SELECTED FILMS
Bernardsville International Film Festival
Friday, October 27, 2023 - 7pm
Birnham Woods
(Narrative short)
This beautifully shot short is a fevered re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in Birnam Wood. With top notch performances and a haunting score, this film will make you fall in love with The Bard. Directed by Maxwell C. Blackriver
After savaging a reclusive Director’s new film, a disenchanted Film Critic is surprised to find himself invited to dinner with them, where their match of wits soon turns into something far more sinister. Directed by Michael Allen Hennesy
Laundry Etiquette
(Narrative short)
Laundry Etiquette Short Film. When someone has complete faith and vulnerability around you, time feels inconsequential because of that strength. However, once that sacred feeling is broken, two people can become strangers in an instant. This is a film about memories between two people doing laundry who are now strangers. Directed by Kyle Alister Berdin, & Colin Clark
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Women's Panel Event - 1PM
Crone: The Wise Woman Hypothesis
(Documentary feature)
There is no shortage of examples where women, particularly mature women, are marginalized. One can’t deny that our whole society seems suited to suppress them. We weren’t always this way and the filmmaker's journey to discover this started with his desire to help his wife better understand her emotional struggles with menopause. After an OBGYN told him, “We have to treat menopause to fix nature’s mistake,” he knew that an investigation of the origin of menopause was necessary. https://www.cronestrong.com/
Breasts - The Miracles, Mysteries & Myths
This intimate documentary captures the personal stories of Lisa Cianci and Andrew Germain, both emotionally devastated by their mothers getting breast cancer while they were young children. This topic of “Breast Cancer” hadn’t reach main stream media in the 80’s – YET – and both of them had no where to turn, so they kept silent – until now. Directed by Julianne Reynolds
Trilogy of Trippy Films - 4PM
Enter the Room
(Narrative short)
A young adult is visited by his brother, Jeremy, who needs a place to stay as he settles into his new city. The two polar opposite personalities begin to clash as Jeremy's presence poses a threat to Brian's way of life. Bad blood, stemming from a traumatic past event reveals the shocking truth of the brothers' current situations, as Brian struggles to differentiate between reality and his worst nightmares. Directed by Harry Waldman
A Box of Chocolates
(Narrative short)
Ron has the opportunity to land a role on the next big streaming series! He just has to nail the audition. To get into character, Ron makes a reckless decision and loses a piece of himself he never thought he'd lose… Directed by Cris Thorne
Valentine Crush
(Narrative feature)
A roller derby woman gets in a little over her head when she meets her number one fan. The film is filled with twists and turns enough to keep you guessing. Directed by: Jamie Wede
Saturday Night Shorts - 7pm
The Mall Man
(Narrative short)
“Death of a Salesman” goes to the mall in this darkly comic satire of American consumerism and the fading status of shopping malls in contemporary society. In “The Mall Man”, a shopping mall manager undertakes a marathon session of wheeling-and-dealing in a last-ditch effort to bring life back to his failing mall Directed by Dustin Morrow
Egress
(Narrative short)
A young Swiss couple, eager to buy their first house, learn that the prior owners might not be ready to sell even though they may not even be alive. Directed by: Andy Lee
Leonardi’s Jewel of Wonder
(Narrative short)
It's 1930. Two runaway carnies steal a fortune teller's jewel only to find out it's cursed. This gorgeous two person film builds tension and pathos all while sitting around a campfire. Directed by Maxwell C. Blackriver
Displaced
(Narrative short)
Displaced (Narrative short). The sounds and tension of the city are uncomforting for those who are lost and alone. In life, we find solace in the strangest places that can alter the rest of our perception, even if it but for a moment. This film is a manifestation of that feeling over the course of one night into a day. Directed by Kyle Alister Berdin
A young dance instructor must deal with a group of obnoxious teenagers bent on disrupting her class. Can she stand up to the bullies before losing her students? Directed by Jake Wichansky, & Holden Zuschlag
Tied
(Narrative short)
In this film from Korea, Sungwon longs to be a musical theater actor, but failed audition after failed audition has left her in a financially dire position. Desperate and alone, feeling that the whole world doesn't understand her, she finds an old book in a quiet cafe and leaves a message of her pain and despair inside. Directed by G-Hey Kim
Sunday October 29th - NJ Shorts @ Noon
Bunco Babes
(Narrative short)
A dramedy about twelve New Jersey women in their sixties who play a monthly Bunco dice game. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to hold a match in a few months as one of their own either dies, or moves to Florida. Tonight's no different… Directed by Kevin Bible
The man from Granada
(Narrative short)
An actor must win the lead role in "The Man From Granada" stage play to capture the heart of the actress he loves. Directed by David Musolf
Reagan
(Narrative short)
Ben proposes to his fiancee, Maggie, but things get complicated when he tries to reconnect with his estranged sister, Reagan, to invite her to the wedding. Growing pains, holding on, and letting go are the name of the game in this short drama. Directed by Daniella Bonafede & Nick Spina
Limbo Laugh Factory
(Narrative short)
In a small comedy club, a group of comedians are showcasing themselves at an open mic night. There is an unusual amount of pressure on each one to be funny tonight...but we soon realize that tonight, there is much more at stake than just making people laugh. Tonight, being funny is a matter of life or death. Directed by Joshua Nelson
Can I grow Old
(Narrative short)
Lyrical and heartbreaking, this short tells the brief story of a man who is facing death speaking his last words, wondering what could have been but never will be. Directed by Terrance Leon George
Sunday October 29th -Documentary Shorts 3pm
Flint
(Documentary short)
Early New York City graffiti writer and documentarian Roberto "Flint..." Gennari, has the opportunity to cement his legacy in the art world half a century later. Directed by Raul Barquet
The making of Hayride to Hello
(Documentary short)
A behind the scenes look at what one film lover will do to make a horror film on his family farm. With friends and family pitching in, the film illustrates how film can bring people together.. Directed by Alex Djordjevic
Adios Music Village
(Documentary short)
Adios Music Village honors the legacy of Jose 'Joe' Rodriguez the founder of Music Village, the first Latino music shop that opened in 1975 in the North Ward of Newark, NJ. The weekend before Music Village closed up shop, Joe gathered with his family, friends, musicians, DJs and loyal customers to reminisce, to celebrate his iconic legacy in the City of Newark, New Jersey and to say adios to Music Village. Directed by Donna Roman-Hernandez
Come Join Us
October 27-29, 2023
5 Mine Brook Rd | Bernardsville,NJ 07924