Garden State Film Festival’s Return To Asbury Park
New Details Released & A Call Goes Out For Volunteers And Support
A few Hollywood veterans, filmmakers and celebrities from across the globe have signed on to make an appearance when the Garden State Film Festival returns to Asbury Park in March.
Among the first to arrive in town this past month was classic film royalty Monika Henreid [shown left in feature photo], a filmmaker, writer, director and actress. We all know her father Paul Henreid from his iconic roles in Casablanca and Now Voyager. Henreid will host the opening night cocktail gala event, being held at The Asbury.
Xander Berkeley
“I met Diane a couple of years ago doing a couple of projects,” she said during a recent presentation to the City Council. “I suggested that this year, since the festival is coming back to Asbury Park, we should just give a wing ding of a party the first night. We have Alexander ‘Xander’ Berkeley of the Walking Dead coming as a special guest, Armand Assante, Ed Asner of course will be here, as well as numerous other celebrities.”
Henreid said standing inside the Berkeley during her recent visit, she immediately thought of the film and television star.
“I travel all over the world and talk about classic films; this is my job,” she said. “There was something about coming into Asbury Park that was like – oh, this is comfy, I like this. Walking around the Berkeley, that’s when it hit me; let me call Xander, then you have Xander Berkeley at the Berkeley. That’s how this mind works.”
She got on the phone and sealed the deal.
Scheduled to run from March 22 to 25, iStar’s Brian Cheripka will serve as the event’s Honorary Chair.
“He’s been really wonderful since our move back,” Executive Director Lauren Concar said. “We just feel everything that they are doing is helping to contribute to the greatness in Asbury Park and aligns well with everything that we do. He’s just really a great match and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership with them.”
The Garden State Film Festival was founded 2002 by Diane Raver and the late Robert Pastorelli. It launched in Manasquan and set up roots the following year in Asbury Park. The festival returns next year after a three-year hiatus to Atlantic City, and today draws an audience of over 40,000.
“What took you so long,” Mayor John Moor quipped.
Concar and Raver
Raver, who launched the first woman-owned commercial production company in New York in 1987, continues to spearhead the mostly all-volunteer event.
“We are so excited to be back,” she said. “[We] were the lead organization in the effort to save the Savoy Theater. We presented in Asbury Park for 11 years and were the first to put parties in the Grand Arcade.”
Through the years, notable guests have also include Glenn Close, Frank Vincent, Batman producer Michael Uslan, Austin Pendleton, Kurtwood Smith, James Gandolfini, Budd Schulberg, Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen, Lainie Kazan, Diane Ladd, Laura Dern, Bebe Neuwirth, and Sally Struthers.
This year’s participating venues include the historic Paramount Theatre, Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, The Asbury, House of Independents, Jersey Shore Arts Center, the Asbury Park Senior Center, and of course City Council Chambers inside City Hall.
“We can’t thank you enough and we are so happy that you will use the Senior Center,” Mayor John Moor said. “This is the first time we will have part of your event in the southwest section.”
A free jitney service will be offered and there will be two apps available for download; one for the volunteers and one for the patrons, both will link to the City’s Parking APP, Raver said.
There will be 220 films from across the globe screened, with the full scheduled slated for release in January.
“Last year the person who came from farthest away was from China, and the year before that was South Africa,” Raver said. “We do have films from South Africa in this year and they claim they are coming if the get in.”
Academy Award winning stop motion film company Laika, headquartered in Oregon, will administer two interactive kids workshop.
And with the planning stage moving toward execution, Raver made a plea for volunteers and supports.
“We need your help” she said. “It’s no secret that funding for arts organizations are at an all time low in the State of New Jersey. Ad sales, sponsor leads or securing volunteers would be greatly appreciated. We really need as much help as we can get.”
To volunteer, add support, or for more about the Garden State Film Festival, click here.
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