From left to right: Gail Baskerville Norris (Arts & Culture Co-Chair NCBW 100), Jeanette Curtis-Rideau (NCBW100 Emeritus), Jeremy Lentz (TIFF Exec. Dir.). Nicole London (filmmaker of The Disappearance of Ms. Scott), Gwenette Reese (President of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Bergen/Passaic Chapter), and Sonia Tracey (Arts & Culture Co-Chair NCBW 100)

(TEANECK, NJ) -- It all began 21 years ago with an idea and planning, and this November the Teaneck International Film Festival, a project of The Puffin Foundation, Ltd., celebrated its 20th anniversary of presenting films and programs that bring people together as a community and foster a commitment to caring and involvement.  This year's festival was marked by feelings of pride and gratitude on the part of the TIFF committee, Executive Director Jeremy Lentz, and the many sponsors who have been supporters from the earliest days.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Bergen/Passaic Chapter, opened the festival for the 20th time as sponsor of the documentary feature, The Disappearance of Miss Scott – the story of the Black jazz virtuoso who was blacklisted by Hollywood and had her TV show canceled when she refused to perform for segregated audiences.  Friday night brought back another 20-year sponsor: Bergen County (NJ) Chapter of The Links, Inc., with the documentary, Beyond the Headlines: The NABJ Journey, about the birth and evolution of the National Association of Black Journalists.  The talkback included Teaneck's own Allison Davis, a producer of the film who was a founding member of the NABJ.

From left to right: Emmy Winning Journalist - Randall Pinkston and Jaw Dow (Pix 11)

The Centerpiece gala was a delicious and delightful celebration of TIFF's two decades.  It was followed by the US premiere of the Italian comedy/drama A World Apart, which combined activism with hope and laughter – an obviously much needed and appreciated combination - and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative.

More than two dozen live films and talkbacks were followed by five more virtual films and a bonus screening at Teaneck's Ethical Cultural Society of Sally! about the activist who spearheaded the 70s and 80s lesbian feminist movement. Teaneck High School students had a screening of the docu-short (also available virtually) Locker Room Talk, which addresses cultural expectations of masculinity and changes the way boys and men view women and themselves. Once again there was something for the youngest audience: Little Kid Flicks, an hour of award-winning shorts from the acclaimed New York International Children's Film Festival and TIFF's first ever filmmaker boot camp hosted at Fairleigh Dickinson University with television producer and executive Ashley McFarlin.

The environment, voting rights, equality for women, antisemitism, LGBTQ+ concerns, immigration, racism, threats to democracy, and censorship were among the many issues addressed – all related and important to the festival's forever theme – Activism: Making Change.

From left to right: Anthony Johnson (ABC News) and Greg Palast (Filmmaker, Vigilantes Inc. America's New Voter Suppression Hitmen)

This year, for the first time the Puffin Foundation offered a $5000 Emerging Filmmaker Activist Award, to "highlight powerful new voices in activism-driven cinema and solidify TIFF's reputation as a platform for change-making storytellers."  The TIFF Screening Committee determined that Arfat Sheikh should receive the award for Saffron Kingdom, a drama inspired by true events.  Sheikh said, "This film was born from the wounds and resilience of Kashmir – a place where silence has long been enforced, yet truth continues to find its voice. . . I hope it inspires more filmmakers to tell the stories that history tries to erase. . ."

In addition to A World Apart, sponsored by Addie Wijnen, the winners this year were:  Audience Award / Best Documentary and Best of Fest, plus Juried Award for Best Documentary - Among Neighbors, sponsored by The Jewish Standard; Audience Award / Best Short - Locker Room Talk, sponsored by Teaneck Board of Education; Juried Award / Best Narrative - Cast Aside the Clouds (virtual); Juried Award / Best Short - A City Fights Back: How L.A. Defends Itself from I.C.E. (virtual), sponsored by Economic Hardship Reporting Project and The Puffin Foundation, Ltd.

From left to right: Helen Archontou (CEO YWCA Northern New Jersey), Judy Distler (TIFF Co-Founder), Alison Davis (WOW recipient), Hildy Dillon, Sen. Loretta Weinberg, Hildy Dillon (Wow Recipient) at Lilly screening.

The closing live film Lilly, a feature based on the true story of Lilly Ledbetter, a courageous employee of Goodyear Tire and Rubber who successfully fought for equal pay for women, was sponsored by YWCA Northern NJ, Senator Loretta Weinber, National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section, Shahanaz Arjumand, and Women of Wisdom.  The annual WOW award went to two Teaneck activists:  Allison Davis and Hildy Dillon.

Jeremy Lentz thanked TIFF's loyal sponsors and supporters and summed it up: "The films and talkbacks were excellent, the audiences were large and appreciative, our volunteers were, as always, outstanding!  Our big anniversary year is over, and the work will begin again soon as the Teaneck International Film Festival continues to use the art of film to tell stories that need to be heard."

Jeremy Lentz, Executive Director