JOHN BARRYMORE BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER FOR FORT LEE HIGH SCHOOL THESPIAN SOCIETY TO BE HELD FEBRUARY 15TH FROM 6-8PM AT IN NAPOLI RESTAURANT (116 MAIN ST) IN THE BAR AREA - TICKETS $15 AT THE DOOR - CALL (201) 693-2763 FOR FURTHER INFO.

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Pictured left to right at the 2009 Jersey Filmmakers of Tomorrow Festival at MediaMix Studio in Allendale, NJ are Fort Lee Film Commission Chairman Nelson Page, Former FLFC Chair Lou Azzollini, Jersey Filmmakers of Tomorrow Festival Director and FLFC Executive Director Tom Meyers, Best of the Fest 2009 JFOT winner Diana Lampiasi of Ridgewood High School and nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and arts proponent Deborah Gibson who appeared in Don't Unplug the Arts.

Garden State Film Festival issues "Call for Entries" for independent films and movie music categories for 2010 event

A worldwide "Call for Entries" has been issued to independent filmmakers by The Garden State Film Festival. The deadline for submissions is December 1, 2009. Filmmakers will find submission instructions on the festival’s web site at www.gsff.org.

The Garden State Film Festival, celebrating its eighth year, is New Jersey’s largest and most respected film festival, having attracted records crowds of over 30,000 last year. The 2010 Festival returns to the Paramount Theater On-the-Boardwalk in Asbury Park, New Jersey, March 25-28, and will feature film competition for independent filmmakers, open talent casting call, panel discussions, children’s workshops, and opening and closing ceremonies. A panel of professional judges will select winning entries in a number of categories, including best Feature Length, Short, Documentary, Music Video, PSA and commercial and a new category for trailers, was added this year.

"We are excited to be adding the trailer category this year," stated Diane Raver, Executive Director of the GSFF. "Many filmmakers make trailers in an attempt to get exposure for the purpose of obtaining funding for the full up production. Audience reaction to trailers is an invaluable tool."

The Garden State Film Festival was the first festival to create a category to recognize the musical compositions and the role music plays in the cinematic arts. To date, it remains the only independent film festival to recognize composers, artists and producers of scores, soundtracks and theme songs. Movie music tracks are judged solely on their own merit and producers may submit their works, regardless of whether the film has been submitted or accepted.
"We created the Movie Music category in recognition of the role movie music plays in the cinematic arts,", Raver added. "New Jersey has a rich musical history and represents a crossroads of the film and music industries, making the largest and most respected film festival in NJ the most appropriate forum for the people behind the music."

The GSFF invites all music makers who have written and produced tracks for independent films to be recognized for the part they play in the production of fine films. Filmmakers are invited to submit (on CD format) any movie music from an independent film in any category that will be judged by music industry professionals in the new category, dubbed the GSFF Movie Music Track Competition. The winners of the competition will be recognized at The GSFF Black Tie Awards Dinner held on March 28, 2010 at The English Manor in Asbury Park, NJ. Information about the Movie Music Track Competition is also on the web site at www.gsff.org.

Garden State Film Festival scouting candidates for 3rd Annual Robert Pastorelli Rising Star Award

The 8th annual Garden State Film Festival is scouting candidates for their annual Robert Pastorelli Rising Star Award.

The award is named after the late award winning actor and co-founder of the GSFF, Robert Pastorelli, who was instrumental in bringing this prestigious event to the State of New Jersey.

The Robert Pastorelli Rising Star Award is open to all present or former New Jersey actors, regardless of age or union affiliation. Eligible candidates must have been born and raised in New Jersey and have an undeniable passion for the artform and have made inroads to the industry through hard work and determination. The deciding committee will be looking for a progression of work in theater, commercials, television, and film.

Submissions should be sent to GSFF C/O Gwen Pastorelli, 2185 Eighth Ave., Sea Girt, NJ 08750 and postmarked no later than December 1, 2009, and should include a headshot, resume, references and demo tape or DVD, or website address if available. Submitted materials will not be returned to applicants.

Interviews will take place in January 2010 at a location to be determined. For more about The Garden State Film Festival, please visit our website at www.gsff.org.

The Garden State Film Festival will take place in Asbury Park's historic Paramount Theater and other Asbury Park venues March 25th-28th, 2010, and this prestigious award will be presented at the Garden State Film Festival awards dinner on March 28th, 2010 at The English Manor in Ocean Township, NJ.

2009 Jersey Filmmakers of Tomorrow Screening and Awards Ceremony

Saturday, November 14th at 3 PM at Media Mix Studio (4 Pearl Court, Allendale, NJ)

The films of the 10 finalists will be screened followed by a reception for friends and family of our student filmmakers. Awards will be announced after the reception. Call 201-592-3663 for further information. Sponsored by the Fort Lee Film Commission and Media Mix Studio.

Fort Lee Film Commission produced documentary on the first woman director in cinema history, Alice Guy Blache, is in production with a target date of 2010 for airing on the New Jersey Network.

The Fort Lee FIlm Commission will participate in the Whitney Museum Fall 2009 Alice Guy Blache Retrospective.  This will be the largest film retrospective to date on this first lady of the cinema.  We will highlight her role as the owner / operator of Solax Studio in Fort Lee.  The Fort Lee Film Commission will be filming the Whitney Museum retrospective for inclusion in our documentary on Alice Guy Blache.  We hope that this work will lead to Alice Guy Blache's entry into the Director's Guild of America.

HOLLYWOOD ON THE HUDSON - New Book Authored by Fort Lee Film Commission's Richard Koszarski

Rutgers University Professor and film historian Richard Koszarski's new book HOLLYWOOD ON THE HUDSON is available in book stores. This comprehensive study of the film industry on the East Coast tells a unique story that has not been well documented over the years. When the film industry left for California there remained a vibrant and active film community in the New York City / Fort Lee, NJ area. Professor Koszarski uncovers the facts and details of this interesting chapter of American film history.

Left to right - Fort Lee Film Commission Chairman Nelson Page, 2006 Barrymore Award Honoree Academy Award winning actress Celeste Holm, Fort Lee Film Commission executive Director Tom Meyers and Jersey Filmmakers of Tomorrow Festival Director Christina Kotlar at the Lafayette Theatre during the 2006 "Evening with Celeste Holm" tribute (photo by Donna Brennan).

The Fort Lee Film Commission recently completed a two-year restoration of the only known existing print of the first surviving American film version of Robin Hood. This film, made at the Eclair Studio in Fort Lee in 1912 (current day site of Constitution Park on Linwood Avenue), was restored from a 16mm print and 35mm nitrate elements provided to the Film Commission by the late film collector Al Dettlaff. The film was restored and blown to 35mm. Fuji Films donated the film stock and the restoration process was directed by Sirk Productions' Kris Fraga, Marc Perez, John Sikes and B.B. Enriquez. Metropolis Film Labs of Manhattan under the direction of Jack Rizzo performed the lab work. Film historian and commission member Richard Koszarski led the restoration team in the reconstruction of inter title cards and insertion of 35mm elements. The Film Commission premiered Robin Hood at a June 23 screening at the Fine Arts Theatre in Hollywood, California. Pictured at the screening are film historian and Entertainment Tonight movie critic Leonard Maltin (center), Film Commission Chairman Nelson Page (left) and Film Commission Executive Director Tom Meyers (right). The Film Commission will hold the New Jersey premiere of "Robin Hood" during the October "Jersey Filmmakers of Tomorrow" program.

Photo by Donna Brennan

Teens of the Lou Costello Jr. Youth Center of East Los Angeles Complete "The Lou Costello Project" Film

The teens of the Lou Costello Jr. Recreation Center premiered their film "The Lou Costello Project" on June 24 at the Fine Arts Theatre in Hollywood, California. This film, produced jointly by the Mary Pickford Institute and the Fort Lee Film Commission, details the history of the Center and its founder Lou Costello and highlights the life of the kids of the Center today. A special thanks to documentary filmmaker Andie Hicks of the Mary Pickford Institute for her work with the teens of the Center. The Fort Lee Film Commission hopes to enter this film in film festivals across the country including the 2007 Garden State Film Festival.

Former FLFC Chair Lou Azzollini, Chris Costello, FLFC Exeuctive Director Tom Meyers, FLFC volunteer Scott Manganelli and Lou Costello Jr. Youth Center Recreation Coordinator Louis Euzarraga are pictured holding photos of Lou Costello at the Center.