New Jersey’s Premier Independent Film Festival is celebrating its 22ndAnniversary 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 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.
Among the selection of over 200 feature length and short films, videos, documentaries, comedies, children’s, thrillers, student films and “Home-Grown” films shot in NJ. The Garden State Film Festival is pleased to announce that the film The Troger Heat a short documentary about the tribute made this past year by The Manasquan Board Riders Club at the 30th Anniversary Contest in memory of one of the founders and local surf legend, Joseph Troger. Interviews with other local residents in the film include: Carl Danish, Bob Duerr, Larry Schmidt, Ben Meseroll, Tom Rose and others. Directed by Sea Girt resident, Diane Raver, The Troger Heat will screen at this year’s festival. The Troger Heat will screen on Sunday, March 24th at 12:00pm at Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park. You may contact the filmmaker by emailing her at diane@gsff.org or the Manasquan Board Riders at lwschmidtjr@gmail.com
“We are extremely proud to present The Troger Heat as a part of our 22nd Annual Film Festival, and to share this work with our global audience,” says Lauren Concar Sheehy, the festival’s Executive Director. We hope you come out to cheer on your hometown heroes who have put so much time and talent into these productions.
The entire 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, NJ on Saturday, March 23 starting at noon with the last screening ending at 10:15pm. 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. Featured is Daniel Meyer’s epic conclusion to the trilogy Fading Kingdom’s Part Three: The Garden. You can check the schedule at www.gsff.org for showtimes and to see which films are screening at which venue.
Following 2023’s successful event, this year’s 22nd Anniversary celebration, will include world premieres, celebrities, industry panels, parties, and networking, along with entertainment for all. Catch the not to be missed panel, Filmmaking is booming in New Jersey! Find out why that’s good for YOU, with special guest speakers on Saturday, March 23th at 10:00 am in the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, Johnny and June Room.
Asbury Park highlights include the famous red-carpet Gala on Friday, March 22nd at the Asbury Lanes. This event includes a cash bar cocktail reception and light fare with industry professionals, red carpet photos and a film screening starring Matthew Modine, John Cleese, Fiona Glascott, Derek Jacobi, , Stuart Townsend in the feature drama The Martini Shot -a filmmaking reference to the last shot of a film shoot. Tickets to this event are limited and are available on the website www.gsff.org/tickets.
Saturday and Sunday offer a schedule packed with films for every viewer, plus industry related workshops. Winners of the festival’s Movie Music Competition will have their musical compositions played before the live screenings. You can also listen to the music winners by clicking the playlist here. The festival concludes with a Black-Tie Optional Awards Reception at The English Manor on Sunday, March 24. All events are open to the public.
This year’s winning Feature Length Screenplay Competition winner XXX. The reading of the winning screenplay by professional actors, will take place on Sunday, March 24,10:00–11:30am at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in the Oval Room on the Second Floor. The GSFF Screenplay table read is presented by partner Project Write Now. A ticket is required and available at www.gsff.org.
The Garden State Film Festival offers a variety of ticket packages. The best deal is the Parkway Pass for $100. Pass includes Access to Meet the Film Makers event, Gala Reception, All film screenings and Panels. This special combo must be purchased in advance ONLINE ONLY while supplies last. Friday Gala Cocktail Party and Screening for $55, Saturday Day Pass $40, Sunday Day Pass $30. If you want to go to one Film Screening event it is just $18. Panel Discussion $18. The Festival concludes with a Black-Tie optional Awards Dinner $150 which includes cocktails [cash bar] followed by a sit-down dinner, where we acknowledge this year’s best with presentations of awards to winning filmmakers and high-profile honorees in attendance. For tickets and more information about this film and other programs, please visit www.gsff.org.
About the Garden State Film Festival:
A 501-c-3 non-profit organization, created to promote the art of filmmaking on all levels. This globally recognized festival also provides creative arts education programs and creates a forum where local and international independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. Their outreach programs also support the U.S. Military, seniors, children and the underserved. Since 2003, thousands of films have made their public premieres, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have attended; and the total infusion of cash to local businesses since inception exceeds $10 million. It is held in Asbury Park and surrounding area as well as Cranford, NJ.