Garden State Film Festival Executive Director, Board Members, Crew and some of their dedicated Volunteers. Photo by Ed Shin
(ASBURY PARK & CRANFORD, NJ) -- The 24th Annual Garden State Film Festival (GSFF), New Jersey's Premier Independent Film Festival (R), drew record crowds across Asbury Park and Cranford, delivering sold-out screenings, strong industry participation, and one of the most impactful weekends in the festival's history.
Spanning four days, GSFF 2026 featured more than 200 films from 19 countries, presented across 9 venues and 49 events, bringing together filmmakers, executives, students, and audiences in a dynamic and highly accessible environment.
More than 800 students attended a statewide field trip at Brookdale Community College, participating in Exploring Cinema Careers with a focus on special effects makeup and hands-on industry pathways—highlighting the festival’s commitment to education and workforce development.
Photo by Ed Shin
“What we experienced this year was pure energy,” said Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director of the Garden State Film Festival. “From sold-out screenings to more than 800 students exploring careers in film alongside industry leaders, this festival is about more than showcasing great work—it’s about building opportunity and shaping the future of the industry. This is made possible by a dedicated team that leads with heart and commitment.”
Education, Industry, and Student Opportunity - The festival’s commitment to workforce development was on full display at Brookdale Community College, where more than 800 students participated in Exploring Cinema Careers, featuring Emmy Award-winning makeup artist Joe Cola, who provided hands-on insight into special effects makeup and professional pathways in the industry.
The event itself became a live learning lab, with Brookdale Television producing a live-switched, multi-camera broadcast of the field trip, giving students real-time exposure to professional production environments and workflows.
GSFF also continued its partnership with the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) through the New Jersey Hometown Documentary Short category, highlighting student filmmakers from across the state. The selected winning film in this category receives a $500 award presented to the student’s school, reinforcing the program’s commitment to arts education and student achievement.
Developed in collaboration with the Garden State Film Festival, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission, and Artists Alike Studios, the Hometown Documentary initiative invites students to create short films (under five minutes) that explore meaningful stories from their communities.
Winner: “Bombers Beyond: The Happiest Place in Town” (Sayreville War Memorial High School), directed by Kate Burns
1st Runner-Up: “Legacy On The Lanes” (Hammonton High School), directed by Matthew Donio
2nd Runner-Up: “We Dream” (Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology), directed by Kimberly Higgs
Student Achievement and Sponsored Awards - GSFF also spotlighted outstanding student work through its Home Grown categories, sponsored by Great Mustachio Filmworks and All Love Productions, recognizing emerging filmmakers at the high school level.
In the Home Grown Animated – High School category, “Save Me” from the Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology, directed by Malachi Bennett, was honored for its creativity and storytelling.
In the Homegrown Documentary – High School category, “More Than A Cafe” from Holmdel High School, directed by Dylan Frigiola, received recognition for its compelling look at community and impact.
Each winning filmmaker received a $250 award, supporting their continued growth in the field.
Industry Access in Real Time - GSFF continues to stand apart as a true filmmaker’s festival—where emerging talent and established professionals connect directly.
Panels such as “Inside the Studio: Power, Production & the Future of Film” featured leaders in production, policy, and studio development, offering insight into the evolving landscape of film and television and New Jersey’s growing role in the industry.
A Cultural Event with Economic Impact - Beyond the screen, GSFF remains a powerful economic driver. The festival brings tens of thousands of attendees into Asbury Park and Cranford each year, supporting local businesses, increasing tourism, and contributing to the vitality of New Jersey’s coastal and downtown communities.
Accessibility and Inclusion - A recipient of the Cultural Access Network Leadership Award, GSFF continues to lead in accessibility, offering subtitled screenings, assistive listening devices, and specialized programming for neurodiverse and low-vision audiences.
The Garden State Film Festival Honorees
Honorary Chair - Jason Fisher
Exceptional Women in Film & TV - Katherine Delaney
Educator of the Year - Timothy Byrne
The Garden State Film Festival 2026 Winners
Narrative Feature - “The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo” Michael Walker– Director; Alfred Sapse, Michael Goodin – Producers
International Narrative Feature - “Just Live”; Aleksandra Hobs– Director; Ivan Trifonov, Aleksei Zyuzin – Producers
Narrative Feature Horror - “Plucked”; Usher Morgan, Katie Vincent – Directors; Katie Vincent, Usher Morgan– Producers
Narrative Feature LGBTQ+ - “Beautiful Pam”; J.R. Stokes– Director; Peter Konsevitch, Sara Stabile – Producers
Narrative Feature Science Fiction - “Between Two Waves”; Courtney Sposato, Mark Sposato– Directors; Mark Sposato – Producer
M. Carroll Raver Award for Cinematography - “The Most Biodiverse Place in America” John Fiske – Director; Thomas Love, Stephen Brucher – Producers
Lou Costello Award for Live Action Short Comedy - “Tub”; Kathreen Khavari – Director; Cam Fife, Cianna Leatherwood, Kathreen Khavari, Zack Charney Cohen – Producers
Horror Short - “Blindsided”; P. Patrick Hogan – Director; Ana Krista Johnson – Producers
Science Fiction Short - “The Door”; James Graham – Director; Michael Keen, Tali de Assis – Producers
International Narrative Short - “No Nation”; Jeffrey Elmont – Director; Christine Park, Rachel Klein, Amira Adeeb, Paula Loos – Producers
Emanuel “Manny” Berlingo Award for Best Feature Documentary - “Brothers on Three”; Sean Mullin – Director; Sean Mullin, Brian Anthony – Producers
“Stronger Than You Think”; Janice Molinari, Melissa Forman – Directors; Allyson J. Davis, Melissa Forman – Producers
Documentary Short - “Gardener of the Galaxy” Nick Natalicchio – Director; Nick Natalicchio, Alex Djordjevic – Producers
Animated Short - IRAN - “Holy Heavêness”; Farnoosh Abedi, Negah Khezre Fardyardad, Mohammad Ghaffari – Directors; Mohammad Reza Oviesi, DEFC – Producers
Animated Short – High School - “Luisa” (San Domenico School); Kiyomi DallasKidd, Director
Narrative Short – College/Graduate School - “Are You Having Fun?”; Nicole Cone – Director; Nicole Cone, Zenzele Ojore, Kyandreia Jones – Producers
Narrative Short – College/Graduate School International - “Grossness of Closeness”; Cathal Power – Director; Isabelle Rivera, Griffy Collins – Producers
Narrative Short – College - “Take Two”; Colleen Ryan – Director; Jules Santamauro – Producer
Drama Short – High School - “Full Mugs of Coffee”; (USC SCA Summer Program); Sydney Wider, Director
Web Series/New Media - “My Dead Mom”; Chandler Levack, Wendy Litner – Directors; Lauren Corber, Palmer Baranek – Producers
Music Video - “Break The Mold”; Thomas Zabriskie – Director
Music Video-Horror - “Chokin”; Kai Straw – Director & Producer
TV Pilot - “A Darker Place: Cases from the DCA”; Rowan Kelley – DirectorRowan Kelley, Alexis Souza – Producers
PSA - “Honoring Our Heroes”; Brian Noreika – Director; Christine Giordano Hanlon – Producer
Commercial - “Sketchers Football”; John Reavey – Director; James Mellish, Hannah Doherty, Lawrence Thomas – Producers
The Garden State Film Festival would like to recognize films shot in the
State of New Jersey
with the following winners in the
“Home Grown Award” categories:
Home Grown Drama Feature - “Homebody”; Alex Alessi, Jamaal Green – Director; Alex Alessi, Jamaal Green, Alex Alessi, Jamaal Green, Mike Vernazza – Producers
Home Grown Documentary Feature - “Monmouth County at War: Rebels, Raiders, and Revolution”; Adam Worth – Director; Christine Giordano Hanlon, Ted Maturo – Producers
Home Grown Web Series - “History with Hanlon and Arnone”; Adam Worth – Director; Christine Giordano Hanlon, Ted Maturo – Producers
Home Grown Short - “Superimpose” Steven Zang – Director; Steven Zang, Stephanie Ferreira, Seth Grant – Producers
Home Grown Short Science Fiction - “The Last Musician”; Matt Crick – Director; Ella Evans – Producers
Home Grown Horror Short - “CAROUSEL”; Christopher Kosakowski – Director; Christopher Kosakowski, Alex Muzila– Producers
Home Grown Documentary Short - “PIEGIRL”; Daniel Quiyu – Director
“A PLACE of HONOR”; Vanessa Roth – Director; Vanessa Roth, Jack Noone, Stephen Feuerborn – Producers
Home Grown Animated Short - “McIntosh”; Steven Hayet – Director; Gina Marie Rodriguez – Producer
Home Grown Narrative Trailer - “The FAME Project: Journeys in Science”; Sean Feuer, Xenia Morin, Dena Seidel – Directors; Jim Simon, Dena Seidel, Marissa Staffen, Oscar Schofield – Producers
Home Grown Documentary Short- College - “Navigating Underwater Volcanoes: Exploring 9° North”; Nicole Nikolova, Dena Seidel – Director; JP Isaacs – Producers
Home Grown Music Video - “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again”; Francesca Rose Fuentes– Director
Home Grown Narrative Short – Graduate School - “Housewife”; Dalton Ames Snider-Smith – Director; Robert Cunniff, Negin Sedaghat, Brian Molina – Producers
Voices of Neurodiversity in Cinema – High School - “The EarBud” (FilmAcademy360); Jacob Lesch, Director
Home Grown Comedy – High School - “What’s Inside My Soup?” (Howell High School); Hayden Vigdor, Director
Home Grown Narrative – High School - “Puberty” (Howell High School); Nicholas Reseigno, Director
Home Grown Drama – High School - “Our DieNasty” (East Brunswick Magnet School); Josias Ortiz, Director
Home Grown Animated – High School - Sponsored by Great Mustachio Filmworks and All Love Productions “Save Me” (Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology); Malachi Bennett, Director
Homegrown Documentary – High School - Sponsored by Great Mustachio Filmworks and All Love Productions ”More Than A Cafe” (Holmdel High School); Dylan Frigiola, Director
New Jersey Hometown Documentary Short – High School - Sponsored by New Jersey School Boards Association Winner: “Bombers Beyond: The Happiest Place in Town” (Sayreville War Memorial High School); Kate Burns, Director
1st Runner Up: “Legacy On The Lanes” (Hammonton High School); Matthew Donio, Director
2nd Runner Up: “We Dream” (Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology); Kimberly Higgs, Director
Garden State Film Festival Acting Awards
Best Actor in a Feature - Alexandro Byrd, The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo
Best Actress in a Feature - Anna Mirodin, The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo
Best Supporting Actor in a Feature - Richard Kind, Homebody
Best Supporting Actress in a Feature - Hannah Kepple, The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo
Best Ensemble in a Feature - The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo; Director: Michael Walker; Producers: Alfred Sapse, Michael Goodin
Best Actor in a Short - Gustavo Ramirez, "Blue Evening"
Best Actress in a Short, Web Series or Pilot - Annabel O’Hagan, "The Door "
Best Supporting Actor in a Short, Web Series or Pilot - Bradley Whitford, "The Big Everything"
Best Supporting Actress in a Short, Web Series or Pilot - Hillary Anne Matthews, "Grossness of Closeness"
Best Ensemble in a Short, Web Series or Pilot - "The Big Everything"; Director: Salvador Paskowitz; Producers: Andrew Carlberg, Gil Cates Jr., Ryan Lewis
Screenplay Winners - Feature Screenplay Winner: BEDBUGGERS by Tom Cavanaugh
Short Screenplay Winner - One Last Time by Mark Buerck
Teleplay Screenplay Winner - Man Out Of Time by Daniel Colaianni
Please note that selection of any and all published winners is at the sole discretion of the Garden State Film Festival (“GSFF”) judging panel. The GSFF reserves the right to not select a “winner” or award for a particular category in any given year. The GSFF is under no obligation to award a category. By participating in the GSFF, the participant acknowledges this disclaimer and waives his/her/their right to contest any decision by the judging panel to award or not award in a category.
