---

Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festivals returns this weekend to locations throughout Ocean Grove and Asbury Park.

Over 150 short films will be screened Saturday and Sunday at Jersey Shore Arts Center, The ShowRoom and Porta.

The fourth annual event draws a roster of new and established filmmakers and actors, culminating with an award ceremony at Porta. This year’s honoree William DeMeo [at right] is known for his roles on The Sopranos and Person of Interest, as well as this year’s Breaking Point – co-starring Joseph D’Onofrio.

DeMeo’s film First Kill co-starring Bruce Willis and Hayden Christensen is due out in July and his film The Life and Death of John Gotti with John Travolta is now in post-production.

Festival Director Chris Cullen tells us Artie Pasquale, Joseph D’Onofrio, Bill Sorvino, Jack Malachy, Garry Pastore, and Dan Grimaldi will be attendance.

Among the shorts being screened is the award-winning The Other Side Of Love [shown in featured photo] by filmmaker Tyrell Jason, currently making its mark on the festival circuit.

Up for a cinematography award, the film captured an Asbury Park Music & Film Festival last month and has been screened at The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival and was in the running for the 2017 Sundance and Brightside Tavern Film Festivals.

Cullen plays a clerk in the film that tells the story of a young woman named Winnie, who rethinks her relationship after her boyfriend’s cancellation of their anniversary plans propels her to go out alone.  

Jason said the film’s actors, executive and associate producers will be an attendance for the screening, being held in the 5:20-7:32 p.m. Sunday bloc at Porta.

The festival kicks off 1 p.m. Saturday with two blocs of student films at Jersey Shore Arts Center [66 S. Main St in Ocean Grove], followed by a 6 p.m. kickoff party at the Little Buddy Tiki Bar [550 Cookman Ave in Asbury Park]. Screenings continue Sunday in three theaters at The ShowRoom [707 Cookman Ave in Asbury Park] and at Porta [911 Kingsley Street in Asbury Park]. The Awards event follows the Sunday screenings. A filmmaker’s lounge and ticket booth will be at Vintage Subs [716 Cookman Ave].

Tickets are $12 per screening bloc or $30 for a full-access festival pass that includes the award event. For the full lineup and more information, visit the festival’s website and Facebook page.

———————————————————

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---