(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The Garden State Film Festival, New Jersey's Premier Independent Film Festival® launches its 24th year with a compelling Kickoff Matinee at Asbury Lanes on Thursday, March 26, 2026 from 1:30pm to 3:15pm. The block blends local history, global storytelling, and forward-thinking voices into one unforgettable opening experience. This curated film block sets the tone for a festival that spans 205 films from around the world—starting right here in New Jersey.
"Before the red carpets… before the parties… before the buzz hits full volume—this is where the story begins. We open this festival with intention says Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director of the Garden State Film Festival. In one matinee, audiences experience global storytelling, groundbreaking science, and deeply rooted local history. From innovation in Growing the Caribbean Glider Fleet and agricultural collaboration in Rooted in Trust, to the universal storytelling of The Chocolate Hills of Bohol and the powerful legacy captured in Monmouth County at War, this is exactly what the Garden State Film Festival does best—bringing diverse voices and ideas together in one place. And this is just the beginning.”
The block includes screenings of Growing the Caribbean Glider Fleet; Rooted in Trust: Rutgers Researchers and NJ Farmers; Collaborate to Shape the Future of Basil; The Chocolate Hills of Bohol; and Monmouth County at War: Rebels, Raiders, and Revolution.
Tickets are available for purchase online. Asbury Lanes is located at 209 Fourth Avenue in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The 2026 Garden State Film Festival runs from March 26-29 with screenings in several venues in Asbury Park, Cranford, and Ocean Grove.
Rutgers University oceanographers travel to Barbados to join an international team of scientists and together deploy a glider robot that will collect critical ocean data as part of their joint efforts to improve hurricane forecasting and save lives.
When downy mildew devastated New Jersey’s basil crops, Rutgers researchers and local farmers joined forces to fight back, developing disease-resistant varieties that restored hope to the industry. But as new strains and emerging diseases threaten again, their collaboration must continue, for the future of a beloved crop. Rooted in Trust: Rutgers Researchers and NJ Farmers Collaborate to Shape the Future of Basil follows this ongoing partnership as science and agriculture unite. Together, they’re building resilience, sustaining livelihoods, and shaping a greener future. Funded by the USDA SCRI NIFA Grant 2022-51181-38448 and the Rutgers New Use Agriculture & Natural Plant Products Program.
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol combines dream-logic and folkloric elements to present a spiritual struggle with Asian diaspora, from a Filipino American perspective. Edgar Mapanao (Michael Berbano) sleepwalks through life, while dreaming about a never-ending journey to the Chocolate Hills of Bohol with the ghost of his long-dead brother, Clyde (Russell Legaspi). Revisiting the memories of people defining his life, Edgar confronts a myriad of existential conflict, and soul-searches deeply to assess his own identity in the world.
Monmouth County at War: Rebels, Raiders, and Revolution - A gripping look at New Jersey’s role in the Revolutionary War, this film brings the past into sharp focus—right where history actually happened.
This isn’t distant history. This is our backyard.
And there’s something powerful about watching it unfold just miles from where those events took place.
*Produced by Monmouth County Government’s MonmouthNJ250 Committee and the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office** Monmouth county at War: Rebels, Raiders, and Revolution uncovers the untold story of New Jersey’s bloodiest region during the American Revolution. In Monmouth County, loyalty could mean your life. Through raids, reprisals, and the struggle for freedom, neighbors turned against neighbors and the line between justice and revenge disappeared. Featuring leading historians and the rarely told stories of African American, Native American, and Loyalist fighters, the film reveals how the Revolution’s true cost was paid in the fields and homes of ordinary New Jerseyans — and how its echoes still haunt the landscape today. From the battles and betrayals that tore neighbors apart, to the brutal fighting at the Battle of Monmouth, to the rise of Colonel Tye’s Black Brigade, and the secret smuggling networks that sustained the war. Uncover how loyalty and survival drove Monmouth’s residents to take sides - or switch them - revealing the Revolution not as distant glory, but as a brutal, personal war at home.
The Garden State Film Festival (GSFF), New Jersey’s Premier Independent Film Festival®, returns for its 24th year as a globally recognized celebration of cinematic excellence. With over 200 films from 19 countries, 49 events across 9 venues, and more than 40 live podcasts, the four-day festival transforms Asbury Park and Cranford into a hub of storytelling, industry connection, and cultural exchange.
Drawing thousands of attendees each year, GSFF drives tourism, supports local businesses, and generates meaningful economic impact across New Jersey’s coastal and downtown communities.
