The New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2018

originally published: 04/18/2018



(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center, in association with the Rutgers University Program In Cinema Studies, presents the 23rd annual New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2018. Showcasing new international films, American independent features, animation, experimental and short subjects, and cutting-edge documentaries, the New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2018 will feature 22 film screenings. The Festival screenings will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings between June 1-10, 2018 with 5:00pm and/or 7:00pm start times.

All the competition films selected were screened by a panel of judges including media professionals, journalists, students, and academics. These judges selected the 22 finalists which will be publicly screened at our Festival. These finalists were selected from over 512 works submitted by filmmakers from around the world. In addition, the judges chose the Prize Winners in conjunction with the Festival Director. Prize winners will be announced after the screenings on Sunday, June 10.

Film Premieres: Twenty-two films will have their New Jersey or Area Premiere screenings as part of the New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2018. Some of these include: Jordan Klaja’s neo-noir short film Headless Swans; David McCracken’s dark feature film Bullitt County which is full of twists and turns on the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky; Kylie Easton’s supernatural short 43 Quintillion; Frank Zorilla’s insightful and New Jersey based documentary The Wrestler: A Q.T. Marshall Story; EJ Argenio/Tesia Walker’s timely short In The Field; Nicholas Jones’s You Are Here -- tender portrait of Tony Rogers, a former rock star who was a member of one of the most successful British bands of the last 20 years, The Charlatans; Marko Vuorinen’s Vianey -- a raw, lyrical documentary about the life and hardships of the New Jersey based female hip hop artist Vianey Otero, a.k.a. So Icey Trap; Martin Ponferrada’s Everything is Upstream -- a unique film that combines animation and documentary about Buddhist monks from around the world describe some of their dreams; Elan and Jonathan Bogarín’s 306 Hollywood -- a documentary where the Bogaríns embark on a magical-realist journey that transforms their grandmother’s charmingly cluttered New Jersey home into a visually exquisite ruin where tchotchkes become artifacts, and where descendants become archaeologists; Adrian Goipoinger’s The Best Of All Worlds compelling feature film, based on a true story, where a seven-year-old is growing up in the underground drug scene of Salzburg, an Austrian city famous for its culture and classical music; Daniel Bydlowski’s charming short film Bullies; JD Wilson’s Shellfish -- a timely sci fi satire set on the Jersey Shore; John Dilworth’s wonderful animated short Goose in High Heels; Angie Wang’s feature film MDMA, based on a true story about a smart Jersey girl turned Ecstasy dealer; Shi Wei’s comedy/thriller from China Crazy Hive; René Balcer and Nicola Zavaglia’s documentary Above the Drowning Sea which tells the dramatic, unknown story of the fortuitous escape of European Jews from Nazi-controlled Europe, who found a safe harbor in Shanghai, on the eve of World War Two; and many others.

Special Guest Appearances by Directors, Artists, and Scholars: This summer the festival has over thirteen confirmed special guest appearances by film directors, artists, actors, and writers to the 2018 New Jersey International Film Festival. All visiting artists will introduce their work and do a Question and Answer session after the screenings. Note: more filmmakers will be appearing but were not able to confirm their attendance at this time. Check the festival website for updated information.

Sponsors: The New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2018 is funded and sponsored in part by The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center; The Rutgers University Program in Cinema Studies/School of Arts and Sciences; Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders through a grant provided by New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; Confucius Institute of Rutgers University; Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program; Jungle Software; The Rutgers University American Studies Department; The Rutgers University Writer’s House; The Rutgers University Centers for Global Advancement and International Affairs (GAIA Centers); Johnson & Johnson; WCTC/WMGQ; WRSU; The Home News Tribune; The Asbury Park Press; New Brunswick City Market; The Rutgers University Office of Community Affairs; The Rutgers University Digital Classroom Services Office; Design Ideas; Advanced Printing; Steven C. Schechter, Esq.; Share and Harris.

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Location: Films are shown in Voorhees Hall #105, 71 Hamilton Street/College Avenue Campus, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. This facility features comfortable seats, stadium seating, and a state-of-the-art hi-definition projection and sound system. They can also provide listening assistive devices, without charge, to those who are hearing impaired. Please contact them 48 hours prior to a screening so they can arrange to have these listening assistive devices available for your use.