the 17th Annual Garden State Film Festival (GSFF), offering a thrilling platform on which to display and celebrate extraordinary talents. With competitive categories embracing documentary, animated, narrative, and short films - as well as music videos, commercials, trailers, movie music track competition with student categories in all  - GSFF is truly a filmmakers film festival with unrestricted access to industry pros and audience.

Unfolding amidst the magic and allure of Atlantic City, GSFF offers practical and career-enhancing panels on subjects such as film financing and independent film distribution. Each panel is led by industry experts with track records of success and limitless knowledge to share. GSFF's competitive categories for college students, graduate students, high school students and younger ensure that anyone with talent and drive can find a place at this festival. As Atlantic City strives to engage the community GSFF will curate a selection of films that are suitable for all ages and seek a wide variety of films to screen to their mutli-generational audience.

In 2018 the fest featured nearly 180 films from 17 countries, delivered engaging panel discussions, and inspired the next generation of filmmakers. Additionally, past festivals have been thrilled to honor notable talents, Ed Asner (MVP), Armand Assante (Lifetime Achievement), Siobhan Fallon Hogan (Spirit of New Jersey), Eric Roberts (Wave of Excellence), and Laura Dern (Independent Spirit).  

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The Garden State Film Festival was founded to promote the art of film making on all levels by showcasing a wide variety of film, video and animated works, as well as to provide educational programs in the creative arts to the public by industry leaders. Our goal is to present films of the highest quality in both production value and content.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Eager to celebrate the talents that bloom throughout the Garden State, GSFF invites filmmakers to submit all genres and lengths to the Home Grown category when 75% of principle photography is filmed in New Jersey. In every aspect of its celebration, GSFF is deeply rooted in New Jersey’s legacy as the birthplace of the film industry, and it regales that legacy with great films from around the globe.

Submit your project today!