JACKSON — A pair of aspiring film directors will put on their second annual student film festival May 6. The event will take place from 6-9 p.m. in the auditorium of Jackson Memorial High School, Don Connor Boulevard. Admission will be $5.
Matt Rasmussen, 18, a Jackson Memorial High School student, and Joe Cicalese, 19, a Brookdale Community College student, got their start as directors when they met in a high school film class in 2003. The two made their first picture together and started brainstorming ways to get exposure for themselves and their films.
Soon enough Rasmussen and Cicalese came up with the idea to start a film festival that would feature independent films made by high school and college students from all over New Jersey.
The festival is “an opportunity for [filmmakers] to gain exposure, give them a third-person perspective on something they worked hard on and [the filmmakers] get some sort of response” from the audience, Cicalese said.
Plaques will be presented for Best in Show, Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best Editing, Best Director, Best Music Video and Best Acting Performance. Rasmus-sen and Cicalese have created an Audience Award this year which will be presented to the film that receives the most votes from the audience members.
For more information visit the Web site www.CJFF05.com or call Matt Rasmussen at (908) 839-9051.