(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- On Saturday, May 5th evening, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy addressed the audience at 2018 Montclair Film Festival’s Closing Night screening of Believer. Introducing Stephen Colbert, who moderated the film’s Q&A with Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds, Neon Trees singer Tyler Glenn, and filmmakers Don Argott and Sheena Joyce, Governor Murphy spoke of the burgeoning importance of the film industry in Montclair and New Jersey more broadly.
“New Jersey is a world-class location to be the backdrop for any filmmaker – from our small towns, to our big cities, rolling hills, and the Jersey Shore – and we’re ready for our close up,” said NJ Governor Phil Murphy. “Tonight, through the Montclair Film Festival, we’re sending a message that New Jersey isn’t just a great place to view the arts, but that there isn’t any better place to shoot a film than right here.”
“We have the artists. We have the Art DNA. We have the Film DNA. And so I will tell you, we’re committed, and I’m going to sign a law in the new few weeks that will give the financial incentives back to make movies again in New Jersey."
Prior to the Governor’s remarks the Montclair Film Festival (MFF) announced the winners of the festival’s 2018 film competitions at the festival’s annual awards ceremony. This year’s festival featured four competitive categories: Fiction, Documentary, Future/ Now, and New Jersey Filmmaking.
“This year’s competition program features the work of artists who directly challenge us to deepen our thinking about the world in which we live” said Montclair Film Executive Director Tom Hall. “We are honored to share these films with our audiences, and congratulate all of our filmmakers on their outstanding work.”
The seventh annual Montclair Film Festival took place April 26 through May 6, 2018. A quick look at the winners includes:
First Reformed, directed by Paul Schrader, was awarded the festival’s Fiction Feature.
Prize with Julianne Nicholson receiving a Special Jury Prize for her performance in Matthew Newton’s Who We Are Now.
Hale County This Morning, This Evening, directed by RaMell Ross, took home the Bruce Sinofsky Award in the festival’s Documentary Feature competition. This award was established in memory of Bruce Sinofsky and was presented by Mr. Sinofsky’s daughter, Claire Sinofsky. A Special Jury Prize was awarded to Black Mother, directed by Khalik Allah.
We The Animals, directed by Jeremiah Zagar, was awarded with the Future/Now prize, sponsored by the Horizon Foundation For New Jersey and honoring emerging low-budget American independent filmmaking, with a Special Jury Prize given to Helena Howard for her performance in Madeline's Madeline, directed by Josephine Decker.
Crime + Punishment, directed by Stephen Maing, took home the New Jersey Films Award, which honors a select group of films made by New Jersey artists, with Liyana receiving a Special Jury Prize for directors Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp.
Dark Money, directed by Kimberly Reed, took home the 4th Annual David Carr Award for Truth in Non-Fiction Filmmaking, which honors a filmmaker, selected by the festival, who utilizes journalistic techniques to explore important contemporary subjects and is presented in honor of Mr. Carr’s commitment to reporting on the media. The award was presented by Mr. Carr’s daughter, the filmmaker Erin Lee Carr.
The festival also features a Junior Jury, made up of fifteen area High School students representing twelve area schools, awarded the top prize to American Animals, directed by Bart Layton, with a Special Jury Prize for Social Impact awarded to Crime + Punishment, directed by Stephen Maing
Congratulations to the 2018 winners of The Montclair Film Festival Awards:
Fiction Feature Competition Winner - First Reformed, Directed by Paul Schrader
Fiction Feature Competition - Special Jury Prize - Julianne Nicholson for her performance in Who We Are Now, Directed by Matthew Newton
Bruce Sinofsky Prize for Documentary Feature Competition Winner - Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Directed by RaMell Ross
Documentary Feature Competition - Special Jury Prize - Black Mother, Directed by Khalik Allah
Future/Now Competition, presented by the Horizon Foundation For New Jersey - Future/Now Competition Winner - We The Animals, Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
Future/Now Competition - Special Jury Prize - Helena Howard for her performance in Madeline's Madeline, Directed by Josephine Decker
New Jersey Films Competition Winner - Crime + Punishment, Directed by Stephen Tiang
New Jersey Films Competition - Special Jury Prize, Liyana, Directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp
Junior Jury Award - American Animals, Directed by Bart Layton
Junior Jury Special Jury Prize for Social Impact - Crime + Punishment, Directed by Stephen Tiang
2018 FILM COMPETITIONS AND JURIES
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
The Documentary Feature Competition features cinematic non-fiction films that examine the diverse possibilities of the form. The winning film in this category will be awarded the 4th Annual Bruce Sinofsky Prize for Non-Fiction Filmmaking.
Black Mother, directed by Khalik Allah; Hale County This Morning, This Evening, directed by RaMell Ross
Makala, directed by Emmanuel Gras
Shirkers, directed by Sandi Tan
Tre Maison Dasan, directed by Denali Tiller
2018 Documentary Jury: Patrick Harrison, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Gregory Wakeman, Metro New York, Chris O’Falt, Indiewire.
FICTION FEATURE COMPETITION
The Fiction Feature Competition highlights the MFF’s most ambitious, auteur-driven fiction films.
Beast, directed by Michael Pearce; Dark River, directed by Clio Barnard; First Reformed, directed by Paul Schrader; Pororoca, directed by Constantin Popescu; Who We Are Now, directed by Matthew Newton
2018 Fiction Jury: Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair, Nekesa Moody, Associated Press, David Fear, Rolling Stone
FUTURE/NOW COMPETITION
The Future/Now Competition celebrates American, low-budget independent filmmaking by first or second time feature film directors who are creating innovative, challenging films. Presented by The Horizon Foundation of New Jersey.
Madeline's Madeline, directed by Josephine Decker; Never Goin' Back, directed by Augustine Frizzell; Notes On An Appearance, directed by Ricky D'Ambrose; We The Animals, directed by Jeremiah Zagar; When She Runs, directed by Robert Machoian and Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck
2018 Future Now Jury: Jim Brunzell, All Genders, Lifestyles and Identities Film Festival (aGLIFF), Stacey Reiss, Filmmaker, Jason Benjamin, Filmmaker
NEW JERSEY FILMS COMPETITION
The New Jersey Films competition this year focuses on non-fiction films directed, produced by, or featuring New Jersey talent.
306 Hollywood, directed by Elan Bogarin and Jonathan Bogarin; The 5 Browns: Digging Through The Darkness, directed by Ben Niles; Crime + Punishment, directed by Stephen Maing; Dark Money, directed by Kimberly Reed; Liyana, directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp
2018 New Jersey Films Jury: Libby Geist, ESPN, Deirdre Haj, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Amy Kuperinsky, Newark Star Ledger
Montclair Film, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, nurtures, and showcases the talents of filmmakers from around the region and world. Montclair Film unites, empowers, educates, and celebrates our region’s diverse cultural heritage and robust artistic community by presenting engaging programs and events all year long. Montclair Film’s year-round and festival programming is made possible through generous support from Investors Bank; Audible;
