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2017 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Overview!

By Vic Fern

originally published: 05/30/2017


Here is the 2017 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Overview with Festival Director Al Nigrin on EBTV:



The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center, in association with the Rutgers University Program In Cinema Studies, Jungle Software, Johnson & Johnson, WriterDuet, New Brunswick City Market, and Jimmy Johns, is proud to present the 22nd annual New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2017.  Showcasing new international films, American independent features, animation, experimental and short subjects, and cutting-edge documentaries, the New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2017 will feature 23 film screenings. The Festival screenings will take place on Saturdays and Sunday evenings between June 3-11, 2017 with  5PM and 7PM start times.

All the competition films selected were screened by a panel of judges including media professionals, journalists, students, and academics. These judges selected the 23 finalists which will be publicly screened at our Festival. These finalists were selected from over 322 works submitted by filmmakers from around the world. In addition, the judges chose the Prize Winners in conjunction with the Festival Director. Prize winners will be announced after the screenings on Saturday, June 11.

Film Premieres: 23 films will have their New Jersey or Area Premiere screenings as part of the New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2017. Some of these include:  Tramcar Girl by Alex Tymchak, Dan Lewinstein, and Gerard Zarra – a charming short film about summer love set on the Jersey shore; Church by Stephen Bodossian – a black comedy about the perils of trying to please prospective in-laws; Glowworm – a touching film about a young woman who says goodbye to a grandfather she hardly knew;  Seppuku by Daryn Wakasa – a short film about a woman fighting her inner demon;  Second Nature by Michael Cross – a hilarious and timely indie comedy feature; two terrific animated films Karma by Zhaoyu Zhou and First Bloom by Tingting Liu;  Kedi by Ceyda Torun – a terrific documentary about thousands of cats freely roam the streets of Istanbul;  Strawman  by Tian Xie – a true story of one Chinese family living in a remote rural village; Jennifer Perrot’s highly acclaimed short from Australia The Ravens; Juan Pablo Martinez’s touching and meditative film Emma from Argentina; Gladys Bensimon’s A Way Out a timely documentary about three young men from Newark, New Jersey, who successfully beat the odds; Shelley Titus’s Sistas Conversation -- a lively documentary about a group of diverse women; Passaic by Douglas Underdahl --  a short film about a murder that tore apart the gritty town of Passaic, NJ; Ilene Dube’s Generations of Artists: Roosevelt, NJ -- loving portrait of a time, a town, and a creative New Jersey community; Beth Kruvant’s documentary Levinsky Park which is about a neighborhood in Tel Aviv, Israel; and many others. See the attached schedule for more information on these and the other films or visit our website: www.njfilmfest.com.




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Special Guest Appearances by Directors, Artists, and Scholars:

This summer we are pleased to announce over fifteen confirmed special guest appearances by film directors, artists, actors, and witers to the 2017 New Jersey International Film Festival! All visiting artists will introduce their work and do a Question and Answer session after the screenings. For more information on these special guest appearances see the attached schedule or go to our online site at www.njfilmfest.com. Note: more filmmakers will be appearing but were not able to confirm their attendance at this time. So check our website for updated information.

Special Promotions: There will be Free Food served at the 2017 New Jersey International Film Festival prior to all the screenings courtesy of Jimmy John's of New Brunswick! Free Parking in University lots near the screening space. Our  primary screening location Voorhees Hall #105 features comfortable, cushioned seats, stadium seating, and hi-definition projection and sound systems! Come check out our screening space and see for yourself how great it is!

Sponsors:The New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2017 is funded and sponsored in part by The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center; The Rutgers University Program in Cinema Studies/School of Arts and Sciences; Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders through a grant provided by New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a division of the Department of State; The Rutgers University Centers for Global Advancement and International Affairs (GAIA Centers); The Rutgers University Office of Academic Engagement and Programming; Confucius Institute of Rutgers University;  The Rutgers University Zimmerli Art Museum; Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program; The Rutgers Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs; The Rutgers University American Studies Department; Johnson & Johnson; Jungle Software; Writer Duet; Jimmy John’s of New Brunswick; RU-TV; WCTC/WMGQ; WRSU; The Home News Tribune; The Asbury Park Press; New Brunswick City Market; The Rutgers University Digital Classroom Services Office; Design Ideas; Advanced Printing; Steven C. Schechter, Esq.; Share and Harris, Gabrielle Wilders, Lenore Neigeborn, Judi Ayre, Eddie Konczal, Laura Konczal, Dodam Chun,  Randy Johnson, Melissa Rosen, and Lili Dolly Nigrin.

Information:

Al Nigrin, Executive Director/Curator, New Jersey International Film Festival

(848) 932-8482 phone; [email protected], NJMAC @aol.com; Web Site: www.njfilmfest.com







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EVENT PREVIEWS

Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator of the New Jersey International Film Festival, sits down with Vincent Turturro, director and writer of Sonia and Lisa on Mushrooms, for a filmmaker interview at EBTV. Sonia and Lisa on Mushrooms will be screened on May 29, 2026.
Two amazing shorts Bottom Feeder and Impivaara screen at the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival on May 29!

Two amazing shorts Bottom Feeder and Impivaara screen at the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival on May 29!

We are always being watched, always being seen, always looking. But where are we? Who are we looking at? What are we seeing? Is it all a dream? Who’s dream is it? ‘Bottom feeders’ are the lowest form of species on the pyramid at the bottom of the deep, dark, and unexplored sea. Sometimes, if you pay attention, ‘bottom feeders’ take shape in the lowest form of human beings at the bottom of the deep, dark, and unexplored subconscious. Bottom Feeder is a black and white experimental film, shot on 16mm film in a square 4x3 format. Vito Trabucco is a Los Angeles based filmmaker, is known for his award-winning films Charlie Christ (2024), Britney Lost Her Phone (2023), and Kevin Can Wait (2020). In Bottom Feeders, Trabucco brings you on a dream-like journey with a woman, the aptly named Pageant (an uncommon name historically associated with theatrical spectacles), who by way of nature, explores her own dream and the meanings behind her visions, both in her head and what she sees. A front door, fractured. A home, for whom? A doll, draped in desire. A sunset, alone but for how long? A reflection, a gaze. A location, unknown
2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Middle Life Video Q+A

2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Middle Life Video Q+A

Here is the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Q+A with Middle Life Writer/Director Pavan Moondi, Lead Actors Leah Fay Goldstein and Peter Dreimanis, and Festival Director Albert Nigrin.
2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Interview with Sundays Director Ashley Gerst

2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Interview with Sundays Director Ashley Gerst

Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator of the New Jersey International Film Festival, sits down at EBTV with Ashley Gerst -- Director and Animator of the film Sundays for a filmmaker interview. Sundays will be screened on Saturday May 30, 2026.
2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Interview with Middle Life Director Pavan Moondi

2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Interview with Middle Life Director Pavan Moondi

Here is Festival Director Al Nigrin’s interview with Pavan Moondi. Pavan is the director and writer of the terrific Canadian feature film Middle Life. Middle Life screens with two shorts at the New Jersey International Film Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Trenton Filmmaker Phillip McConnell to Premiere New Short Film "Tell Me Where We Stand"

Trenton Filmmaker Phillip McConnell to Premiere New Short Film "Tell Me Where We Stand"

(HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- Independent filmmaker Phillip McConnell will premiere his new short film, Tell Me Where We Stand, at Mill One on Sunday, May 31, 2026, bringing together local artists, performers, and members of the community for an evening celebrating independent film and storytelling.
2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Interview with What We Dreamed of Then Director Taylor Olson

2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Interview with What We Dreamed of Then Director Taylor Olson

Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator of the New Jersey International Film Festival, interviews What We Dreamed of Then Director, Writer and Actor Taylor Olson. What We Dreamed of Then will be screened on May 31, 2026.
2026 New Jersey International Film Festival to Take Place from May 29th to June 7th

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.
2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Animation Panel

2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Animation Panel

Here is the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Animation Panel featuring Festival Director Al Nigrin and Filmmakers Owen Andrejco, Myra Sito Velasquez, Evan Bode, and Heidi Kumao.
Emmy-nominated, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor/director Jason Alexander to Lead Acting Masterclass on Long Beach Island

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.

 

MORE EVENTS

Click on the listing to bring up its webpage


Sonia and Lisa on Mushrooms, Impivaara, Bottom Feeder & Chemical Meadows – Online for 24 Hours and In-Person at 7PM!

Friday, May 29, 2026 @ 7:00pm
NJ International Film Festival
New Brunswick, NJ


Middle Life, Sundays & Counterfeit Kids – In-Person at 7PM!

Saturday, May 30, 2026 @ 7:00pm
NJ International Film Festival
New Brunswick, NJ


Phenomenon of Ivan Marchuk & Theater of the Absurd – Online for 24 Hours!

Saturday, May 30, 2026 @ 12:00am
NJ International Film Festival
New Brunswick, NJ


Shorts Program #1: Godzilla’s Day Off, Paper Crane, 35 Days, I Exist, Pizza Man, Prison and Time, Dustsceawung & Miracle Under 34th Street – Online for 24 Hours and In-Person at 7PM!

Saturday, May 30, 2026 @ 7:00pm
NJ International Film Festival
New Brunswick, NJ


Star Wars: The Last Jedi in Concert with New Jersey Symphony

Sunday, May 31, 2026 @ 2:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ