STATE – New Jersey’s Premier Independent Film Festival is celebrating its 22nd Anniversary March 21 – 24. The internationally recognized Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) celebrates the independent film genre by bringing a carefully curated and enriching selection of original works from locally produced filmmakers as well as from around the world. “The upcoming 2024 Festival returns to experience 200 films from over 14 countries over four days in 8 venues hosting parties, professional panels, events, special honors and more,” says Lauren Concar Sheehy, the festival’s Executive Director.
The Garden State Film Festival offers several categories for films and filmmakers of all kinds. Among the selection include feature length and short films, documentaries, comedies, children’s, thrillers, pilots, student films and “Home-Grown” films shot in NJ. The Garden State Film Festival is pleased to announce that the film Pushover directed by Westfield resident, Brian Lederman, will screen at this year’s festival.
Pushover will screen on Saturday, March 23 at 6:15 p.m. at Asbury Hotel, Asbury Hall in Asbury Park.
The film’s subject is: A man’s life is upended by increasingly threatening phone calls demanding he leave a review for a paperweight purchased online.
In addition, the film Guy Meets Girl directed by Westfield resident, Alex Forstenhausler, will screen at this year’s festival.
Guy Meets Girl will screen on Saturday, March 23 at 6:15 p.m. at Asbury Hotel, Asbury Hall, Asbury Park.
The film’s subject is: More than just your average romantic comedy, “Guy Meets Girl” explores modern romance by showing different versions of a chance encounter. Who is right? Who is wrong? Or does the truth lie somewhere in between?
“Since New Jersey has seen record production numbers in recent years, thanks in no small part to Governor Murphy’s competitive financial incentives and the film-friendly environment created here in the state, including the efforts of the NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, we’re seeing an increase in the number of projects that qualify for this category. It is wonderful to see our filmmakers live where they work, and to fulfill their creative dreams,” explains Lauren. “And since New Jersey offers so many different kinds of locations and settings; mountains, beaches, cities, farms and more, we see Jersey appearing in so many different kinds of films.”
The entire GSFF program of this year’s selections will be presented in multiple venues in the Asbury Park area, with special events and screenings each night. A full day of screenings will also be presented at The Cranford Theater in Cranford on Saturday, March 23 starting at noon with the last screening ending at 10:15 p.m. The film schedule indicates which films have subtitles available for universal-access for the hearing impaired. Free on the website is the GSFF “Cinema for the Ears” series for those with visual impairment. Over 440 students will be attending our sold out 2024 statewide filed trip will be introduced to vocations by UARTS Karl Staven as well as New Jersey’s place in the birth of film. Check the schedule at www.gsff.org for showtimes and to see which films are screening at which venue.
