Video Contests, Film Festivals, and Awards

Atlantic Highlands Arts Council's FilmOneFest A Success

By Staff
posted Jul 23, 2009, 23:23

(Atlantic Highlands, NJ) The first annual FilmOneFest, presented by the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, was a huge success. The sky was clear and the stars were sparkling while 60 one-minute films were shown on a large screen to almost 800 appreciative film enthusiasts sitting in lawn chairs in the Atlantic Highlands Marina. New Jersey Natural Gas and the Atlantic Highlands Chamber were festival sponsors for this event. Free popcorn and drinks were sponsored by Whole Foods.

As the one-minute films were screened, an expectant hush came over the crowd and spontaneous applause and laughter exploded as each film's story unfolded. Several filmmakers and their supportive families were cheering as their film appeared on the screen. Topics ranged from war and the environment to the comedic side of relationships and friendships.

"We are proud that FilmOneFest has attracted submissions from 10 countries around the world," said Robert O'Connor, director of FilmOneFest, award winning artist and filmmaker. "But I am most proud that it has given a voice to local artists, students, and 'non-filmmakers' who were inspired to pick up a camera and give us a minute of their lives so that we might understand each other and our world more fully."

Robert O'Connor and Julie Gartenburg, Assistant Director of FilmOneFest and President, Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, presented the FilmOneFest Awards 2009 on Sunday afternoon at the Awards Reception.

The FilmOneFest Awards 2009 were presented to the following filmmakers:

Jury Award - "Escape", Director Brad Porter, Producer Daniel K. Smith (AK)

Jury Award - "Blink", Connor Hughes (Atlantic Highlands, NJ)

Jury Award - "Sisyphus", Robyn Simms (CA)

Jury Award - "The Side Effects of Penis Enlargement Pills", Jurica Staresincic (Croatia)

Director's Award - "Dandelions", Yves Geleyn (France)

Audience Choice Award - "Trying to get a piece", Troy Burbank (Leonardo, NJ)

Honorable Mentions

"Cher Papa", Jesse Grce (CA)

"Scenes from a Rooftop", Paul Johannessen (Norway)

"Can a one minute movie fit on a 94 foot long cine film?" Darko Bucan (Croatia)

"Drop Dead", Elena Wen (NY)

"Written by Gandhi", Joseph Spaid (NY)

"Goombah Goodbye", Jerry Rector (Canada)

"Mum", Julie Shea (Australia)

"Uno Momento", Kevin Lutz (Point Pleasant, NJ)

"The Side Effects of Penis Enlargement Pills", Jurica Staresincic (Croatia)

For additional information about FilmOneFest and viewing of the films, www.filmonefest.org.