Bridgeton News - September 26, 2007 Shorts Film Festival Set Friday
MILLVILLE -- The second annual September Shorts Film Festival will offer movie lovers a little bit of everything -- comedy, horror, animation, drama and documentaries -- for their viewing pleasure. On Friday, at Zelphy's, the arts district will award the 10 films that stood above the approximately 20 films entered for this year's competition. Each winning film will then be shown to the public. Marianne Lods, arts district coordinator, said Tuesday almost all of the movies submitted, which average between five and seven minutes, were good films. She added most of the entries were from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. "It was pretty well distributed this year," she said of the genres submitted. "But, I think animation always has a few more." This year's winners are: First Place, documentary -- "Broken Glass: The Crystal Meth Explosion," Jon Waller, director. The film focuses on the lives of two men who have gone through a crystal meth addition, and a young woman whose path through addiction to redemption is a warning to us all. "It blew me away," Lods said of watching this short film. "I was fascinated by it. I thought, Wow, every school-age kid should see this.'" First Place, drama -- "If Occurrence," Michael Licisyn, director. Two close friends who haven't spoken or seen each other in years suddenly come face to face with each other. First Place, horror -- "A Rose Has Teeth," Kent Green, director. This film is about a man who discovers a murder across the hall. Second Place, horror -- "Help Me," Ernie Rockelman, director. This film tells the story of a young woman who is terrorized at a roadside motel. First Place, animation -- "The Indescribable Nth," Steven Oscar Moore, director. A boy born with his heart inside a snow globe finds love in this film. Second Place, animation -- "Shut-eye Hotel," Bill Plympton, director. "Shut-eye Hotel" is a cartoon noir murder mystery that takes place in a sleazy hotel. This film will do for sleeping what "Jaws" did to swimming. First Place, comedy -- "Jukebox Blues," Pat Taggart, director. A couple walks into a redneck bar in this film. Second Place, comedy -- "Happy Hour," Sal Randazzo, director. Two friends go to a bar on a mission. Jersey Fresh Award, given to a local director, -- "Superstitious Ned," Paul Franco, director. Ned returns on Friday the 13th in this film. A People's Choice Award will also be given Friday after the public views all the films. All the winners will be taking home cash prizes. Lods said the festival is continuing to grow each year, and she said she looks forward to it becoming a tradition in the city. "I don't know if it will get to be huge, and I don't know if that matters too much until we have a big theater to show in," she said. "(The festival) gives the short filmmaker an audience and opportunity. They want to see how their movies touch an audience. "If we can provide that venue for artists, that is an important role for us in the Glasstown Arts District." Tickets to the film festival are $2 per person, and refreshments will be on sale by Zelphy's, 530 N. High St. Some of the filmmakers will be there to discuss their films. This year's judges were Chris Orazi, owner of CAS Music Productions, Vineland resident Lou Mascolo, editor and publisher of the Gazette of Atlantic and Cumberland counties, and Pasquale Velez, owner and operator of Reel Imagination Film Studios. Anyone interested in reserving seats for this 7 p.m. event can call 1-800-887-4957. Tickets are also available at the event. |
