On Tuesday, September 16th the GDIFF launched its 2014 Kick -Off Party at the Loew’s Jersey City on Journal Square.

The night included Fashion guru Tommy Hilfiger, acclaimed actor Paul Sorvino and host of other film producers, actors, writers many who have submitted films to this years 2014 festival.

Actor and founder of the GDIFF Bill Sorvino hosted the event introducing Hilfiger.

Our photographer Steve A Mack took all the photos in this post.

The post Golden Door International Film Festival Gala Kick Off Party Photos by Steve A. Mack first appeared on River View Observer.

October brings chills and thrills and skies so bright you can see the stars and the nights will be especially starry when the Golden Door International Film Festival rolls out the red carpet at the Loewâ€s Jersey City movie palace for four fabulous days of films.

 The film festival kicks off Thurs, Oct. 11^th where stars, writers, directors and cinephiles will gather in the Loewâ€s art deco lobby for drinks and schmoozing and then take their seats in the beautifully restored theater to watch two new films, Pollination* starring Federico Castelluccio (The Sopranos); and Just Crazy Enough featuring Saturday Night Live alum Chris Kattan.  The following three days will be jam packed with screenings of features, documentaries and shorts and a closing night awards ceremony on Sun, Oct. 14^th.                

 Founder Bill Sorvino brings the film festival back to Jersey City for a second year and the response heâ€s received since last yearâ€s event has been huge, he says. This time around, Sorvino has added ore films to the marquee for a four-day smorgasbord of features, documentaries and shorts from Hollywood to Bollywood.

 “Last yearâ€s festival was very successful,” Sorvino says. “We had great feedback and I want to build on what we did last year. So this year the amount of fantastic films we have is over the top – one great film after another.” 

 Close to 50 films were chosen from hundreds of entries sent in from all over the world including Germany, Switzerland, India, South Africa and Australia. Local filmmakers also made the cut. This yearâ€s screenings include Alfred Thinks We’re Aliens; Carbon for Water; This Space Available; Not a Feather, but a Dot; A Dance with Andrea; Red Scare; The Senatorâ€s Daughter; and Surviving Family.

 (To view the full schedule and purchase tickets go to www.goldendoorfilmfestival.org.)

“Iâ€m trying to grow the festival to make it more prominent,” Sorvino says. “I couldnâ€t turn down these films, I just couldnâ€t.”

 Although most of the films will be screened at the beautiful Loewâ€s Jersey City, Sorvino expanded the screening venues to other Jersey City locales including the Brightside Tavern, Panepinto Galleries, Art House Productions and the Jersey City Free Public Libraryâ€s Five Corners Branch. Every night the screenings will be a red carpet event. At Friday nightâ€s screenings at the Loewâ€s, the stars will shine like supernovas with the showing of Union Square starring Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino and Emmy award winner Tammy Blanchard. (Union Square is a special festival attraction and not part of the competition.)

 Also on Friday nightâ€s bill is local filmmaker Mara Lesemannâ€s Surviving Family which features Vincent Pastore who played Sal Bonpensiero in The Sopranos. Lesemannâ€s film tells the story of a woman getting married in five days who returns home to her dysfunctional family in New Jersey to prepare for her nuptials. Lesemann shot many of the filmâ€s scenes in her very own Jersey City neighborhood: the Lucky 7 tavern on Coles Street, Satis Bistro on Washington Boulevard, Pecorraro Bakery on Newark Avenue, La Belle Boutique on Danforth Avenue and City Hall on Grove Street.

 “Shooting scenes in Jersey Cityâ€s City Hall was absolutely awesome,” Lesemann says. “We made up a New Jersey town called Byzantine and Vincent Pastore plays the mayor who helps this young couple get a marriage license. Jersey Cityâ€s Mayor Healy was nice enough to let us use his office and we shot a scene there at 3 in the morning. Debbie Harris who works for the cityâ€s cultural affairs department was our liaison and she was great.”

Lesemann has had several screenings of Surviving Family and says thereâ€s something special about screening her film in Jersey City. A former banker, Lesemann sees her film career as a risk worth taking and bankrolled the movie with her own savings.

“Iâ€m not going to live forever and I want to do things that are important to me,” Lesemann says. “Iâ€m very proud of the film. Iâ€ve written and produced several shorts before this, wrote another screenplay and this one I wrote with the intention of it being produced.”

Linden resident Sam Borowski directed and co-wrote Pollination* which will be featured at the Opening Night Gala.  This live action short co-written by Borowski and Lisa Buffington, who once worked as Borowskiâ€s assistant, tells the story of the relationships between people and their plants and stars Federico Castelluccio who played hitman Furio on The Sopranos.  

 In August, Borowski premiered Pollination* at the Holly Shorts Festival in Hollywood where many short films go on to be nominated for Academy Awards, Borowski says.

 “Federico got nominated for best actor which was great and qualifying for an Oscar in the live action category would be amazing, but itâ€s more of an amazing feeling to write stories that touch peopleâ€s lives,” Borowski says.

At last yearâ€s festival Borowskiâ€s film Nightclub earned five awards including best picture, best director, best actress for Academy-Award winner Sally Kellerman (M*A*S*H) and best actor for the late Ernest Borgnine (Marty, McHaleâ€s Navy). Since its screening at Golden Door, Borowski says heâ€s now in talks with a major studio and Nightclub will be released later this year.

 As a result of Nightclubâ€s screening last year at the Golden Door International Film Festival, Borowski says heâ€s booked several jobs by networking and making new contacts.

 “The festival is out of this world,” Borowski says. “For any filmmaker or actor this is the place to be. Itâ€s absolutely one of the best networking experiences Iâ€ve had at a festival.”

 If you go:

Thurs, Oct. 11- Sun, Oct. 14

The Golden Door International Film Festival

Jersey City

Tickets $10 at the door (additional surcharge when purchased online)

Film screenings shown at Loewâ€s Jersey City; Brightside Tavern; Panepinto Galleries; Art House Productions; and Jersey City Free Public Library/Five Corners Branch

For screenings schedule and tickets: www.goldendoorfilmfestival.org

 

 

 

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By River View Observer Staff

On Sunday evening October 16th at the grand finale of the four day Golden Door International Film Festival held at the Loew’s Theater and other venues within Jersey City from October 13th to October 16th, 2011 the winners were announced at the Loew’s theater for the people and films nominated for this first ever Jersey City  film festival.

In attendance was actor Paul Sorvino, uncle to Bill Sorvino Executive Director of the GDIFF,  also in the audience, Jersey City resident and Film Director Leon Gast; Oscar winner for “When We Were Kings,” the 1997 Academy Award-  nominated documentary about Muhammad Ali,  both Sorvino and Gast were awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards by the GDIFF  at Sunday nights finale gala.

Talented actor and painter Federico Castelluccio attended (Acting credits include:The Sopranos, Made, and other films) Castelluccio  won for Best Director and Male Actor of a Short for “Lilly of the Feast”.

Earlier in the day the film “Proud” was shown the true story about the men of the USS Mason which focused on the meritorious service of the USS Mason (DE-529) of World War II, the first US Navy ship with a predominantly African American crew, and how three of the men were finally honored in January 1994 for their meritorious service.                             See more photos and winners

Produced by Ally Hilfiger and Written and Directed by Mary Pat Kelly and starred OSSIE DAVIS in his last role,  Denise Nicholas,  Albert Jones, Erik LaRay, Harvey Darnell Williams and  Jeffrey Nash  with Stephen Rea.

At the showing of the film “Proud” was  Lorenzo Dufau 91 year old  (last surviving crew member) of the USS Mason. Mr. Dufau was honored with a citation by Navy personell now stationed on the USS Mason.

The final night gala of the GDIFF drew a large crowd of family, friends and fans supportive of this cultural event that is sure to grow in the coming years.

 
And the winners are for  2011 (winners names are announced in bold face)

2011 Nominations  BEST FEATURE
Nightclub

Victims
Moment of Truth: The Andy Myers Story
Life! Camera Action…
Kerberos

BEST DIRECTOR OF A FEATURE
Sam Borowski
David Bryant
Steven Canfield Crowley
Rohit Gupta
William Kely McClung

BEST SCREENPLAY
Nicky Newark
Victims
Nightclub
Kerberos
Echo

BEST MALE LEAD
Ernest Borgnine-Nightclub
Rick Haymes-Andy Meyers in Moment of Truth:The Andy Meyers Story
Shaheed K. Woods-Life! Camera Action…
Kely McClung-Kerberos

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Natasha Leone-Nightclub
Sarah Coyle-Victims
Whitney Sullins-Kerberos
Dipti Mehta-Life! Camera Action…

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Sally Kellerman -Nightclub
Rob Hesch -Echo
Brian Williams -Night Club
Rob Pralgo- Kerberos

BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Secret Life of…My Small Urban Backyard
Dams the Lethal Water Bombs
In the Footsteps of Willie Sutton
Kevin
Street Corner Harmony

BEST SHORT
Quirk of Fate
The Risen
Bright
Asbury Park
Terms of Employment
Fatakra
Lily of the Feast

BEST DIRECTOR OF A SHORT
Quirk of Fate- Marco Riedl
The Risen -Anthony Maddaloni
Bright- Benjamin Busch
Fatakra-Soham Mehta
Mandala Maker- Sam Borowski
Federico Castelluccio- Lily of the Feast

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SHORT
Quirk of Fate- Wotan Wilke Möhring
Bright- Eric Nenniger
The Risen- Andrew Gaul
Terms of Employment- James J. Ross
Asbury Park -Chance Harlem Jr.
Federico Castelluccio-Lily of the Feast

BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SHORT
Quirk of Fate- Katharina Wackernagel
Terms of Employment- Frida Farrell
Asbury Park -Robyn Hatcher
Sarinaâ€s Song
Courtney Hogan- Mandala Maker

BEST SHORT SHORT
Another Day Another Life
In Transit
Business Is Dead
The Waking
Decent Men

BEST DIRECTOR OF A SHORT SHORT
Another Day Another Life
The Waking
Business is Dead-Vito Labruno
Decent Men

BEST CONCEPT FOR A SHORT
Another Day Another Life
In Transit
Terms of Employment
Decent Men
Lily of the Feast

BEST JERSEY CITY/LOCAL FILM
My Life
Of God and Gucci
Cerise
Business is Dead
Secret Life…of My Small Urban Backyard
Another Day Another Life

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Secret Life of…My Small Urban Backyard -John Dunsten
Quirk of Fate- Marco Riedl
The Risen -Anthony Maddaloni
Bright -Benjamin Busch
Kerberos-Kely McClung
Sarinaâ€s Song

BEST Costume Design
Decent Men-Salome Buelow

Sarinaâ€s Song- Ainsley Waller

Quirk of Fate- Frank Bohn

BEST EDITING
Kerberos-Kely McClung
Quirk of Fate -Mark Steinicke
Sarinaâ€s Song -Patricia Rounds-Manwaring and Chapin Hall

The post Golden Door International Film Festival-And the Winners are… first appeared on River View Observer.

The Golden Door International Film Festival Opening Night at the Loew’s Theater in Jersey City.

See who was there…

 

The post Opening Night Photos of The Golden Door Film Festival Oct. 13th, 2011 first appeared on River View Observer.

The Golden Door Film Festival attracted hundreds of supporters Saturday night, October 1,to a Launch Party in the deluxe functions room at 70 Greene St.

Prominent among the attendees were actor Paul Sorvino and Federico Castelluccio, filmmaker. Both luminaries remained accessible for photos and chatted with guests during virtually the entire party. Mr. Sorvino also entertained with his operatic singing.

 

Clips from many of the 40 films in competition were shown the screening room throughout the evening, highlighting the much anticipated film festival. The guest were entertained throughout the evening by the jazz ensemble of Liz Williams and Gene Clemetson. Food for the party was catered by The Hamilton Inn and The Hudson Greene Market.

The film festival itself will begin with a Gala Opening at the Landmark Loew’s Theatre at Journal Square, on Thursday, Oct 13 at 6:00 pm. In addition to the Loews, films will be shown at venues around the city including The Art House, Bar Majestic, LITM, Studio II VIII.

On Saturday afternoon, Oct 15 from 12:00 – 5:00 pm, a seminar and screening, given by Leon Gast, recipient of the 1996 Academy Award for Documentary Feature and Jersey City native, will be conducted in the Mildred Hunke Auditorium at the Five Corners Library on Newark Avenue.

Additional seminars will be offered Saturday, October 15th from 12:30pm through 6:30pm in the Rotunda at City Hall on Grove Street, chaired by Mary Pat Kelly, author of “Martin Scorsese: The First Decade” and “Martin Scorsese: A Journey”. Seminar presenters also include John Trigonis, filmmaker, Slava Rubin, founder of IndieGoGo, John Dapolito, writer and director, and Sam Borowski, director.

A detailed schedule of events and a ticket ordering service are online

www.GoldenDoorFilmFestival.org

 

The post Jersey City’s GOLDEN DOOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Launched! first appeared on River View Observer.

Coming Soon: Film and Broadway star in Concert at Loew’s Jersey City

 By Sally Deering

 Best known as mob boss Paulie Cicero, who cooked Italian dishes for his crew in the film “Goodfellas” and many other acting roles in film, on Broadway and TV, Paul Sorvino  is more than just an actor – he’s a sculptor, painter, writer, director, chef and opera singer.  And on Thurs., Oct. 27 and Fri., Nov. 4, Sorvino’s fans are in for a treat when he takes to the stage at Loew’s Jersey City in “Paul Sorvino Sings!” a concert where Sorvino sings arias and Neapolitan folk songs and tells stories of his life as an actor.

 Sorvino’s nephew, Bill Sorvino, an actor and producer in his own right, is producing the concerts. Bill Sorvino is also producing the first annual Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City this fall, where Paul Sorvino will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

 “I’ve been my uncle’s biggest fan since I was a little boy,” Bill Sorvino says. “We spent a lot of time together when I was growing up and his children are my closest cousins. Every time he would hit a note on the piano and go into some aria. I was wowed by his amazing singing voice.  I was a rock singer for many years and I followed in my uncle’s footsteps. I’ve always wanted to find a way to put his music out into the public a lot more than it ever has. This concert is borne out of my love, respect and admiration for my uncle.”

 Taking time from a busy schedule – he’s in post-production for a film he directed — Paul Sorvino spoke with Riverview Observer about his versatile career, family life – he’s the dad of Mira, Michael and Amanda – and creative life. He’s an Italian-American “Renaissance Man,” who infuses his passion into the roles he plays, his sculptures, paintings – even his mother’s marinara recipe.

 RVO: When did you discover your love for opera?

PS: My mother was a piano teacher and there was always music in the house. I had two uncles, Uncle Carlo and Uncle Vincent who were great singers from Naples, a baritone and tenor. I always had the idea I wanted to be on the stage. I didn’t know the difference between an actor and a singer I was attuned to beautiful voices. If it’s the sound of the voice you’re looking for it’s not going to be rock and roll it will be opera.  Today, we’re not in a good time for opera singers. Domingo is the most admirable and he’s done so much, a great musician. I like Angela Gheorghiu. She’s my favorite singer right now.

 

RVO: We know you for your roles in films, TV and Broadway, but were you ever in an opera?

PS: I performed at a gala at the Met and it was very exciting to be on that stage. I made my debut and my audition. I was having vocal problems because of acid reflux. It stops a lot of opera singers in their tracks.

 

RVO: Your fans remember you as a great cook in “Goodfellas,” can you talk about your line of tomato sauces?

PS: Neapolitans have made marinara for hundreds of years. I just put it in the jar. People don’t know how to make it. They usually put onions and garlic in and by doing that they make it bland. Garlic takes away the sweetness when mixed with onions and they cancel each other out. Marinara is strictly garlic, oil, tomato, basil and a touch of oregano.

 RVO: What are you working on now, film-wise?

PS: I just finished a movie. I’m acting, I have projects planned and we’re finishing post production on the movie “The Trouble with Cali,” about a young girl dazzled by a modeling scout who lures her away from ballet. I play her father. My (daughter) Amanda wrote it. I have a couple of other movies I’m preparing to write and direct.

 RVO: In real life, you’re more a Renaissance Man; isn’t that somewhat different from the characters you portray?

PS: People who see “Goodfellas” presume that’s what I am (but) my family is noble, goes back hundreds of years. I’m not a gangster. I’m a poet, a best-selling author, director and sculptor. I’m interested in everything.

 RVO: What made you start the Paul Sorvino Asthma Foundation and didn’t you also write the book “How to become a Former Asthmatic?”

PS: I started the foundation in 1992 because I had asthma and I learned a way of defeating it through yoga exercises. My book was on the New York Times Best Seller list and I was honored by Dr. Everett Koop for my work with asthma. A lot of performers and athletes do charitable work.  Being a performer or an athlete if you’re that kind of person, your heart goes out easily. Look at Magic Johnson and all he’s done. I’m just doing my thing – ridding the world of asthma

 RVO: Your repertoire has been portraying tough guys; but aren’t you more a family man in real life?

PS: I’m different from most other actors who kind of live their lives for themselves. They may have been great artists at the expense of their children, not in support of their children. For me, my career came second and my children come first.

 Paul Sorvino in concert at the Loew’s Jersey City promises to be a great evening of music and storytelling. It will also offer Sorvino’s fans a unique opportunity to see a different side of one of their favorite actors, his nephew Bill Sorvino says.

 “My uncle’s act includes stories and jokes – in between songs he’ll tell stories of what happened on a film,” Bill Sorvino says. “He’s a great performer and an amazing storyteller. People who see him in concert will get to know him beyond movie and theater roles. And once you do, you get hooked. He comes across so well in his roles, and that underlying personality is what people connect to in his acting. When you hear him sing, tell stories and jokes, you realize he’s an amazing person.”

 Thurs, Oct. 27 and Fri., Nov. 4 at 8 p.m.

Paul Sorvino Sings!

Loew’s Jersey City

54 Journal Square

Jersey City, NJ, 07306

201-798-6055

www.loewsjersey.org

Tickets are $75 to $125 and can be purchased at www.BrownPaperTickets.com 

For more info, visit www.paulsorvinosings.com

For questions, email paulsorvinosings@gmail.com

The post Actor Paul Sorvino Sings and Talks to the River View Observer first appeared on River View Observer.

At an early morning press conference on Wednesday September 21^st, at Bar Majestic in Downtown Jersey City, Bill Sorvino, Festival Director of the Golden Door Film Festival and organizers along with Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy in attendance announced to the public the three day event and all  films nominated at the first film festival to be held in Jersey City from October 13 to October 16^th, 2011

Read our River View Cover Story on Festival Here

 

Bill Sorvino  said “My goal is to get a lot of independent filmmakers a way to shine, and help the city’s huge renaissance and artistic community.”

41 films, will be featured and Sorvino who has worked hard for the past year and the half on organizing the festival is looking forward to the start of the festival but added in “these last weeks before the festival a lot has to be accomplished.”

The following films have been nominated within their perspective categories:

BEST FEATURE : 

·Nightclub  Victims

·Moment of Truth: The Andy Myers Story

·Life Camera Action

 BEST DIRECTOR OF A FEATURE

Sam Borowski -Nightclub

David Bryant -Victims

Steven Canfield Crowley -Moment of Truth:The Andy Meyers Story

Rohit Gupta- Life Camera Action

William Kely McClung -Kerberos

 

BEST MALE LEAD

 Ernest Borgnine -Nightclub

Rick Haymes,Andy Meyers, in Moment of Truth:The Andy Meyers Story

Shaheed K. Woods -Life Camera Action

William Keli McClung -Kerberos 

 BEST FEMALE LEAD

 Natasha Leone -Nightclub

Sarah Coyle -Victims

Whitney Sullins -Kerberos

Dipti Mehta -Life, Camera, Action

 BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

 Sally Kellerman- Nightclub

Will Keating- Echo 

Rob Pralgo- Kerberos

Brian Williams- Night Club

 BEST DOCUMENTARY

 The Secret Life of…My Small Urban Backyard -John Dunsten

Dams the Lethal Water Bombs -Sohan Roy

In the Footsteps of Willie Sutton -Rich Gold

Kevin Jay- Duplass

Street Corner Harmony -Abraham Santiago

 BEST SHORT

 Quirk of Fate

The Risen 

Bright 

Asbury Park  

Terms of Employment

Fatakra 

 BEST SHORT SHORT

 Another Day Another Life

In Transit

Business Is Dead

The Waking

Decent Men

 BEST JERSEY CITY FILM

 Business is Dead -Vito LaBruno

Secret Life in My Small Urban Backyard -John Dunsten

Another Day Another Life -Rohit Gupta

  Lifetime Achievement Awards -Paul Sorvino,-Leon Gast–Keys to the City

Sponsors of the Golden Door Film Festival

 -Norman And Bettina Robert’s Foundation

-Friends of the Loew’s

-Building Hosting.com

-Bar Majestic

-LITM

-Art House Productions by Christine Goodman

-Studio III VII I by Stephanie Panepinto

-The city of Jersey City- Chambers

-Five Corners Library- Mildred Hunke Theater

-Oakwood Dental Arts

-Mark Ruggeri DDS

-Rich Rodek Graphic Designs

-PATH

-NYC-JC

-Hudson Reporter

-HAIG graphics

-The CPA Firm of Carr, Dailey, Sullivan and Weir PC

-Ron Shaljian ESQ

-The Riverview Observer

 For More Festival Information Click Here

 Tickets— link on website brownpapertickets.com

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