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originally published: 03/16/2023 

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- New Jersey’s Premier Independent Film Festival is celebrating its 21st Anniversary March 23 – 26.  The internationally recognized Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) celebrates the independent film genre by bringing a carefully curated and enriching selection of original works from locally produced filmmakers as well as from around the world.

Among the selection of over 230 feature length and short films, videos, documentaries, comedies, children’s, thrillers, student films and “Home-Grown” films shot in NJ. The Garden State Film Festival will present a screning of The Jersey Storm: Sandy in Monmouth County directed by resident, Adam Worth at this year’s festival.  Cheer on your hometown heroes who have put so much time and talent into these productions. The screening takes place on March 26, 2023 in the screening block from 12:15pm-2:30pm at Asbury Hall, Asbury Hotel.

You'll see for never-before-seen footage taken in the aftermath of Sandy and interviews with the Monmouth County officials, first responders, and residents who lived through it. The film chronicles Sandy and the fortitude of the local heroes who sprang into action in its wake. This film was produced by the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, so that these stories from the shore can be preserved as part of the county archives.

“We are extremely proud to present The Jersey Storm: Sandy in Monmouth County as a part of our 21st Annual Film Festival, and to share this work with our global audience,” says Lauren Concar Sheehy, the festival’s Executive Director.

Jersey Storm, The: Sandy in Monmouth County will screen on March 26, 2023 in the screening block from 12:15pm-2:30pm at Asbury Hall, Asbury Hotel.

 

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“The upcoming 2023 Festival adds a new venue and a return to an in-person only event to experience 237 films from 23 countries over four days in nine venues hosting parties, professional panels, events, special honors and more,” says Lauren Concar Sheehy, the festival’s Executive Director.

The entire program of this year’s selections will be presented in multiple venues in the Asbury Park area, with special events and screenings each night. A full day of screenings will also be presented at The Cranford Theater in Cranford, NJ on Saturday, March 25 starting at 10:30am with the last screening ending at 11:00pm.  The film schedule indicates which films have subtitles available for universal-access for the hearing impaired. Free on the website is the GSFF “Cinema for the Ears” series for those with visual impairment.  Featured is Daniel Meyer’s epic conclusion to the trilogy Fading Kingdom’s Part Three: The Garden.  You can check the schedule at www.gsff.org for showtimes and to see which films are screening at which venue.

Following 2022’s successful event, this year’s 21st Anniversary celebration, will include world premieres, celebrities, industry panels, parties, and networking, along with entertainment for all.  Catch the not to be missed panel, Behind the Lens with Ron Vidor, Cinematographer on blockbusters like Jaws, Stand by Me and Romancing the Stone just to name a few on Saturday, March 25th at 9:30 am in the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel Johnny and June Room.

Founder Diane Raver said, “The GSFF is action-packed and there is something for everyone!  Come one, come all, it only happens once a year and we don’t want you to miss it.”

Asbury Park highlights include the famous red-carpet Gala on Friday, March 24 at the Asbury Lanes.  This event includes a cash bar cocktail reception and light fare with industry professionals, red carpet photos and a film screening staring Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy), Oscar nominee Harvey Keitel (Pulp Fiction), Elias Koteas (The Thin Red Line), Joel David Moore (Avatar) and newcomer Emma Ho (Code 8) in the action-drama The Baker.   Tickets to this event are limited and are available on the website www.gsff.org/tickets.

Saturday and Sunday offer a schedule packed with films for every viewer, plus industry related workshops. Winners of the festival’s Movie Music Competition will have their musical compositions played before the live screenings. You can also listen to the music winners by clicking the playlist here.  The festival concludes with a Black-Tie Optional Awards Reception at The English Manor on Sunday, March 26. All events are open to the public.

This year’s winning Feature Length Screenplay Competition winner is Kelly Byrne with “Curly's Camp for Girls (and Boys)”. The reading of the winning screenplay by professional actors, will take place on Sunday, March 26, 10:00am–11:30am at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in the Oval Room on the Second Floor.  The GSFF Screenplay table read is presented by partner Project Write Now.  A ticket is required and available at www.gsff.org.

The Garden State Film Festival offers a variety of ticket packages.  The best deal now are the Saturday Day Pass $30, Sunday Day Pass $20.  If you want to go to one Film Screening event it is just $18. Panel Discussion Behind the Lens with Ron Vidor $15.  The Festival concludes with a Black-Tie optional Awards Dinner $135 which includes cocktails [cash bar] followed by a sit-down dinner, where we acknowledge this year’s best with presentations of awards to winning filmmakers and high-profile honorees in attendance. For tickets and more information about this film and other programs, please visit www.gsff.org.

A 501-c-3 non-profit organization, created to promote the art of filmmaking on all levels. This globally recognized festival also provides creative arts education programs and creates a forum where local and international independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. Their outreach programs also support the U.S. Military, seniors, children and the underserved.  Since 2003, thousands of films have made their public premieres, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have attended; and the total infusion of cash to local businesses since inception exceeds $10 million. It is held in Asbury Park and surrounding area as well as Cranford, NJ.