---

A major decision that may determine the Garden State Film Festival’s [GSFF] relocation to Atlantic City is scheduled to take place today.

Atlantic City’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority [CDRA] will vote today after 2 p.m. as to whether they will provide financial assistance to the film festival, according to Diane Raver, the festival’s executive director.

“We will know after two today whether they will give us financial assistance, which we have had very little of in Asbury Park,” said Raver.

The CRDA’s board of directors made a preliminary vote to determine the project availability of hosting the film fest at their July 16 meeting. The vote today will determine whether the project is approved and what fund reservations will be allocated to it, according to an agenda for the CRDA’s monthly meeting.

If the CRDA votes to provide the GSFF with funding, “We move to Atlantic City. It would catapult us to the international level,” she said.

Through the CRDA, capital investment funds are used to provide “meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents statewide,” according to their website.

The annual film festival has been held in Asbury Park’s Paramount Theater [above] since its inception ten years ago. Due to a state-mandated installation of sprinkler systems in the theater and adjoining Convention Hall — which must be addressed by the fall — Madison Marquette may decommission the building because of the cost of the fire protection systems. Madison Marquette has said that its loss of control of 600 parking spaces along the waterfront is a major factor affecting its investment decisions regarding Convention Hall and boardwalk properties.

GSFF representatives began searching for a new host city in July, after communications between festival board members and city officials to keep the event in Asbury Park went unresolved.

————————————————————

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook and Twitter.

---