Garden State Film Festival Comes to Asbury Park This Month

Here are all the details about this exciting, celeb-packed 5-day film festival!

The Garden State Film Festival will run from Wednesday, March 25th through Sunday, March 29th throughout Asbury Park venues.

One piece that will be shown in the festival holds a special place in my heart. It's called I Talk to Strangers and it will be screened at The Paramount Theater on the 29th of March. It's a movie about locals made by locals, and we have featured both the Executive Producer/Director, Steve Rogers of Red Bank, and the star, Bob Ellis of Ocean Grove, on our morning show. Come on out and say hi to Bob and Check out my blog about this film.

The Garden State Film Festival will also be recognizing world-renowned Chef David  Burke for a lifetime of raising the creative profile of NJ. Chef Burke is the only American to win the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplome d'Honneur and was inducted into the James Beard Foundation "Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America." Chef Burke is one of the most recognized chefs on TV including appearances as a judge on Top Chef Masters as well as appearances on Iron Chef. His restaurants include DRIFTHOUSE in Sea Bright, which you can read my review of HERE.

There will be plenty of Hollywood stars making appearances at the film fest, as well as world premiers, industry panels, parties, and, of course, unparalleled independent films.

This year's notables include Linda Hamilton (Terminator), Matthew Modine (Stranger Things), Robert Patrick (Terminator), Ashley Platz (Grey's Anatomy). And some of the films that will be shown include stars like John Goodman, Harry Shearer, Jodie Foster, Vanessa Williams, Frank Stallone, Lou Gossett Jr., and Tate Donovan, and will feature original music by Chris Martin, The Bouncing Souls, Travis Barker...and so much more!

This 5-day event brings a large number of producers, directors, actors, investors, distributors, and industry talent to the State of New Jersey, which, by the way, is the birthplace of American filmmaking!

In one week, you can enjoy over 240 films on all subjects, in a variety of lengths, showing in numerous locations all around Asbury Park, plus seminars, free shuttle rides, and non-stop fun for all ages during this fast-paced 5 days and nights.

Films are shown in two-hour-long screening blocks that include a variety of works like shorts, feature-length, music videos, and trailers. Each screening block concludes with a Q&A with the filmmakers and actors.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door (plus a venue service charge) for a 2-hour screening block, and $50 in advance or $55 at the door (plus a venue service charge) for the multipass that gets you into events including the Friday Night Gala Cocktail Party. With the pass you can attend as many films and events as you wish.

The festival ends with a closing Black Tie Gala at The Berkeley featuring awards for the best films and celeb honorees, also open to the public if you purchase tickets.

Did you know that the Garden State Film Festival was born in 2002 after a chance encounter in a Sea Girt grocery store by film industry veteran Diane Raver and the well-known Hollywood actor Robert Pastorelli? Through their deep ties to Hollywood, the two were able to bring an all-encompassing event to our state!

For all of the details about this 5-day Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park, CLICK HERE and HERE!