(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The 2019 Garden State Film Festival took place from March 27-31 in Asbury Park. The festival was extended to five days for the first time in its history. Over 26,000 celebrities, honorees, film industry executives, and movie fans attended events and screenings throughout Asbury Park.
The Festival included networking opportunities, industry workshops, informative panel discussions, open talent casting call, live screenplay reading, star-studded red carpet gala and entertaining parties – all in addition to the screenings of over 245 films from over 20 countries around the globe.
The weekend culminated with the 2019 Garden State Film Festival Awards Gala Dinner event on Sunday evening, where this year’s honorees were recognized and Festival winners were announced. This was also the first year GSFF recognized actors with awards.
In addition to the film winners, Dr. David Stout was named the 2019 Honorary Chair; Siobhan Fallon Hogan received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Brian O'Halloran received the Spirit of New Jersey Award; and Kim Waltrip was named the 2019 MVP.
Scroll down for a complete list of the winners.
2019 GARDEN STATE FILM FESTIVAL WINNING FILMS
Narrative Feature
"Burning Kentucky" - Bethany Brooke Anderson, Ben Fuqua, Elsa Ramo and Ryan Lacen, Producers; Bethany Brooke Anderson, Director
International Narrative Feature
"The Bird Catcher" - Lisa Black and Leon Clarence, Producers; Ross Clarke, Director
M. Carroll Raver Award for Cinematography
John Christian Rosenlund - "The Bird Catcher"
Horror Feature
"Clinton Road" - Steve Stanulis, Richard Grieco and Noel Ashman, Producers; Steve Stanulis and Richard Grieco, Directors
Narrative Short
"Missed" - Niels Neeskens and Fokke Baarssen, Producers; Fokke Baarssen, Director
Science Fiction Short
"The Beacon" - Chris Staehler, Christopher P. Purdy and Thomas Haley-Hermiz, Producers; Chris Staehler, Director
Lou Costello Award for Comedy Short
"Swung" - Keith Armonaitis and Fokke Baarssen, Producers; Fokke Baarssen, Director
International Narrative Short
"ARE YOU VOLLEYBALL?" (IRAN) - Nima Rabiei, Producer; Mohammad Bakhshi, Director
International Comedy Short
"Kapital" (Russia) - Ivan Perekatov and Natalia Bannikova, Producers; Ivan Perekatov, Director
Emanuel "Manny" Berlingo Award for Best Feature Length Documentary
"Funny You Never Knew" - Andrew Hunt, Producer/Director
Short Documentary
"One Less Flight" - Jennifer Hahn and Alan Goldsher, Producer; Jennifer Hahn, Director
International Short Documentary
"Portrait of the Milliner as yer man himself" (Ireland/Canada) - Godfrey Jordan, Producer/Director
Animated Short
"Two Balloons" - Mark C. Smith, Producer/Director; Teresa Darling, Naomi Fish, Wendy Fuller, Beth Gavigan, Javan Ivey,Misha Klein, Sihanouk Mariona, Vanessa Pridgen, Bartiek Prusiewicz and Suzanne Twining, Animators
Commercial
"Art of Play" - Dan Buck and Dave Buck, Producers; Homer Liwag, Director
Web Series/New Media
"Hooked" - Brittany Portman, Producer; Anthony Patellis, Director
Music Video
"Waiting Tables" - Sakinah Iman, Producer; Evan Seplow and Sakinah Iman, Directors
Trailer
"Shady Glen" - Ron Harner, Director
Feature – College
"Olympia" (DePaul University) - Elliott Lonsdale, Lucy Lola Manda and Gregory Dixon, Producers; Gregory Dixon, Director
Narrative Short – College
"The Chrysalis" (Quinnipiac University) - Matt Kravitsky, Richard Olsen and Ross Cohen, Producers; Matt Kravitsky, Director
Documentary Short – College
"Reberth" (Rowen University) - Montana Marose, Peter Chamalian and Tyler Kubicz, Producers; Peter Chamalian, Director
International Narrative Short – College
"Toward the Sun" (London School of Film) - Rosa Santis, Producer; Monica Santis, Director
Narrative Short – High School
"Grab Him by the-" (Interlochen Arts Academy, MI) - Lane McKenna, Director
Documentary Short – High School
"Inclusion on the Air" (Mamaroneck High School, NY) - Eli Canter, Director
The Garden State Film Festival also recognizing films shot in the State of New Jersey with the "Home Grown Award" categories. Here are this year's winners.
HOME GROWN FEATURE
"The Incoherents" - Alex Emanuel, Jared Barel, Jeff Auer and Jordan Barel, Producers; Jared Barel, Director
HOME GROWN DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"Roadie My Documentary" - TJ Hoffmann, Producer; Andy Strohl, Director
HOME GROWN SHORT
"Scar" - Alison Hale, Jo Sanford, David Ramirez and Spencer Bacon, Producers; Alison Hale, Director
HOME GROWN COMEDY SHORT
"Masters" - Mark Ward and Shannon Meehan, Producers; Mark Ward, Director
HOME GROWN DOCUMENTARY SHORT
"First Steps" - Lou Marillier, Chloe Mamelok and Sara Obeidat, Producers; Lou Marillier and Chloe Mamelok, Directors
HOME GROWN MUSIC VIDEO
"Everybody Said" - Brian Ostering, Producer; Amanda Duncan, Director
HOME GROWN COMMERCIAL
Nike Spec Commercial "Can't Catch the Dark"– 126 (38) - Jordan Hidalgo, Director
HOME GROWN STUDENT SHORT – COLLEGE
"Catalina" (Montclair) - Afrotwin Productions and Paola Ossa, Producers; Poala Ossa, Director
HOME GROWN STUDENT DOCUMENTARY SHORT – HIGH SCHOOL
"Sonic Highways Middletown" (Middletown South High School) - Keeley Giblin, Jolene Gianone and Toria Pater, Directors
HOME GROWN STUDENT SHORT – HIGH SCHOOL
"Tillie" (Fieldston) - Olivia Anton, Writer/Director
HOME GROWN STUDENT SHORT – HIGH SCHOOL HONORABLE MENTION
"The Art of Observation" (Howell High School) - Annie Fleisch, Director
HOME GROWN STUDENT PSA - HIGH SCHOOL
"Are you Enough"(Communications High School) - Summer Ward, Director
THE 2019 SCREENPLAY WINNER
The Garden State Film Festival Screenplay Competition was instituted to recognize the importance of the writer as the foundation for a really great film. Their goal is to shine a spotlight on this year's winning screenplay, host a live stage reading by professional actors. The 2019 winner is "A Brooklyn Christmas" by Drew Henriksen.
"A Brooklyn Christmas" is set on Christmas Eve when suave wise guy, Tony C., loses his life saving a young boy from being hit by a truck. He finds himself before Saint Peter who has taken the form of a dentist. In the heavenly office, we meet Horatio, a bungling apprentice angel. After his judgment, Tony and Horatio are sent back down to Brooklyn to help guide a young fireman Jerry, through the season after losing his beloved wife.
2019 MOVIE MUSIC COMPETITION WINNERS
Best Theme From A Comedy
"He's A Beautiful Boy (Theme from Lil' Balzac)" - Composer: Jan van Oene; Performed by: Jan van Oene, Evan Lincoln, and Shannon Burke
Best Orchestration from a Documentary
"World Water Puerto Rico – Main Theme" - Composer: Kenneth Blaine; Performed by: Kenneth Blaine
Best Theme from a Home Grown Feature
"The Hospital Room" - Composers: Alan Parness & Larry Weissblum; Performed by: The Stonebridge Jammers
Best Orchestration from an Animation
"Never Give Up" - Composed, orchestrated and conducted by: Sandrine Rudaz; Performed by: Seattle Studio Musicians
Best Musical Score from a Short
"Circus Fantasy" - Composer: Kevin Stahl; Conducted by: Kevin Stahl
Best Musical Score from a Feature
"Fox Medicine" - Composer : Josh Coffey and Otto Sharp; Performed by: Josh Coffey, Otto Sharp, Stephen Montgomery
Home Grown Alternative Rock
"How the Hell am I Getting Home?" - Performed by: Milan & The Sour Goat; Composer: Milan Lazistan III, John Busse, Edwin Estevez Jr.
Best Ballad From a Short
"Wild One" (The Ballad of Brando) - Composer: Philip Curcuru; Performed by: The Atomik Age Project
Best Pop Song
"Far Away Places" - Composer: Toni Cornell; Performed by: Toni Cornell
Best Orchestration From An Animated Short
"Skip Rescues Pip" - Composer: Cristina "Trinity" Vélez-Justo
Best Music from a Home Grown Student Film – Elementary School
"MP News Theme" - Composer: Robert Shiffman
Best Home Grown Pop Duet
"Theme from That's Life"
Dr. David Stout – 2019 Honorary Chair: Dr. David Stout currently serves as President of Brookdale Community College. Prior to his selection as the College's 7th President, David served in various roles at Brookdale over 21 years, including Vice President for Student Success, Dean of Enrollment Development and Student Affairs, Dean of the Freehold Campus, Department Chair and Professor of Psychology and Human Services, Student Development Specialist, and Learning Assistant. As President, Dr. Stout has enacted strategies to predict and influence enrollment trends, address facility needs, analyze and control expenditures, update major institutional strategic plans, build financial reserves, and develop programs that address the needs of Monmouth County residents.
Siobhan Fallon Hogan – Lifetime Achievement Award: Actress Siobhan Fallon Hogan will be seen this summer in The Professor, starring Johnny Depp. Other upcoming film and television projects include The Shed , Fox TV's What We Do In The Shadows and Yes directed by Rob Margolies. Some of her film and television credits include, Men In Black, Forrest Gump, Going In Style, Private Life, Seinfeld, SNL, Billions, The Negotiator, Dancer in the Dark, New In Town, Baby Mama, Charlotte's Web, The Bounty Hunter, Holes and 30 Rock. Fallon Hogan has written a film, Frat Haze, that Rob Margolies will be directing this fall in Upstate, New York. Siobhan has resided in Rumson, New Jersey for the past fifteen years with her husband, Peter, a builder, daughter, Bernadette, a political reporter for the New York Post, son, Peter, an actor and daughter, Sinead, college bound.
Brian O'Halloran – Spirit of New Jersey: Brian O'Halloran was born on December 20, 1969 in New York City, New York, USA as Brian Christopher O'Halloran. He is an actor and producer, known for Clerks, Mallrats and Clerks II.
Kim Waltrip – 2019 MVP: Director, producer, actress and long time GSFF supporter and friend, Kim Waltrip started her career as a model in New York City. Her projects have premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival and Palm Springs Film Festival . She has been the catalyst to bring GSFF some of its favorite films as well as VIPs. Congratulations, Kim for all you have accomplished and thank you for your continued support of GSFF.
For more on the festival visit www.gsff.org
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