Jersey Shore Film Festival – 2023 – Top 10 +
Qwik Qlip – This Morning in the Park, Dir: Rob McLean
Short Animation – Boxed Out, Dir: Rachel Cooley
Short Experimental – Given Again, Dir: Jake Oleson
Short Int’l Narrative Drama – Elisabeth, Dir: Monica De Almeida
Short Comedy – Mutiny, Dir: Matthew Gratzner
Short Int’l Narrative Drama – Broken Mirror, Dir: Rinat Mazuz
Short Int’l Experimental Documentary – Festival Oaxaca, Dir: Neville Mackenzie Farmer
Short Documentary – Woyane, Dir: Jonathan Stern
Short Documentary – On the Shellpile, Dir: Keith Wasserman
Jersey Feature Narrative – Break Glass, Dir: Jay Leonard
Best Picture – The Sweet Taste of Freedom, Dir: Matthew Penn
Best Director – Matthew Penn: The Sweet Taste of Freedom
Honorable Mention –
For outstanding work by a cinematographer
Roberto Diaz, for La Bolita, Dir: Arian Blanco
For outstanding work by an established cinematographer:
Brian Russell for Past Prologue, Dir: Brian Russell
2023 JSFF – Awards
2023 JSFF – Documentary Awards
Best Human-Interest Feature Documentary
80 Years Later, Dir: Celine Parrenas Shimizu
Best Human-Interest International Narrative Short
Naomi, Dir: Ella Deutch
Best Jersey Director: for a Feature Documentary
Tom Phillips (Chasing the Dead)
Best Human-Interest International Feature Documentary
Pain of Silence, Dir: Christopher JanWong McKiggan PoomPhong Kumwong
Thailand
Best of the Best
Short Documentary
Interception: Jayne Kennedy, Dir: Safiya Songhai
Best of the Best
Feature Documentary
The Hidden Court, Dir: Walter Schlomann
Best Human-Interest Short Narrative Documentary
Glory In Overcoming, Dir: Melissa Panzer
Best Director for a Short Documentary
Neville MacKenzie (Festival Oaxaca)
Best Director: for a Feature Documentary
Carlo Gennarelli (Made by Immigrants)
Best International Feature Documentary
Two-way tie
Kosher Rehab, Dir: Anna Oliker – Israel
March to the Sea, Dir: Ge Zhang – China
Best of the Best
Director: Human-Interest Feature Documentary
Christy McCaffrey (Run Greg Run)
Best of the Best
Director: Human-Interest Short Documentary
Lillian Glass (Hey Beautiful)
Best of the Best
Jersey Short Human-Interest Documentary
Dangerous Grounds, Dir: Vinu Joseph
Best of the Best
International Director for a Human Interest Documentary
Tuan Zaharan Rahim (A Seduction of Fire & Smoke)
United Arab Emerites
Best ‘Environmentally Friendly’ International Student Documentary
El Campo, Dir: Tatiana Summer
Best International – ‘Student’ Dramatic Narrative
Broken Mirror, Dir: Rinat Mazuz
Audience Choice Award:
Best Short Documentary
Woyane, Dir: Jonathan (Jonny) Stern
Best Short Documentary Director
Jonathan (Jonny) Stern (Woyane)
Best of the Best:
Jersey Short Documentary
On The Shell Pile, Dir: Keith Wasserman
Best International Humanitarian Award:
Short Documentary
The Way Sam Sees It, Dir: Dan Sanguineti
Australia
Best Student Short Documentary
Against All Odds, Dir: Daniella Gilli Jacob
Best Short-Short Documentary
Hilltop Hike, Dir: Robert Cunniff
Best Jersey Short
Two-way tie
La Bolita, Dir: Arian Blanco
Confessional, Dir: Matilda Mackey
Best International Short Comedy
Irit Bardugo’s Bar Mitzvah, Dir: Aviya Kalifa (Israel)
Best Short Comedy
Higher Grounds, Dir: Joe Kramer
Best Most Relevant Short Comedy
Mutiny, Dir: Matthew Gratzner
Best Jersey Comedy Short
Two-way tie
Pearly Gates, Dir: Loring Murtha
Living With A Cereal Killer, Dir: Jeremiah Lucas
Best of the Best
Short Comedy Film
Family Affair, Dir: Julio Dowansingh
Best Original Score for a Short
Two-way tie
The Pit and the Pendulum: A Musicabre, Dir/Composer: Danny Ashkenasi,
The Salute, Dir/Composer: Adam Reim
Best of the Best
Original Score for a Feature
Maya, Dir/ Composer: Paul C. Hemmes
Best of the Best
Original Score for a Short
Mutiny, Dir/Composer: Joy Ngiaw
Best International Ensemble for a Short
Elisabeth, Dir: Monica DeAlmeida (Switzerland)
Best Ensemble for a Short
Two-way tie
Night Voices, Dir: Bradley Hawkins
The Sweet Taste of Freedom, Dir: Matthew Penn
Best Ensemble for a Jersey Short
Grandeur Delusions, Dir: Alyssa Rose Capitini
Honorable Mention for a Narrative Short Film
Sara, Dir: Holden Zuschlag Jake Wichansky
Past Prologue, Dir: Brian Russel
Best Male Actor in a Short Film
Three-way tie
Drew Grant (No Witnesses)
Terrence Rotolo (Mutiny)
Robert Chapin (Mutiny)
Best of the Best
Male Actor in a Short Film
Two-way tie
Joe Kramer (Higher Grounds)
Michael Johnson (The Forgotten)
Best Female Actor in a Short Film
Eva Lin Feindt (Grandeur Delusions)
Best of the Best
Female Actor in a Short Film
Two-way tie
Megan Leigh Johnson (Safeguard)
Olivia Vitarelli (Sara)
Best of the Best
Male Actor in a Feature Film
Ricky DeRosa (Break Glass)
Best Male Actor in a Feature Film
Dylan Sprayberry (Angie: Lost Girls)
Best Female Actor in a Feature Film
Jane Widdop (Angie: Lost Girls)
Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film
Jeff Raiano (Break Glass)
Best of the Best
Male Actor in a Feature Film
Gerard Garilli (Dress Code)
Best of the Best
Female Actor in a Feature Film
Suzanne Bornn (Break Glass)
Best Narrative Feature Film
Break Glass, Dir: Jay Leonard
Best Jersey Narrative Feature Film
Two-way tie
Shark River, Dir: Rob Thorp
Dress Code, Dir: Joseph Pupello
Best of the Best
Narrative Feature Film
Mechanical Bulls, Dir: Joshua Laufer Jake Schick
Best ‘Horror’ Narrative Feature Film
Maya, Dir: Paul C. Hemmes
Audience Choice Award:
Best Jersey Feature Film
Dress Code, Dir: Joseph Pupello
Best Short (Horror) Film
Two-way tie
Safeguard, Dir: Dan Whitehead
Nose Goes, Dir: Stephanie Ruiz
Best Jersey Short (Horror) Film
Two-way tie
Boo, Dir: Austin Mitrione
The Devil’s Playground, Dir: A.J. Ciccotelli
Best Prime Time Pilot
Four-way tie + One
S.Q.U.A.D., Dir: Ethan William Cyr Carlos Jose Dakota Holmes Dodge
Pearly Gates, Dir: Loring Murtha
Haunted Homies (An Unaired Pilot), Brandon Russo
Sara, Dir: Jake Wichansky Holden Zuschlag
Freehold, Dir: Tristan McKenzie
Best Fun-Sci-Fi Narrative Short Film
Higher Grounds, Dir: Joe Kramer
Best Dooms-Day-Sci-Fi Narrative Short Film
Sanctify, Dir: Jesse Torres
Best Creative Work for a Short Film
Two-way tie
Given Again, Dir: Jake Oleson
Get The Scissors, Dir: Sheila Margaret O’Callaghan
Best of the Best
Male Actor in a Feature Film
Gerard Garilli (Dress Code)
Best Rising Star Female Actor in a Short Film
Melody Braudrick (Get the Scissors)
Best Rising Star Male Actor in a Short Film
Two-way tie
Luke Sweeney (Living with a Cereal Killer)
Michael Johnson (The Forgotten)
Best Director for a Jersey Student Short
Roland Hernandez (Left Behind: A Veteran’s Story)
Best Student Film
Three-way tie
A Salute, Dir: AdamReim
The Camera Thief, Dir: Roman D. Santaniello
Against All Odds, Dir: Daniella Gilli Jacob
Best of the Best
Narrative Short Drama
The Sweet Taste of Freedom, Dir: Mathew Penn
Best of the Best
Director for a Narrative Short Film
Mathew Penn (The Sweet Taste of Freedom)
Best Music Video (Animated)
Wild Wild Sheep, Dir: Adam Grindler
Best Jersey Music Video (Animated)
Hey Woman, Dir: Megan Gale
Best Jersey Music Video (Narrative)
Corporation Businessman, Dir: Wayne Olivieri
Best International Music Video
Two-way Tie
Move On Say the Town Walls (India) Dir: Prashanth Shetty
I Never Find It Enough (India) Dir: Puneet Shetty
Best Music Video Director
Ram Prasadh (Karuppa Vellai)
Grand Jury Award: ‘Best of the Best’ – Qwik Qlip – [A Story Told in Less Than 60 Seconds]
Morning in the Park, Dir: Rob McLean
Grand Jury Award: Best Jersey Qwik Qlip – [A Story Told in Less Than 60 Seconds]
Eden, Dir: Iris Esses
Grand Jury Award: Best International Qwik Qlip – [A Story Told in Less Than 60 Seconds]
Three-way Tie
Baccy, Dir: Pedro Nogueira (Portugal)
Three Days, Dir: Luis Alberto Martin (Spain)
Carbage Can, Dir: Clirimtar Spahiur (Kosovo)
Grand Jury Award: Best Qwik Qlip – [A Story Told in Less Than 60 Seconds]
Three-way Tie
Invasion Tactics, Dir: Brandon Killoran Miller
It’s on Us, Dir: Jordy Antonio
Wake Up Again, Dir: Lara Parizek
Grand Jury Award: Best (International Animated) Qwik Qlip – [A Story Told in Less Than 60 Seconds]
Jellyhead Goes on A Walk, Dir: Scott Coello– (Netherlands)
Grand Jury Award: Qute-est Qwik Qlip – [A Story Told in Less Than 60 Seconds]
Once Upon a Theremin – Dir: Rob McLean
Grand Jury Award: Best (Narrative Feature Film) Director
Paul C. Hemmes (Maya)
Grand Jury Award: Best (Jersey Feature Film) Director
Two-way Tie
Jay Leonard (Breaking Glass)
Joseph Pupello (Dress Code)
Grand Jury Award: Best (Short Narrative Film) Director
Matthew Gratzner (Mutiny)
Grand Jury Award: Best of the Best Narrative Feature Film Director
Julia Verdin (Angie: Lost Girls)
Grand Jury Award: Best (Jersey Short Narrative Film) Director
Two-way Tie
Anthony La Pira – Rookie Card
Julio Dowansingh – Family Affair
Grand Jury Award: Best (International Short Narrative Film) Director
Monica De Almeida – Elisabeth
Grand Jury Award: Best Rising Star Director for a Short Narrative Film
Three-way Tie
Sheila Margaret O’ Callaghan (Get the Scissors)
Alyssa Rose Capitini (Grandeur Delusions)
Adam Reim (The Salute)
Best Animated Short
Misfortune, Dir: Linda Kudzmas
Best Animated International Short
Will Ye Not Come Back Again, Dir: Deb Ethier
Best Animated Jersey Short
Two-way Tie
Boxed Out, Dir: Rachel Cooley
Deep Field, Dir: April Merl
Best Animated Rising Star Jersey Director
Christopher Kosakowski (Granny Smith)
Best Animated Rising Star Director
Brandon Russo (Haunted Homies)
Best Jersey Short-Short
The Egg, Dir: Vinny A. Arizzo
Best Short-Short
Three-way Tie
A Taste of Neon, Dir: Zachery Richard Blair
Confessional, Dir: Matilda Mackey
Lone Wolves, Dir: Hedi Arsencio
Best Short-Short Rising Star Director
Max Lerner (Behold the Golden Pigeon)
Best Short-Short Jersey Rising Star Director
Kristina Ashleigh Decker (Anxiety)
Best Creative Concept Short-Short
Get The Scissors, Dir: Sheila Margaret O’ Callaghan
Best Politically Correct Jersey Short-Short
Bone Ladies, Dir: Dan Preston
Best Experimental Short-Short/Short
Light Play (Vicious Cycles #3), Dir: Wobbe F. Koning
Best Creative Design Jersey Short-Short
Keys To the City, Dir: Peter Meng
Honorable Mention
International Qwik Qlip
Carbage Can, Dir: Clirimtar Spahiur (Kosovo)
Best Producer Marketing for a Feature Film
Gerard Garilli – Producer (Dress Code)
Best Producer Marketing for a Short Film
Robert Craighead – Producer (Lucy’s Last Song)