My Film Was Accepted

Congratulations Filmmakers for being accepted to GSFF 2024!

It is our pleasure to inform you that your film has been chosen to be screened at the
22nd Annual Garden State Film Festival
in Asbury Park and Cranford, New Jersey, March 21-24, 2024.

The Twenty-Second Annual Garden State Film Festival
March 21 – March 24, 2024

 

MEDIA REQUESTS:

Interested media who wish to interview Garden State Film Festival Executives, film talent, obtain screening reviews or industry entry please contact ADAM NELSON via email [email protected]

PLEASE CHECK HERE OFTEN FOR UPDATES

This year’s festival will take place March 21-24, 2024.
All films will be presented live at various venues while adhering to
COVID -19 New Jersey State Mandates | Cranford, New Jersey and Asbury Park, New Jersey. 

FILMMAKER PERKS

1.   Each film receives:

o    ONE (1) COMPLIMENTARY PARKWAY PASS

o    ONE (1) ADDITIONAL PARKWAY PASS at a 50% discount

       Passes are not transferrable and cannot be shared. The name and email address you provide for your PARKWAY PASS will be the only one that validates this pass.

2.   The PARKWAY PASS give you access to the following:

       All Film Screenings

       Panel Discussions

       Screenplay Reading

       Meet the Filmmakers Preview Event on March 21 *

       Friday Gala Reception Cocktail Party on March 22 *

* Filmmaker must be RSVP to this event.

3.   The PARKWAY PASS DOES NOT give you access to:

       Awards Banquet on Sunday, March 24, 2024

       Tickets for the Awards Banquet can be purchased here

 

4. Filmmakers will receive TWO (2) GSFF Filmmaker Badges (with lanyards) as

a keepsakeThe badge is for you to wear so everyone knows you are one

of our amazing filmmakers!

 

The rest of your Film Family, cast and crew, must purchase tickets here for all events

HOW TO REDEEM YOUR PERKS

To redeem your Parkway Pass and Discounted Parkway Pass, you MUST follow the simple steps listed below:

 

STEP 1

Submit the following information to [email protected] at Filmmaker Hospitality, no later than January 31, 2024.

ONE (1) COMPLIMENTARY FILMMAKER Parkway Pass

o    FILMMAKER NAME #1:

o    FILM TITLE:

o    EMAIL ADDRESS:

ONE (1) DISCOUNTED PARKWAY PASS (50%)

o    FILMMAKER NAME #2:

o    FILM TITLE:

o    EMAIL ADDRESS:

STEP 2

Check your email for your PROMO CODE. This code will be used to register/redeem your Parkway Pass and one discounted Parkway Pass.

 

STEP 3

Picking up your Filmmaker Badge is YOUR responsibility!

 

NOTE: This badge DOES NOT act as a ticket. The badge is for keepsake and to wear throughout the festival to let everyone know you are an amazing filmmaker!


When you arrive at the festival, visit the Hospitality Table. You must provide the same name and email address that you submitted via email, for validation.

 

To learn more about where to pick up your physical Filmmaker Badge, see below. 

RSVP TO EVENTS

All Badge and Parkway Pass holders MUST RESERVE their attendance by February 26th for the events listed below. 


We sell out FAST. If you do not RSVP to Lisa by 2/26/24 then you will not be admitted to the Meet the Filmmakers Night or Gala Reception. 

ACCESS YOUR LAURELS:

  1. FilmFreeway by clicking HERE. To access Laurel Center enter AsburyPark as the password.
  2. Download your laurel with black text or download your laurel with white text by clicking each link.

FILMMAKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PICKING UP THEIR BADGES

Depending on which day you arrive will depend on WHERE you will pick up your badge. See below

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024 | 6:30 PM-9:00 PM
Asbury Lanes | 209 4th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024
12:00 PM-3:00 PM | Berkeley Hotel Lobby | 1401 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
6:00 PM-10:00 PM | Gala Reception Asbury Lanes | 209 4th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
8:00 AM-8:00 PM | Berkeley Hotel Lobby | 1401 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
10:00 AM-8:00 PM | Cranford Theater | 25 N Ave W, Cranford, NJ 07016

SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2024 | 8:00 AM-3:00 PM
Berkeley Hotel Lobby | 1401 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

Please sign up right now with an email address you check often to our Accepted Filmmakers 2024 Mailing list. Please do that even if you cannot attend.

2024 Accepted Filmmakers Sign Up Here:
https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1994167/1911508/

2024 Accepted High School Filmmakers Sign Up Here:
https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1995667/1911508/

2024 Movie Music Competition Winners Sign Up Here
https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1994168/1911508/

    • To ensure you get all the important information about screening your film with us please add [email protected] to your contacts.
    • Check the promotions/junk section of your email to make sure our e-newsletter did not go there and so you don’t miss important information.
    • Information about uploading your file was emailed by our tech department.


We want to celebrate your work with your peeps! For the other members of your cast and crew, have them sign up for our general mailing list by following the link to keep current with all pertinent information. This allows everyone to see the Festival Events and programs

FILM REQUIREMENTS and UPLOADING YOUR FILMS TO THE PORTAL
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY:

** YOU MUST UPLOAD YOUR ACCEPTED FILM to our GSFF PORTAL **
Please look for an email with “GSFF 2024 PORTAL INFO” as the subject line. 

The DEADLINE to upload your films to the GSFF portal is February 2, 2024. If you do not upload by February 2, 2024, your film will not play. Also, once your film file has been uploaded there is NO WAY to CHANGE YOUR FILE so, please only upload the final version of your film.

 

VERY IMPORTANT: Label your Film File with your FILM TITLEThis is very important to label correctly for uploading.

FILE HOUSEKEEPING: It is very difficult when we see your Film File Name is different than the Film TITLE.  Please help us stay organized by labeling your files correctly.

FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES PROVIDED

  1. You MUST open the email using FireFox, Google Chrome, Opera, or Safari. No Internet Explorer.
  2. Ensure your film is 1920 by 1080, H.264, Stereo (2-Channel), .MP4
  3. MAX file size this year is 20GB for ALL FILMS
  4. Label files with your FILM NAME and FilmFreeway Tracking number  (this is very important to label correctly when uploading)
  5. Click the “Upload my Film” button towards the bottom of the email
  6. Select your film name, and click “browse” to select your film file and begin the upload.
  7. Wait until the upload is complete and the badge has turned green.

Please get all films uploaded to us no later than February 2, 2024

SEND US YOUR TRAILERS

The Garden State Film Festival takes your success very seriously. For Feature and Short Films, we are requesting you to email us a link to download your trailers.

  • Please send downloadable film trailers for promotional use to [email protected]
    • Label your trailer TRAILER_FILM TITLE
  • Trailer usage includes online; GSFF social media platforms, uploading to GSFF YouTube, as B-roll as needed and a selection will screen at Meet the Filmmakers Preview Event.


Important: If you submitted in the “Trailer” Category DO NOT send us a download of your trailer
. Your accepted Film is a movie trailer, which you will be uploading to the portal, because that is a “film” in the GSFF program.

Highlights of GSFF 2022 Festival Events

MEET THE FILMMAKERS

FESTIVAL PREVIEW EVENT
Thursday, March 24, 2022 I Asbury Lanes
Preview event gives guests a sneak peek at the Festival’s full line-up of films and special events. Get ready to work the room for your next gig! A cocktail reception prior to the screening includes cash bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Guests view a selection of trailers of the upcoming films and promos of the full line-up including special events. This not to be missed event is open      to the public.

 

FRIDAY COCKTAIL GALA
March 25, 2022 I Asbury Lanes
Friday Night Cocktail Gala includes cash bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres kicks off the Garden State Film Festival weekend with the red-carpet                            premiere of a highly anticipated film with special guests in attendance. Filmmaker Talk Back follows the screening with an after party to top it all off!

 

FILM SCREENINGS I Various Venues
Saturday, March 26 & Sunday March 27, 2022
Film Screenings throughout the city of Asbury Park.

 

WINNING SCREENPLAY COMPETITION            TABLE READ
Sunday, March 27, 2022 I Virtual

Winning Feature Screenplay reading by celebrity and up-and­ coming actors. Past participants include Ed Asner, Armand Assante, Diane Ladd, Xander Berkeley, Pasquale, Chance Kelly, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Langston Fishburne and Richard          Kind, to name a few.

INDUSTRY DAYS I Various Venues
Special events held during the Festival, Industry Days serves as the central hub for the Tri-State area-based and visiting filmmakers to connect with and learn from industry experts through panels, workshops, master classes, and networking events.

 

SUNDAY NIGHT AWARDS DINNER (*Must purchase Ticket*)
Sunday, March 27, 2022
I Berkeley Hotel

The Festival concludes with a Black-Tie option­ al Awards Dinner which includes cocktails -cash bar- followed by a sit-down dinner where we acknowledge this year’s best of the best with presentations of awards to winning filmmakers and high-profile honorees in attendance.

 

Please read the following information carefully: 

PROGRAM BOOK INFORMATION

  • Please provide the following information as you wish it to appear in the program and on the website and attach a high resolution still which may appear with it
    • Please use upper and lower cases when filling in information.
    • DO NOT ENTER YOUR INFO IN ALL CAPS
    • Premiere status examples are (World Premiere, North American Premiere, East Coast Premiere, NJ premiere, Asbury Park Premier)
    • If your film has a recognizable cast members name ONLY, please include it in the synopsis. Synopsis should be no longer than two to three sentences and describe the film accurately.

*Remember this is what will get general audience to your screening. Vague synopses are not helpful in getting audience to your film.

Please send ONLY the info below to [email protected] with a graphic/still for your film

Program/Website Information:

PREMIERE STATUS:

PRODUCTION COMPANY:

Other Details

Filmmaker Breakfast

The Garden State Film Festival is happy to invite this year’s filmmakers to join us for a mix and mingle with the other accepted filmmakers for a light breakfast.

 

Saturday, March 30

Berkeley Hotel | Continental Room

9 am – 10 am 

 

Badges will also be available at the Filmmaker Breakfast Saturday morning.

We have a wonderful panel immediately following the breakfast.

After Parties

After Parties are planned for:

Friday March 29 10:30pm – Wonderbar

Saturday March 30 10:30pm- Wonderbar

Sunday is the Awards Banquet

FIlmmaker Lounges

Filmmaker lounges available for you to utilize on Saturday & Sunday to chat and make new friends.

 

If after your screening block the Q & A sessions would like to continue, please relocate to our Filmmaker Lounges because we must stick to our time schedule.

 

 Berkeley Hotel | Café | Ground floor

1401 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712

 

Downtown Area | Snacks available for purchase.

TBD