The 24th Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) takes place March 26-29, 2026 across Asbury Park, Monmouth County & Cranford, Union County, NJ featuring over 200 films from around the world, events, filmmaker parties, live podcasts, industry panels and networking opportunities.
Opening Night Film: Friday, March 27th - The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo. Set in suburban NY in 1984. Julie Gornick hosts a charismatic, larger than life Spanish exchange student. As he starts hooking up with the girls in her class, Julie falls in love with him. Or what she thinks is love.
Centerpiece Films: Saturday, March 28th - Brothers On Three. West Point Rugby's 2023 season after their National Championship win, exploring the team's distinctive culture while offering insight into both rugby and military academy life.
Stronger Than You Think. Against all odds, Ali Truwit survived. Just days after her college graduation, a snorkeling trip turned into a nightmare when the accomplished collegiate swimmer was attacked by a shark. The brutal encounter would test every ounce of her strength and will to live. Against staggering odds, Ali survived — but her life was forever altered. The loss of her leg marked not just a physical transformation, but an emotional reckoning. Faced with unimaginable trauma, Ali made a powerful choice: to reclaim her story and use her experience to inspire others. Leaning on the values that had always guided her, she set her sights on a nearly unthinkable goal — earning a spot on the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team... just one year after the attack. This film follows her extraordinary journey: through the pain of recovery, the battle to return to the water, the triumph of making Team USA, and ultimately, rising to the podium in Paris. It's a story of survival, strength, and a young woman's unbreakable spirit — a testament to what's possible when resilience meets purpose.
Closing Night Film: Sunday, March 29th - Lucky Jack. A 30-year-old high school dropout and pizza delivery man from the projects of Newark, NJ, defies all odds to become a neurosurgical resident at a top New York City hospital. This documentary feature, produced by Steve Edwards—president of the NJ Hall of Fame—is a love letter to his father, Lucky Jack, and his mother, chronicling an extraordinary journey of determination, family, and the American dream.
Confirmed talent in attendance include Alexandro Byrd, star of the opening night film The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo (upcoming: The Descendants: Wicked Wonderland), actress Annabel O'Hagan (Fallout) who stars in The Door, Havilah Malone (HBO's Barry and Insecure) who stars and wrote festival title I'm In Love and the only living Medal of Honor holders from the Vietnam war, Jack Jacobs and David Drummond being the last of the POWs who are featured in the documentary A Place Of Honor, directed by Academy Award winner Vanessa Roth.
Garden State Film Festival's honorary chair for 2026 is Jason Fisher, Founder & CEO of StageRunner and former Head of Production at Disney+, Paramount, AMC Networks, and First Look Media where he led production on iconic series including The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Andor and The Mandalorian. The StageRunner Podcast will be recording at GSFF and hosting exclusive conversations at the crossroads of independent cinema and the digital revolution.
Hosted by Stagerunner's Founder and CEO, Jason Fisher and entertainment strategist Gannon Murphy, bringing together filmmakers, platform pioneers, and industry veterans to explore the most urgent question facing creators today: What happens when the old gatekeepers fall and new ones rise? From soundstages to smartphones, from theatrical releases to TikTok— mapping the collision between traditional filmmaking and the algorithmic, AI-driven, creator-powered future.
Tim Byrne will be honored with Educator of the Year at the 2026 Garden State Film Festival. Tim is the Principal at The Wilson School in Sayreville NJ.
"As we celebrate our 24th year, the Garden State Film Festival stands as a testament to the enduring power of independent storytelling," said Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director. "For nearly a quarter-century, we've provided a home for fearless voices—filmmakers who challenge convention, who illuminate the human experience, and who remind us that cinema doesn't just reflect the world; it has the power to change it. This year, we honor not only the legacy of New Jersey as the birthplace of American filmmaking, but the future we're building together: a global community of artists united by their unwavering commitment to authentic, visionary storytelling.
A 501(c)(3) organization, the Garden State Film Festival (GSFF), is New Jersey's Premier Independent Film Festival, a globally recognized celebration of cinematic excellence. As it enters its 24th year, GSFF continues to honor New Jersey's rich legacy as the birthplace of film while serving as a vital platform for filmmakers, industry professionals, and cinephiles alike. With over 200 films from 19 countries showcased across 9 venues, this four-day festival offers an unparalleled cinematic experience filled with screenings, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and exclusive events.
