SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2021 - CLICK HERE

The World of Documentary Filmmaking

Saturday, August 15th

Beth is a three-time Emmy award-winning producer & recipient of a Peabody Award for her documentary work at HBO.  Beth co-directed & produced feature documentary, Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman for Discovery, which premiered at Sundance in 2017. She also directed & produced, Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon (A&E IndieFilms) with comedian, Mike Myers. It won the Hollywood Film Award for Best Documentary & was nominated for the 2015 News & Documentary Emmy Awards. Beth recently completed her latest feature documentary, Made in Boise. Its world premiere was at AFI Docs Film Festival June 22, 2019. Made in Boise was the the 2019-2020 season opening film for the PBS award winning Independent Lens

11AM - 12PM

Virtual Panel

Ride The Wave

Saturday, August 15th

When Scott Chesney was 15 years old he woke up paralyzed. Over the last 33 years since he has been on a journey to inspire others and this latest journey takes place in the Atlantic ocean at the Jersey Shore.

2PM - 3:15PM

Feature Documentary

The Animator’s Angle

Saturday, August 15th

Maia Kayser:
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maia joined Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm in 2001 and have worked on nearly 30 films at ILM, including "Solo: A Star Wars story",  "Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens", "Rogue One", "Rango" and "Jurassic World VR". My work on "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" earned me a VES award in 2007 for Davy Jones as best animated character in a motion picture. She currently supervises projects in virtual reality, films, rides and TV; most recently "The Mandalorian”.

Jack Geckler:
Lead animator with over 15 years of experience working in film, television and gaming.  Strong background in leadership and production management with an emphasis in mentoring and team building. Character, facial, camera, previs, motion capture and crowds animation.  Client friendly with on-set experience assisting directors and production teams in a variety of roles.  Title highlights include Star Wars:  The Force Awakes, Avatar Sequels, How to Train Your Dragon 1 & 2, Ready Player One, Madden 2018 and Marvels: The Gifted.

3:30PM - 4:30PM

Virtual Panel

Grizzly II. Revenge

Saturday, August 15th

All hell breaks loose when a giant Grizzly Bear, reacting to the slaughter of her cub by poachers, attacks at a massive big-band rock concert taking place in Yellowstone National Park. When one of the poachers was attacked and killed by the giant grizzly as revenge, the rest of the poachers decides to hunt and kill the giant bear for a good price. As the hunt continues, the Grizzly goes on a killing spree attacking hikers, Ron (George Clooney), Tina (Laura Dern) and Lance (Charlie Sheen).

7:45PM - 9:15PM

Feature Narrative

Documentary Shorts

Saturday, August 15th

The City Behind Us: The Story of the Elmora Troopers (DC) - Making Michael Chang (NJ) - L’EAU EST LA VIE (WATER IS LIFE): FROM STANDING ROCK TO THE SWAMP (LA) - - The Hustle Is Real (MA) - Russ Johnson: The Fork King (NYC) - NOT TODAY (NYC) - The Last Crop

11:45AM - 1:45PM

Shorts Block

Inside Nickelodeon

Saturday, August 15th

Christopher Adams is a media professional with over 20 years experience working for Nickelodeon and MTV Networks. He is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington DC and has a master's degree in Media Studies from The New School in New York. He can be booked to perform his one-man version of "Jaws" for weddings, birthday parties, and bar mitzvahs.

2PM - 3PM

Virtual Panel

Visual Effects Beyond Our Vision

Saturday, August 15th

Dave ensures that the groundbreaking work and innovative technologies produced at Weta Digital, and the artists who create them, are recognized for their excellence. As part of this, he and his team work with journalists, media outlets and professional organizations around the world to highlight the company's achievements. In addition to international film activities, Dave manages Weta Digital's profile as a significant technology and entertainment company in New Zealand. Dave joined Weta Digital in 2010 after working as Autodesk’s Senior Brand Manager for Media and Entertainment. Prior to Autodesk, he worked for over a decade in advertising and integrated marketing for technology and consumer brands. Dave serves on the New Zealand Board of the Visual Effects Society and is an active speaker and event organizer in the entertainment technology space.

5PM - 6PM

Virtual Panel

Suspenseful Shorts

Saturday, August 15th

Decrescendo (NYC) - The Shot (CA) - Truth or Scare (DC) - Stay Don’t Go (CA) - Zero Day (NY) - Summer Vacation (NY)

9:30PM - 11PM

Shorts Block

The Producer's Prospective

Saturday, August 15th

Andrew is a graduate of NYU, Tisch School of The Arts with over 25 years of experience in the industry. He has worked on Studio and Independent projects of all sizes in both Film and Television. Andrew worked his way up from the Location Department to UPM, and continued upward to Line Producer; most recently completing the final Season of HBO's THE DEUCE. Other credits include Jack Reacher, Isn't It Romantic, White Collar, Person Of Interest, Luke Cage, Time After Time, The Americans, and Chuck and Larry.

12:30PM - 1:30PM

Virtual Panel

Miracle Fishing

Saturday, August 15th

In 1994, an American journalist named Tom Hargrove was kidnapped outside his home in Cali, Colombia by armed men in ski masks. His wife Susan and two adult sons Miles and Geddie were forced to negotiate directly for his release. Tom's eldest son Miles began a video diary capturing the negotiations, and 25 years later, he revisited the footage to turn his diary into a documentary.

3:30PM - 5:30PM

Feature Documentary

Dramatic Shorts B

Saturday, August 15th

We Choose To Go (NJ) - Baby (NJ) - Noodles & Incense (IL) Micky (CA) - Hannahs (NYC) - Entropia (NJ) - Drown the Clown (NY)

5:45PM - 7:30PM

Shorts Block

The Art of Producing

Sunday, August 16th

So you just completed your best screenplay yet! Now what? You'll need to cast, location scout, hire crew, obtain permits, funding, and the list goes on... Join award-winning Film/TV Producer (and the Associate Director of the NJ Film Commission), David Schoner, as you learn the inside scoop into what it takes to take your next best film from script to screen. David will also introduce the NEW Garden State Film & TV Production Tax Incentive - a program built to save New Jersey production companies and producers some extra cash for filming right here in our home state. With more exhibition and distribution outlets for your project today than ever before, it's time to say ACTION!

11AM - 12PM

Interactive Seminar

The Art of The Pitch

Sunday, August 16th

So you finshed your film or TV show and it's time to get it to the suites. Well how do you do it? Join Entertainment Lawyer Marissa Crespo through the journey and getting your next best show produced!

3PM - 4PM

Interactive Seminar

Hungry To Learn

Sunday, August 16th

This documentary introduces the faces behind an American crisis -- college students so strapped to pay tuition that they don’t have enough money to eat or a place to live.

5:15PM - 7PM

Feature Documentary

Mixed Shorts

Sunday, August 16th

Static (GA) - Walt (NYC) - Yet Another (NJ) - The Kaleidoscope Guy at the Market (CA) - Warmth (NY) - Badlaav Republic (GA) - Bruce Springsteen: Hometown (NYC) - Insulin For All (NJ) - Proof (NJ) - The Seventh Day (NJ)

11:45AM - 1:15PM

Shorts Block

Mentally Al

Sunday, August 16th

A character study of, “the funniest comedian you’ve never heard of,” and an exploration of how we define artistic success, MENTALLY AL follows Al Lubel, a former Star Search grand champion as he struggles to get by, perpetually broke and sleeping on friends couches, as he continues to pursue his artistic dreams into his sixties.

1:30PM - 3:15PM

Feature Documentary

Foreign Shorts

Sunday, August 16th

Gulf (South Africa) - La Guarida (The Den) (Spain) - The Beautiful Logic (Japan) - I Remember (China) - A Fine Stew (Belgium) 20:00

7:15PM - 8:45PM

Shorts Block

The Art of the Audition

Sunday, August 16th

Casting is one of the most crucial elements in the success of any project. It can also be the most stressful. The Art of the Audition is a fully comprehensive Casting Workshop, for both Actors and Filmmakers, which focuses on a variety of key concepts that artists can use to make the most of the Audition Process. Veteran Casting Director Roger Del Pozo will focus on how Actors can Audition Successfully and book more roles and how Directors can use the Audition Process creatively to enhance and elevate their projects. 

1PM - 2PM

Interactive Seminar

Comedy Shorts

Sunday, August 16th

When in Rome (NJ) - Moneybag Head (LA) - Cooties - Push the Point (NYC) -Disarray Days (NJ) - My New Pants (NJ) - Appetite (NJ) - Unholy ‘Mole (CA) - Mallory Meditates (NJ/CA)

3:30PM - 5PM

Shorts Block