Cutting Edge Movies, Documentaries on View March 26-29 in Asbury Park, Cranford
By Mary Ann Bourbeau
ASBURY PARK – The Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) is coming back for its 24th year, ready to showcase 205 films from 19 countries across nine venues in Asbury Park and Cranford. The festival runs from March 26 to 29.
“Asbury Park’s seaside charm and Cranford’s bustling downtown create the perfect backdrop – and our local hotels, restaurants and small businesses definitely feel the love,” said Lauren Concar Sheehy, executive director. “We’re proud to uplift arts education and fuel meaningful growth in the communities we serve.”
Festivalgoers can explore feature and short-length films, documentaries, comedies, children’s films, thrillers, pilots, student films and “home-grown” productions shot in New Jersey. Over the four days, events will be presented at the Asbury Hotel, Asbury Lanes, Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel and Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, as well as a full day of screenings at The Cranford Theater. The festival offers accessibility features, including subtitled films and the returning “Cinema for the Ears” series for attendees with no or low vision.
“In four days, attendees can experience 205 films and film-centered events from filmmakers worldwide, along with parties, professional panels, celebrity appearances, networking opportunities, special honors and more,” said Concar Sheehy.
The festival’s success reflects not only the state’s legacy as the birthplace of film but also highlights its thriving film industry.
“New Jersey’s film-friendly environment is resulting in record numbers of productions, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission and (former) Gov. (Phil) Murphy’s competitive financial incentives,” Concar Sheehy said.
The festival kicks off on March 26 with the historical documentary, “Monmouth County at War: Rebels, Raiders, and Revolution.” Produced by the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee, the documentary explores the conflict in Monmouth County, one of the most violent and divided regions during the American Revolutionary War.
From the brutal fighting at the Battle of Monmouth to the rise of the Black Brigade led by an enslaved resident, Titus Cornelius, named “Colonel Tye,” the film examines the local conflicts, loyalties and survival strategies that turned the Revolution into a deeply personal war among neighbors.
Directed by Monmouth County native Adam Worth, the documentary includes expert interviews and footage shot at historic locations across the area. It also highlights secret smuggling networks and the difficult choices residents faced as the War for Independence reshaped their communities.
“This feature documentary explores how Monmouth County became one of the most consequential and divided communities of the Revolutionary era,” said Thomas A. Arnone, Monmouth County Commissioner director, co-chair of the MonmouthNJ 250 Committee, and executive producer of the film. “It reveals how the Revolution’s true cost was paid in the fields and homes of ordinary New Jerseyans – and how its echoes still shape the landscape today.”
Worth, a graduate of Red Bank Regional High School and Monmouth University, served as director, cinematographer and editor on the documentary, the third in a trilogy he made for Monmouth County, following films on Super Storm Sandy and the county’s experience in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. He has won five New York Emmy Awards through the work of his company, Cine Selector Film and Video Production, which is focused on creating compelling content in Monmouth County.
“I’m passionate about telling the stories that matter to people here,” said Worth.
The film festival’s gala reception will take place Friday, March 27, complete with red carpet, light refreshments, industry professionals and a screening of the feature drama, “The Legend of Juan Jose Mundo,” the story of a larger-than-life Spanish exchange student navigating culture, identity and unexpected impact. The film’s star, Alexandro Byrd, will be in attendance along with director Michael Walker and co-writer/producer Susan Gomes.
And There’s More
Student films include “The Grass is Always Meaner” about a yard contest that gets ugly, and “More Than a Café,” highlighting No Limits Café in Middletown, which has a mission of hiring adults with developmental disabilities.
“Waiting Room,” from Ryan Evelynn Garner of Rumson, follows a talented young concert violinist’s journey to put herself back together after being left alone to care for her dying brother.
“Father’s Day,” from filmmaker Rolando Hernandez of Asbury Park, tells the story of a group of young adults navigating their conservative religious lives in modern-day America while grappling with the ever-changing world around them.
“Buddha Bottle,” from Manasquan’s Steve Peckman, tells of a bottle that makes a solitary trip to the beach in Asbury Park. After getting hopelessly lost, it is rescued by a local musician and becomes a legend in the city’s vibrant music scene.
The closing night film, “Lucky Jack,” is the inspiring true story of a 30-year-old high school dropout, a father of three and pizza delivery man in the Newark projects, who defies the odds to become a neurosurgical resident at a top New York City hospital. Steve Edwards, president and co-founder of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, produced this documentary feature as a love letter to his father, organizers said.
Atlantic Highlands resident Chuck Fishbein’s documentary, “PTSD: The Invisible Enemy,” delves into post-traumatic stress disorder. Since the beginning of the global war on terror, more than 30,000 military veterans have taken their own lives due to PTSD. Fishbein and producer Tim Stevens had created a film about the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall and later discovered that many of the veterans were still suffering from PTSD 50 years later. They also learned of the high suicide rate among veterans.
“The point of our film is to help veterans and their loved ones recognize the signs that might indicate danger and to make them aware there is help and they are not alone,” said Fishbein. “The GSFF is an opportunity to show our message to the public and possibly save a life.”
“Chuck Fishbein represents exactly what GSFF was built to champion – bold, original storytelling from accomplished New Jersey filmmakers,” said Concar Sheehy.
The Garden State Film Festival also offers the community an opportunity to connect with filmmakers and industry professionals, gain valuable insights into the film industry, network in a collaborative setting and engage with the stories and people shaping the future of independent cinema, organizers said.
Some of the talent slated to attend are actress Annabel O’Hagan (“Fallout”), who stars in “The Door,” and Havilah Malone (HBO’s “Barry” and “Insecure”), who wrote and stars in “I’m in Love.”
Attending the awards dinner is retired U.S. Air Force pilot Capt. David Drummond, a veteran featured in “A Place of Honor,” directed by Academy Award winner Vanessa Roth in partnership with the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial & Museum in Holmdel (NJVVMM). Drummond, a recipient of the Bronze Star and Prisoner of War medals, among others, is a Manalapan resident and became a prisoner of war when his plane was shot down on a mission over North Vietnam in late 1972. The 2024 documentary is “about the NJVVMM – how it got here, what we do here, and why it’s important that we are around for the long term,” said Amy Osborn, NJVVMM chief executive officer.
The festival, at its core, is about the power of storytelling, its organizers said. “For nearly a quarter-century, the Garden State Film Festival has been a home for fearless, independent voices,” said Concar Sheehy. “We believe in the power of storytelling not just to reflect the world, but to change it. What excites us most is the future we’re building together – a global community of artists united by their commitment to authentic, visionary storytelling.”
The festival closes Sunday night, March 29, with a black-tie awards banquet at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch, honoring festival winners as well as Jason Fisher, founder and CEO of StageRunner, a global marketplace for soundstages and production services; location manager Katherine Delaney; and Tim Byrne, principal at The Wilson School in Sayreville, who was named Educator of the Year.
“The action-packed GSFF has something for everyone,” said festival founder Diane Raver. “Come one, come all – it only happens once a year and we don’t want you to miss it.”
For more information, visit gsff.org.
The article originally appeared in the March 19 – 25, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
