By Mary Ann Bourbeau
ASBURY PARK – The 23rd Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) will feature a dynamic lineup of films – some locally produced – along with red carpet celebrity events, panel discussions, live podcasts, cocktail parties and an awards banquet.
Beginning March 27, screenings and events will take place in nine locations throughout Asbury Park and Cranford.
The GSFF has come a long way since its premiere festival in 2003, which featured 55 films. Today, the four-day event boasts more than 200 full length and short films from 16 countries. Last year, the festival attracted 20,000 visitors.
“I’m proud that we are presenting a platform for independent filmmakers to showcase their voices,” said Diane Raver, executive director of the New Jersey Film Academy and co-founder of the GSFF, along with late actor Robert Pastorelli.
In 2002, Raver met Pastorelli by chance in a Sea Girt supermarket and struck up a conversation. Finding that they had so much in common, she invited him to a dinner party she was hosting. They became good friends and soon hatched the idea for the Garden State Film Festival.
“New Jersey is the birthplace of the film industry, after all,” said Raver.
The first festival took place in the Paramount Theater on the Asbury Park Boardwalk. When 3,000 people came to see local and independent filmmakers exhibit their work, the festival was immediately deemed a success. Since then, such notables as Glenn Close, Laura Dern, Alec Baldwin, Bruce Springsteen, Bebe Neuwirth, Christopher Lloyd and the late Ed Asner and James Gandolfini lent their support.
“We’ve had just about every Soprano,” said Raver. “This is New Jersey.”
The GSFF offers a range of categories, including feature and short films, documentaries, comedies, children’s selections, thrillers, romance, pilots, student films and “Home Grown” films shot in New Jersey.
And there’s a strong local presence at the festival.
Red Bank’s Danny Sanchez has two entries this year: “Babyface” is a hilarious short film with the tagline that reads “One suspect, one detective, one phone call.” Sanchez’s other entry is the music video “This Train,” an excerpt from his unique musical storybook, “Sleeping Beauty Who Just Woke Up.”
“Vienna: Suddenly an Angel” is a short film that arose from the experience of a family, formerly from Holmdel, whose daughter Vienna died inexplicably at age 2 ½. Vienna’s physician parents embark on a journey of grief, scientific discovery and advocacy, turning personal tragedy into a mission to raise awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood. The film is executive produced by Carol Stillwell of Holmdel and Stillwell-Hansen Inc., with original music by Ray Andersen.
Monmouth County’s government is represented in “Hope One.” Presented by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, the movie chronicles the county’s opioid prevention and education initiative. Since its launch in 2019, the Hope One Mobile Unit, supported by recovery specialists, has visited countless venues, including Brookdale Community College, JBJ Soul Kitchen and various locations in Asbury Park, providing education on addiction services and offering vital resources to individuals affected by substance use.
Then there is “The Last Collector: A Fading Kingdom’s Story.” This 25-minute fantasy adventure by Shrewsbury’s Daniel Meyers offers a uniquely innovative program aimed at accessibility, something the GSFF promotes. In addition to films with subtitles for those with hearing issues, there is an immersion program for people who are blind or have low vision called Cinema for the Ears. It elevates the art of audio storytelling and provides a platform for creators to showcase their talent in a new format.
The festival organization also gives new and seasoned filmmakers the opportunity to network and offers creative arts education programs for up-and-coming filmmakers. Special events include a Meet the Filmmakers Night, Filmmaker Breakfast and Panel Discussion, after parties, cocktail hours and karaoke events.
The films are shown in curated screening blocks, which may include a short film, a feature-length presentation and a music video. There are also panel discussions and Q&As after each block.
“It’s a unique experience not to be missed,” said Lauren Concar, GSFF executive director. “New Jersey’s film-friendly environment is resulting in record numbers of productions, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission and Gov. (Phil) Murphy’s competitive financial incentives.”
Some films may draw you in just by the title, such as “You Don’t Even Look Italian,” “Don’t Eat Dead Fish” and “That Creep from the Bar Last Night.” Others have themes, such as human rights, sports, comedy or the environment, while some were created by high school students.
Among the stand-out films this year, according to Concar, is “Here’s Yianni.” When a Greek diner owner is diagnosed with dementia, he imagines himself as a late-night talk show host, putting his wife’s love to the ultimate test. The film stars Rosanna Arquette, Julia Ormond, Kevin Pollack and Eric Roberts, all of whom are expected to attend the festival.
Here is a brief rundown of the events; the entire schedule is available online, as are tickets, at gsff.org.
Thursday, March 27: Meet the Filmmakers Night/Festival Preview Event: A sneak peek at the festival’s lineup of films and special events, including a cocktail reception with cash bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.
Friday, March 28: Red Carpet Cocktail Gala Ceremonies and Opening Films. “The Ballad of a Hustler” by Brazilian director Heitor Dhalia is the story of a Latino ex-con and a 6-year-old boy who venture into the dangerous underworld of illegal immigration in a desperate attempt to find the boy’s mother. “Silence is Golden” is a comedy short about the residents of Arbor Terrace Assisted Living and how they know the importance of silencing their cell phones before watching a movie.
Saturday, March 29: Filmmaker Breakfast and Panel Discussion with guest speakers. “Setting the Stage: New Jersey’s Path from the Birthplace of Film to Global Production Hub.” Plus, there are numerous films being offered, including “Religion, Racism and Reconciliation,” a documentary that delves into the complex relationship between racism and religion in America, following the journeys of individuals and faith-based communities who are actively confronting systemic issues like voting rights, income disparity and mass incarceration.
Sunday, March 30: There are films plus an awards banquet. The festival concludes with the event at Asbury Lanes, where awards are presented to winning filmmakers and high-profile honorees in attendance. This year’s Rising Star Award goes to Ruby Wylder Rivera Modine, recognized for her contributions as an actress, singer/songwriter and music producer. Her repertoire includes drama, comedy, action and romance, with performances in “Shameless,” “Fear,” “The Survivalist” and “Happy Death Day 2U.” Both she and her father Matthew Modine are expected to be in attendance.
The article originally appeared in the March 20 – 26, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
