomes original compositions and is open to composers, artists and producers of scores, soundtracks and theme songs. The works will be judged solely on their own merit and producers may submit their works, regardless of whether the film has been submitted or accepted. Winners will have their compositions played prior to each screening at the festival.

 

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

---

"GSFF Screenplay Competition" - spearheaded by the nonprofit Project Write Now, excerpts from the winning feature length screenplay will be read by professional actors at the festival. 

The festival is also accepting recommendations for the Annual "Rising Star" award, which is awarded to one up-and-coming actor, regardless of age or union affiliation. Eligible candidates must have an undeniable passion for the art form and have made inroads to the industry through hard work and determination. Candidates should show a progression of work with experiences in theater, commercials, television and film.  

In addition to the screenings, Professional Panel Discussions will be headed by industry professionals at posted times. The festival will hold these discussions to unite celebrity filmmakers with aspiring screenwriters, directors, and actors. Representatives from respected film distribution companies will be invited to attend, as the festival will provide access to new talent and product available for worldwide distribution.

Youth workshops for hands on sessions with industry professionals will take place throughout the festival at pre scheduled times.

Winners will be recognized at the exclusive GSFF Awards Dinner to be held on March 27 , 2022. Click here for more information on submitting an entry to the festival.

Founded to celebrate the independent film genre, The Garden State Film Festival, a not for profit organization, offers independent filmmakers the chance to exhibit their work and gives New Jersey audiences a chance to experience new, cultural, and artistic endeavors through the medium of film.

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, 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.

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