Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival Returns Saturday
Filmmakers & Stars Due To Turn Out for the Fifth Annual Weekend Event
Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festivals returns this weekend, with screenings at locations throughout Ocean Grove and Asbury Park.
Over 150 short films will be screened Saturday at Jersey Shore Arts Center, and Sunday at The House of Independents and Porta, both in Asbury Park.
The brainchild of Chris J. Cullen, Rich Lello and Brian Kopack, three Jersey boys who started the event as a fundraising endeavor following the 2011 Superstorm Sandy in 2011, the event continues today to help nurture those trying to break into the industry through the short film medium.
This year, proceeds will help support Mary’s Place by the Sea in Ocean Grove, a 10-bedroom respite and cancer support nonprofit for women.
The festival opens at noon Saturday and runs through 6 p.m. at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, located at 66 S Main St in Ocean Grove. On 
Sunday, screening will run from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Porta, located at 911 Kingsley St; and 1 to 8 p.m., located at 572 Cookman Ave.
Festival regular Maurice Paramore [shown at right] returns with Bad Romance, a film he characterizes as a drama with a little bit of romance, being screened during the 6:55 p.m. Sunday bloc at Porta.
“I always wanted to explore the dynamics of a female and a male; how they fuss and fight and love each other,” he said during a Tuesday night podcast.
The Burlington native is a graduate of William Paterson University who began as a hip-hop artist but transitioned into a writer, director, producer and editor. He launched Dream Boy Vision in 2008 and in 2010 released his first independent film – Freestyle Love.
Paramore, who has attended the film festival every year said he tries to connect to as many people as possible and see as many films as possible.
“I feel like every year there is always something new, something fresh, that I get out of it,” he said.
A meet and greet party will be held 6:30 p.m. Saturday at The Anchors Bend, located at 1300 Ocean Ave. By 9 p.m. the celebration will move to Little Buddy Hideaway, located at 550 Cookman Ave.
Tickets are $14 per block or $40 for a two day pass, at the door. For more information, visit the website and Facebook page.
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