2022 Winners
2022 Screenplay Winners
Please note that selection of any and all published winners is at the sole discretion of the Garden State Film Festival (“GSFF”) judging panel. The GSFF reserves the right to select or not select a “winner” or award for any particular category in a given year and are under no obligation to do so. By participating in the GSFF, the participant acknowledges this disclaimer and waives his/her/their right to contest any decision by the judging panel to award or not award in a category.
This event is sponsored in part by:

FEATURE WINNER:

SHELTER IN SOLITUDE
Written by Siobhan Fallon Hogan
Siobhan Fallon Hogan is a known as a comedy actor in Hollywood. The actress has been in several blockbusters over the years including “Men in Black”, “Forrest Gump”, “Holes”, “New in Town”, “Going in Style”, “Charlotte’s Web”, “Clifford the Big Red Dog, and “Funny Games”. Her televisions credits include SNL, Seinfeld, Billions, Wayward Pines, 30 Rock, Law & Order and many more. Recently she has added writer and producer to her long-acting resume. Siobhan and her husband Peter Hogan established Emerald Caz Productions in 2019. “Shelter In Solitude” now in production, stars Robert Patrick, Peter Macon, Peter Hogan, Dan Castellaneta and Siobhan Fallon Hogan. Fallon Hogan and Peter Hogan have been married for 29 years and have three talented children.Synopsis: Shelter in Solitude is the story of a wannabe country singer, Val, and her unconventional relationship with Jackson Marcus. It is an American, faith-filled, country western, prison love story told during Covid times. This screenplay is a social commentary on the inhumane conditions of the American prison system. If one determined, uneducated woman can bring humanity to the system, why can’t the US government?
Short Screenplay Winner:


OVERDUE
Written by Penny Jackson and Melissa Skirboll
Penny Jackson is a playwright, screenwriter and novelist who lives in New York City. Jackson has written and produced too many award-winning short films and theater plays to mention. In addition, she her novel Becoming The Butlers, published by Bantam Books, was chosen as one of the best novels for young adults by The New York Public Library and was optioned for film by Warner Brothers. She is a proud member of New York Women In Film and Television, The Actor/Directors Unit of The Actors Studio, The Dramatists Guild, The League of Professional Theatre Women and The International Center of Women Playwrights. And now a winner at GSFF! Big congrats Penny!
Movie Music Winners

MOVIE MUSIC COMPETITION PLAYLIST
Best Homegrown Pop Song
“I Need Your Love”
Composer: Paul Perrina
Performed by: Pat Guadagno
Best Song from Homegrown Short
“Start Again”
Composer: Griffin Berger
Performed by: Griffin Berger
Best Song from a Feature Film Drama
“Somewhere New”
Composer: Eddie Tadross
Performed by: Eddie Tadross
Best International Short Documentary Score
“The Last Minute”
Composers: Alfred Phakathi and James Bassingthwaite
Performed by: The Mzansi Youth Choir of Soweto, South Africa
Best Main Theme from a Feature Documentary
“The Red River Flood”
Composer: Brian Katona
Performed by: Brian Katona; Featuring Samantha Tomblin
Best Homegrown Country Song
“How Long”
Composer: Karen Phillips
Performed by: Karen Phillips, Jeff Levine ,Gary Oleyar, Mike Mizwinski, Paul Avrutin, Joe Chirco
Best Orchestral Theme
“Ashley’s Theme”
Composer: Benjamin Krause
Performed by: Benjamin Krause
2022 ACTOR NOMINATIONS
BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURE
Jerry H. Sroka – Our almost completely true STORY
Ben Begley – Fourth Grade
Aaron Monaghan – Redemption of a Rogue
BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURE
Miya Cech – Marvelous and the Black Hole
Mariette Hartley – Our almost completely true STORY
Mena Suvari – Fourth Grade
Aisling O’Mara – Redemption of a Rogue
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A FEATURE
Peter MacNicol – Our almost completely true STORY
William Baldwin – Fourth Grade
Kieran Roche – Redemption of a Rogue
Leonardo Nam – Marvelous and the Black Hole
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A FEATURE
Morgan Fairchild – Our almost completely true STORY
Teri Polo – Fourth Grade
Liz Fitzgibbon – Redemption of a Rogue
Rhea Pearlman – Marvelous and the Black Hole
BEST ENSEMBLE (FEATURE)
Redemption of a Rogue
Fourth Grade
Our almost completely true STORY
Marvelous and the Black Hole
BEST ACTOR IN A SHORT
Timothy Hornor – Bernard Checks In
Ian Morrison – Parrot
Lucca De Oliveira – You’re Now Beyond Hope, Arizona
Xander Berkeley – The Little Drummer Boy
Robin Lord Taylor – Skeletons
Tosin Morohunfola – Ride
Brian Keane – Matthew
BEST ACTRESS IN A SHORT
Anna Camp – GraceLand
Lainie Ventura – En Suite
Bonnie McKee – April Kills the Vibe
Karlijn Koel – Game Über
Katie Vincent – HomeBound
Jameelah Nurridin – Aftermath
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A SHORT
Conner Marx – Bernard Checks In
Daniel Nguyen – April Kills the Vibe
Geordie Kieffer – You’re Now Beyond Hope, Arizona
Michael Graziadei – The Little Drummer Boy
Ezra Knight – Matthew
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A SHORT
Ashley Platz – Bernard Checks In
Elyse MIrto – You’re Now Beyond Hope, Arizona
Scarlett Lewis – Operation: Cavity
Louisa Erlich – Matthew
Eileen Davidson – Aftermath