Hoboken International Film Festival Shines Kliegs on Teaneck!

By Sally Deering

 First Cannes, then Sundance, now Teaneck? Yes folks, Cedar Lane Cinemas in Teaneck rolls out the red carpet for the fifth annual Hoboken International Film Festival, which used to be held in Hoboken, but because of some snafu, will now wow film-lovers a few miles north of Sinatra’s hometown.

The indie film fest promises to be a feast for the eyes, 115 feature-length films, documentaries, shorts and TV pilots presented on the silver screen with in-person appearances by Oscar-winning movie stars, Emmy-winning TV stars and the writers and directors who nurtured their films from their first baby-steps.

Some films were made by accomplished writers and directors; others by up-and-comers who likely financed their flicks with credit cards while staying afloat on a diet of peanut butter sandwiches. But these filmmakers all share the same passion: to create their film, their way, with the freedom to uphold the integrity of their script and sustain creative control over every frame without big studio interference.  And since many festival entries get picked up by big studio distributors, film festivals are a great way for an independent filmmaker to get their foot in the door. It’s like when an Olympian goes pro. All the hard work earns the gold medal which leads to the deal for the Wheaties box.

“The main reason a filmmaker wants to put his film in a festival is distribution,” Festival Chairman Kenneth DelVecchio says. “We pride ourselves in being able to show the edgiest and hottest filmmaking and to give these films a shot at getting distribution. The Grand Prize this year, the film that receives the Best Feature Film Award will get an automatic distribution contract from Light Year Entertainment. As a filmmaker you can have your dream made and get a distribution contract.”

 DelVecchio started this East Coast happening with a nod to his roots. A Hudson County native, DelVecchio grew up in Kearny, attended St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, graduated law school and served as a New Jersey judge. An accomplished writer who wrote his first book while still in law school, Del Vecchio has numerous writing and producing credits under his belt, including the hit Rules for Men. His new comedy, O.B.A.M.A.Nude is being shown at the festival, along with the controversial courtroom drama he wrote and produced about gay marriage called An Affirmative Act. But DelVecchio is not a contender in the festival he’s producing. Although his films will be screened, they’re not part of the competition, assuring the integrity of the awards given out to the winning films at the end of the 7-day event.

 Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling of The Howard Stern Show, who took on a part in Rules for Men and An Affirmative Act, which also stars Academy-Award winning actor Charles Durning, will host major events at the festival including the opening reception on June 4^th and the Awards Gala on the 10^th.

 Of the 1500 submissions, 115 films were chosen by a 15-member screening committee that helps determine the final entries. Of those 115 entered in the festival, some interesting local entries include Asbury Park and The Pope of Jersey City – both made by New Jersey filmmakers; Venus to Vegas by Luis Moro of Union City and Santorini Blue a film written and directed by Matthew Panepinto, starring Panepinto and Deirdre Lorenz who also serves as Executive Producer. Lorenz describes the five-years it took to make the film a labor of love. One that also came with labor pains from raising the financing. Lorenz says she reached out to everyone she knew to get the bucks and even received a check by a stranger in a scene that sounds straight out of a Hollywood movie.

 “I met a guy in a diner, he saw me talking and asked me what I was so passionate about,” Lorenz says, “and the next thing you know he’s writing me a check.”

 Father vs. Son, also in the feature-length category, is a comedy directed by screenwriter Joe Ballarini who has written for big studios like Warner Bros, Disney and Miramax. Ballarini co-wrote the script with Paul Wolff, his screenwriting teacher and mentor at the University of Southern California. Wolff’s writing resume is also impressive with TV credits that include Little House on the Prairie and Life Goes On.

 “I wanted to make a movie about dating in your 60s,” Ballarini says. “And I mentioned my idea to Paul. I’m 30, and I was talking about how difficult it is on the dating scene and he’s 60, and he was talking about how difficult it is on the dating scene. Not much changes from thirty to sixty and we shared some hilarious stories about different dates we’d been on. So we wrote it together. I’d been writing for studios for about seven years at that point.  I love being a screenwriter, but I wanted to make a film I can call my own and direct.”

 When working on an indie, what you lack in budget, you get back in creative control, Ballarini says. He shot Father vs. Son in 21 days with a crew of friends and classmates at USC. It premiered at the Houston International Film Festival a couple weeks ago and won the Critics Choice Award from the Houston Film Critics Association.

 Like all indie festivals, outstanding films at the Hoboken International Film Festival will be awarded prizes for Best Narrative Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Documentary and other achievements at the Gala Award Ceremony on June 10^th where DelVecchio will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert Loggia, star of TV and films including Scarface, Independence Day and Big. But not all film festivals are equal, DelVecchio says. The Big Kahunas like Cannes, Sundance and the Tribecca Film Festival are more like film markets, because they provide venues for big studios to premiere blockbusters.

“They’re showcasing big films, studio films and not independent films,” DelVecchio says. “As a filmmaker making movies, I saw all these film festivals and decided to start my own. We started in 2005 and now we’re in the top ten-to-fifteen percent in the whole world. My film festival is a true film festival. ”

 It’s also big for Cedar Lane Cinemas, a 1930s movie house that shows big blockbuster hits, art and foreign films, says General Manager Diane Walker. There are two pipe organs, too, which will be played between shows and because they expect a huge attendance, they’ll be hiring extra ushers and popcorn-poppers to pop fresh corn before every screening.

The Hoboken International Film Festival turns on the kliegs at the Cedar Lane Cinemas where tickets are still available for film-lovers hankering for fresh popcorn, independent films and some Hollywood glam. And for one week only, Teaneck’s got the hottest tickets in town.

The Hoboken International Film Festival runs from June 4 through June 10. For ticket information and a list of the films and screening times, go to www.hobokeninternationalfilmfestival.com.

 

Cedar Lane Cinemas

503 Cedar Lane

Teaneck, NJ

201-836-3334

 

 

The post Indie Cover Story -Indie Filmmakers Head to the ‘Burbs first appeared on River View Observer.

Kenneth Del Vecchio Chairperson

Mayor Dave Roberts and the City of Hoboken

Presents

THE NATION’S HOTTEST…TRUE…FILM FESTIVAL
May 29, 2009 – June 4, 2009

Cloris Leachman, (Academy Award, 4-Time Golden Globe, 19-Time Emmy Winner & Nominee) will be the 2009 HIFF Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Emcee- Comedian Mike Marino

 

 

 

Award Presenter -                                                                                                            Donna Bostany

For video of  past FilmFestivals Hoboken International Film Festival

MISSION & OBJECTIVE

Hoboken International Film Festival (“HIFF”) is dedicated to showcasing and promoting fine non-studio films, TV pilots, and screenplays from filmmakers throughout the United States and internationally. The best submissions will be rewarded with cash prizes in nearly ten categories. As will be discussed in the next section, HIFF has quickly become one of the top ten best film festivals in the world.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

With a celebrity jury comprised of Academy Award and Emmy winners, and powerhouse partners this past year that include CBS, Anheuser-Busch and Stella Artois, TD Banknorth, 101.9 RXP, The DoubleTree Hotel, The Jersey Journal, The Melting Pot, Glaceau SmartWater, and hosted by Mayor David Roberts and the City of Hoboken, HIFF is a worldwide renowned film festival. Showcasing the edgiest domestic and international movies and their filmmakers, HIFF will kick off on May 29, 2009 with its opening night films–that will be viewed by nearly 1,000 fans and industry personnel at Pier A Park, located directly on the Hudson River and overlooking the majestic New York City skyline.

The 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award winner will be Cloris Leachman (The Last Picture Show; Young Frankenstein; The Women; The Mary Tyler Moore Show; Dancing With the Stars). At this past year’s Gala Awards Ceremony, noted as one of the best in the country for its Oscar-like class and fanfare, Billy Dee Williams personally accepted the HIFF Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2007 HIFF Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Charles Durning (2-time Academy Award/8-time Golden Globe/12-time Emmy winner and nominee). The 2006 recipient was Frank Vincent.

In addition to nonstop screenings during the week of the festival, HIFF offers a slate of panel discussions held by top industry leaders. The 2007 group included an Academy Award winning producer, CBS news anchors, MTV casting director, CBS soap opera star, a studio executive and a star talent manager.

HIFF also offers unique, star-studded special events. Some past special events include: the “Keg Party Blowout & Screening” sponsored by Sheraton Suites on the Hudson, Harbor Bar and Brasserie, and Stella Artois–featuring the movie “Beer League” and a party with the movie’s filmmakers and stars including Artie Lange (The Howard Stern Show); a series of films from Academy Award nominated actor Danny Aiello, with a special Q&A held by Aiello and the filmmakers of his new film “The Shoemaker,” as well as a live concert by Aiello and his band; a series of Charles Durning films and special screenings and parties with Durning.

HIFF awards the winning filmmakers with cash prizes in the following categories: Best Feature Film; Best Director (Feature Film); Best Screenplay (Feature Film); Best Actor (Feature Film); Best Actress (Feature Film); Best Short Film; Best Documentary; Best TV Pilot; Best Unproduced Screenplay. There are also awards given in several other categories. In addition, there is a Grand Prize (for Best Narrative Feature Film) of a distribution deal offer (2009 company TBA).

All festival venues are located in the heart of New Jersey’s artistic capital, with gorgeous, waterfront scenic views of the New York City skyline.

HIFF will be held from May 29, 2009-June 4, 2009 in Hoboken, NJ.

The post Hoboken International Film Festival May 29- June 4th first appeared on River View Observer.