Dim the lights, grab a seat and enjoy the talented work of some New Jersey filmmakers during the seventh annual Garden State Film Festival.
The film festival will take place April 2- 5 in Asbury Park and feature an array of films, dinners and awards. The film festival debuted in 2003 with support from film industry veteran Diane Raver and actor Robert Pastorelli, who wanted to promote the art of filmmaking on all levels.
The film festival is a volunteer nonprofit event held annually at the Paramount Theater/ Convention Hall complex and other venues in Asbury Park and the surrounding area.
This year’s festival will honor Sid Bernstein, the promoter who brought the Beatles to America. A rough-cut of the film “Sid Bernstein Presents …” will be shown on April 4 at 2:45 p.m. in the Paramount Theater. The film’s directors, Jason Ressler and Evan Strome, explore the life of Bernstein, a legendary entertainment promoter.
Attendees may stay after the film for a panel discussion featuring Bernstein and some surprise guests. On April 5 at the film festival’s awards dinner, Bernstein will receive the Beacon Award in recognition of his music relating to the cinematic arts.
The festival will honor Joey Travolta with the Broader Vision Award for filmmaking dedicated to the greater good. Travolta’s short film “Camp Inclusion” presented by Film Lab benefits autistic children.
Travolta is a former special education teacher and has been assisting children and adults with neurodevelopment disabilities. Recently he merged his film experience with his passion for teaching and developed a film workshop and camp for children and adults.
Bloomfield native Christopher DeBlasio will receive the Robert Pastorelli Rising Star Award at the awards dinner in recognition of his progression of work in theater, commercials, television and film. The award is presented each year to a New Jersey native. Working with a Fisher Price camera as a child, DeBlasio created a career for himself, making his way to ABC-TV soap operas including “One Life to Live.”
Several local talents will be featured in the film festival, including students from the Monmouth County Vocational School District’s Communications High School, Wall Township.
“In The Name of Love?” was made by four of the high school’s students with Gerard Nocco, of Manalapan, and Nick Stango, of Brielle, directing, and Jared Blashinsky, of Manalapan, and Simone Valente, of Matawan, producing.
The film’s story focuses on 18-year-old Max who just got home from college for a holiday break and within minutes of being home his mother is already asking him to run errands.
Not wanting to go alone, he takes his 16- year-old brother Vince along for the ride. After visiting their mom’s crazy friend, the two go to visit Max’s troubled girlfriend. Sadly for Vince, Max’s girlfriend has a younger sister who has been obsessed with him for years.
After one awkward experience with the sisters, it’s only appropriate that they encounter another. It’s all on Max and Vince to finish their mother’s list of errands before time is up and their mother’s wrath is not something to be reckoned with. The 27- minute film stars Kira DeSomma, Danielle Pawlak, Magee Fahey and John Mueller.
Nocco, Stango and Blashinsky resumed their creative positions on the film “Enigma.” According to the film’s description, “Enigma” is a surreal adaptation of the quote “Nobody wants to be here and nobody wants to leave” from the book “The Road.”
“Enigma” highlights the uncertainties many teenagers face while growing up. It follows the journey of a teenage boy who is trapped in a dark place. He does not know where he is, and there is clearly someone or something following him. He checks through all of the rooms and still does not find any answers. He knows something is not quite right, but is compelled to push onward. The three-minute film stars Billy Chamberlin.
For the students’ feature “Pure Gold,” Nocco once again took to the director’s chair, but this time with the assistance of Dylan Jalowski, of Wall Township. Students Mike Sellari, of Millstone Township, and Valente worked as producers. “Pure Gold” is an eight-minute film which follows a young filmmaker named Billy Frost who tries to sell his bad science fiction idea to a production company.
“In The Name of Love?” and “Enigma” can be seen on April 4 at noon in the Synaxis, 660 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park. “Pure Gold” will be screened on April 4 at 2 p.m. in the Synaxis, according to the film festival’s Internet website.
One film that is already receiving buzz on the festival’s website is “Curveball” by Bryan Fox. The film features the Challenger Phillies, an Upper Providence Little League baseball team made up of special needs youngsters. They are passionate, funny and inspirational.
During the two weeks leading up to the team’s season opener viewers get to know the players, their families and some of the challenges they face every day. Viewers also find out if the team will be able to get it together enough and in time to play an organized game of baseball on the opening day of the season.
“Curveball” will be shown on April 4 at 3:15 p.m. at the Youth Temple, Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove.
Tira Bluestone, of Livingston, will have her first film, “Arts for Autism,” shown during the festival. The piece is a short documentary that stresses the importance of music in education. The film features appearances by Bob McGrath of “Sesame Street” and actress Jenny McCarthy, an autism research advocate.
“Arts for Autism” shows how the arts can help autistic children express themselves and better interact with others. It also addresses some of the controversies surrounding the debate on childhood vaccinations.
“Arts for Autism” will be shown on April 4 at 3:15 p.m. at the Youth Temple, Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove.
For a schedule of events and information on obtaining tickets to the films, visit the Garden State Film Festival’s Internet website at www.gsff.org.