Garden State Film Festival Hosts First Hybrid Event – Screens 300+ Films to 585K Viewers

By: Community Magazine | April 29, 2021 |  Entertainment , Events | 

FEATURED PHOTO: (L to R) Vice Chair Heather Brittain O’Scanlon, Board Secretary Stephanie Clineman, Founder Diane Raver, Director of Operations Kristen Dirato, Daniel Baldwin, Executive Director Lauren Concar Sheehy, Avis & Finley Baldwin. | CREDIT: Tom Zapcic Photography

For its 19th iteration, the Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) presented more than 300 independent films to 585,000+ viewers globally, with the first hybrid event including in-person events as well as connecting to film lovers virtually through dynamic digital streaming in light of the global COVID-19 crisis.

The festival, which typically draws more than 25,000 attendees to Asbury Park, screens local, national, and international movies. GSFF brings in the latest indie films, and in 2021, its filmmakers were able to reach film lovers all over the world.

Fans who participated in an unprecedented four-day livestream event on their computers, tablets, and mobile phones found the perfect antidote to a pandemic-weary world thanks to streaming hundreds of feature-length films, shorts, documentaries, animation, student films, premieres, and more top-quality cinematic showmanship right at their homes. Fans even had a chance to interact with the filmmakers virtually on talkbacks on Facebook. GSFF conducted pre-event interviews, happy hours, and one-on-one interactions to connect to filmmakers before they arrived in Asbury Park.
 

PHOTO: (L to R) Winners of Best Trailer, RUSHED, Hugh and Lynne Ward, Kyle Ward, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Peter Hogan, Executive Director Lauren Concar Sheehy, Board Member Brian Sheehy Sr. | CREDIT: Tom Zapcic Photography

PHOTO: (L to R) GSFF Founder Diane Raver, Dr. David Stout, President of Brookdale Community College, Executive Director Lauren Concar Sheehy – Brookdale Community College Foundation presenting an award to the Garden State Film Festival for service to the community. | CREDIT: Tom Zapcic Photography

PHOTO: (L to R) Honorees MVP Ming Chen, Spirit of New Jersey Award Recipient Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Independent Spirit Recipient Daniel Baldwin | CREDIT: Tom Zapcic Photography
 

In addition, GSFF plays a vital part in educating and showcasing the next generation of filmmakers and had more than 48 high school films screening.

GSFF’s 2021 hybrid event blended numerous live screenings with a rich virtual platform. In-person events included a Friday night cocktail gala, a closing night awards presentation, and live events with a screening at the Cranford Theater.

GSFF Executive Director and filmmaker Lauren Concar Sheehy livestreamed the GSFF Awards Ceremony alongside director Paul Porowski, formerly the news operations manager and producer of Chasing News, camera operators Peter Normandia of Edit Cellar and Sergey Kornienko of Brookdale Television. The awards included the best in various categories of films and celebrity honorees were recognized. To view the list of winners, visit gsff.org.

“We continue to reach our legion of filmmakers and fans where they are and understand virtual engagement is not a replacement for a live festival experience,” stated GSFF Executive Director, Lauren Concar Sheehy. “GSFF enjoyed our time with our fans and filmmakers both in person and virtually, and we hope to be back in-person to full capacity in 2022”

Save the date for The Garden State Film Festival 20th Anniversary Edition – March 23-27, 2022.