Logo by Andrew Gioulis of KFR Communications Co.  in Ocean Grove, one of our sponsors

If you attend our BF³,  you will find yourself at a very special happening.  All our nine  films are by university film students from five area schools, including 3 from the Garden State.   The Universities represented are New York U., Drexel U., Montclair State U., Rutgers U and William Paterson U.

The program has a distinctly Jersey flavor. In addition to the 3 NJ schools, Marlee Roberts, from the NYU Tisch School of Film,  is a Jersey girl.  She is the producer and co- founder of the BFFF , in addition to being the director of  one of our selections  “All We’re Left With.”  We will soon  be posting a more detailed portrait of this unique young filmmaker along with some more information on the films themselves.

Marlee Roberts, the BFFF co-founder and producer.  Photo courtesy of MR

The director from Montclair State, Lindsay Rassmann of Brick, New Jersey,  brought us a wonderful documentary, “Unshore,” shot in Seaside Heights.  Her co-producer/editor/director on the film is Tom Mika of Pine Beach, NJ.  You will be deeply moved by their post-Sandy film.  Lindsay is a senior broadcasting major who is a skilled editor and video producer.  She is now interning with Emmy award winning PCK media which produces “State of the Art” for PBS

Lindsay Rassmann from her web site lindsayrassmann.wordpress.com

There also is a feminist aspect as well. Whereas female directors are rare in Hollywood, 5 of our 9 directors are women. Many women are members of the film crews as well.  “Toy Soldier” arrived at our door via another Jersey film student Emily Marcouiller of Eatontown, who was working part time at Wegmans coffee bar and whom I was trying to convince to come to the Grove for the BFFF when she mentioned participating in the making of a film for her senior thesis at Drexel—-thus “Toy Soldier.”

“Doppleganger” is a thoughtful, personal, and original look at the problem of eating disorders by Rutger’s Stephanie Wong.

George Itzhak with Natalie Portman at the current TriBeca Film Festival. photo Gotham magazine.

George Itzhak of NYU is a former winner of a TriBeca film fellowship. He had a film in our event last year, and he now brings a documentary to the BFFF about the Bukharian  Jewish community. He brings the Diaspora to life, which is more than my recent seder did.

What also makes us special is that we are hosting a film festival that specializes in short films and we are having the event in the historic town of Ocean Grove.  This town has a surprising number of residents who work in media: newspapers, books, TV, stage and movies.  We have galleries and remarkable music and art here, so this festival is consistent but also is something new and innovative for this town–and for any town.

Paul Goldfinger, BFFF co-founder  and community organizer

You may find short films to be a bit odd at first. Some are only a few minutes long.  But these jewels are packed with intelligence, creativity and ideas, set in a professionally done movie format. Once you realize that these short pieces are forms of poetry  expressed through the medium of cinema  then your eyes and minds will be opened by these young, creative artists, some of whom will join us at the event.

It would be so easy for you to buy a ticket and multitask:  support the boardwalk fund, encourage citizens  to come up with fundraising ideas, support young artists, promote arts in Ocean Grove,  show Blogfinger that we’re not just a pretty face, and have a fun and stimulating experience in a great town on a spring Sunday afternoon.  Pretty good for ten bucks!

For more information click on the tab at the top of this page: It says  “Film Festival.”  TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR ON THE DAY OF THE FESTIVAL.

From 1:30-2:00 pm, there will be a slide show of original photographs of Ocean Grove, by Paul Goldfinger, published photographer and editor of Blogfinger.

BF³  MUSIC BY AL JOLSON:  (This song is for Mrs. Calabash, wherever she is.)