Garden State Film Festival: AL5 (6 films)

Saturday, March 28, 2026 @ 12:30pm

Asbury Lanes
209 Fourth Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

Actually I Can - Pop music video with an inspirational story about dancing in the rain, thriving through big challenges, and emerging stronger than ever. Produced by Nika Stewart (00:03:30) World Premiere

Bench Seats - Dani, is a woman at an emotional crossroads after an argument with her wife, Erin. When a song on the radio jolts her memory back to the summer of 1989, Dani recalls riding shotgun in her mom’s oversized Buick, navigating the complexities of her parents’ recent divorce and her mother’s struggle to rebuild their lives. In the present, Dani catches her 9-year-old son’s concerned gaze in the rearview mirror, recognizing in him the same shadow of uncertainty she once carried. In that moment, she sees how the patterns of the past echo into the present, prompting her to reconcile with Erin and show their son that love endures—even through conflict. Directed by Courtney DeStefano (00:15:52) World Premiere

The Big Everything - A man finds himself in heaven’s bar, where he encounters his dog, God and his greatest loss, all in human form. Emotions run wild - from anger to higher perspective to ultimate joy… Directed by Salvador Paskowitz (00:15:49) New Jersey Premiere

Lucky, SOB - Take a trip back to the late 1960s and early 1970s in Vailsburg, Newark, NJ, through a semi-true short story. Join Lucky, the family dog, as he experiences life in this vibrant neighborhood, capturing moments of joy, struggle, and the bond between a family and their beloved pet during a defining time in history. Directed by Thomas P Sanitate (00:09:33)

Sam the Barber - In 1970s New Jersey, a young boy’s first haircut in a smoky backroom barber shop—doubling as a gambling den—throws him into a colorful world of hairy, wise-cracking Italian men, where he learns that growing up means more than just a fresh cut. Directed by Michael Corcione, Curtis Graham (00:07:30) New Jersey Premiere

Superimpose - Two music snobs stumble into a local record shop to buy the new Kathy Deal record, only to discover a mysterious crate with endless possibilities. Directed by Steven Zang (00:07:04)