The Festival included networking opportunities, state wide student field trip, informative panel discussions, winning screenplay reading with in-depth celebrity talk backs, star-studded red-carpet gala and entertaining parties—all in addition to the screenings of 237 films from 23 countries around the world.

Over 425 students attending the statewide filed trip were introduced to vocations by award-winning cinematographer Ron Vidor as well as demonstrations from stunt performers led by Roy Farfel and Calvin Ahn.  The weekend culminated with the 2023 Garden State Film Festival Awards Dinner event on Sunday evening March 26th, where this year’s honorees were recognized, and Festival winners were announced.   “Filmmakers are beaming from their GSFF experience and have been contacted by distributors and press worldwide,” said Concar Sheehy.

The Garden State Film Festival concluded its 21st season in triumph. “It was an enormous success,” declared Diane Raver, the Festival’s founder, “and our attendance was actually bigger than last year.”

Lauren Concar Sheehy, continued with this year’s Festival as being “absolutely impressive” with “an international flavor as well. Also, we promote student creativity, make the arts accessible to underserved populations and preserve heritage arts. The Festival benefits the local community in far-reaching ways. It brings people, venues, businesses, and organizations together around a shared goal. It also brings social value for our economy, culture, heritage, and well-being.”

Vice Chair, Heather Brittain O’Scanlon boasts, “Attendees took advantage of the networking opportunities and educational panels throughout the multi-day event. Thank you and congratulations to all the participants, and especially to this year’s honorees and winners.”

The Festival’s founder Diane Raver adds, “Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating our 21st Anniversary. We hope to see you next year for our 22nd annual Festival.”

Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone acted as Honorary Chair. Other honorees included Independent Spirit Award Recipient, Ron Perlman; Broader Vision Award, New Jersey Natural Gas; Lifetime Achievement for Cinematography, Ronald Vidor; Lifetime Achievement for Photography, Donald Kravitz; Spirit of New Jersey, Kenny Vance; Exceptional Women in Film, Dr. Jennifer Turner; and Educator of the Year, Jody Lazarski.

David W. Schoner Jr., NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission Associate Director, NJ Motion Picture & Television Commissioner Janice Kovach, Tahesha Way, Esq. New Jersey Secretary of State,  Lauren Concar Sheehy, Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) Executive Director, Diane Raver, GSFF Founder Doreen Sayegh, Cranford Theater owner.

Tahesha Way, Esq. New Jersey Secretary of State on stage at the Asbury Lanes.

About the Garden State Film Festival

The Garden State Film Festival is 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 underserved populations.  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. 

The artistic philosophy of the Garden State Film Festival is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and the creation of a forum where local and other independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. It was also created to pay tribute to New Jersey’s legacy as the birthplace of the American filmmaking industry in Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratories where he invented the first film cameras and projectors, to Fort Lee, where the original studios were founded. Our event provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in careers in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals in an atmosphere conducive to learning and mentoring. Further, we are happy to be present each spring in Asbury Park and to serve as an added engine for the city’s vitality through arts, commerce, and culture. 

 For more information visit gsff.org or email lauren@gsff.org

For social media updates on the GSFF, please visit the sites below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GardenStateFilmFestival/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GardenStateFilm 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/gardenstatefilmfestival
Hashtags:
#GSFF #gsffasburypark #asburyparkfilm #GSFF2023 #youhavetowatchthis

GSFF was named winner of the 2023 & 2022 M&A Today Global Awards - Best Independent Film Festival - USA, 2022 Global 100 Best Independent Film Festival –USA, Corporate Vision Media Innovator Award 2021, Film Festival of the Year (New Jersey) 2021 – Lauren Concar, 2021 Corporate America Today Best Independent Film Festival –USA, 2020 Brookdale Community College Foundation for Service to the Community, 2019 Spinnaker Arts & Culture Award from the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, 2018 Corporate USA Today Best Independent Film Festival – USA, and the, 2017 Global Excellence Awards & Best Independent Film Festival – East Coast’ by TMT News, 2014 International Film Festival Manhattan Best Music Video, 2012 Monmouth Ocean Development Council Silver Gull Award for Tourism Achievement.

The 21st Annual Garden State Film Festival could not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors: