NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Discovery Jersey Arts, a cosponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the ArtPride of New Jersey Foundation, is holding their annual People’s Choice Awards.
Three of New Brunswick’s own institutions, The New Jersey Film Festival, George Street Playhouse, and the State Theatre, are among a handful of organizations honored with nominations for 2016.
New Jersey residents can cast a ballot online to honor local non-profit organizations and theaters dedicated to promoting the arts through the State of New Jersey.
One of New Brunswick’s constants, The New Jersey Film Festival, is hoping to extend their already impressive record with another People’s Choice Award.
According to Experimental Film Professor Al Nigrin at Rutgers University, and also the Executive Director and Curator of The Rutgers Film Co-Op/New Jersey Media Arts Center, the film festival “won in 2011 and placed second last year, as well as in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007. So it’s time to win again.”
Entering its 35th year in existence, The New Jersey Film Festivals bringing the best of first and second run art house flicks right in the heart of Rutgers University.
The New Jersey Film Festival was founded by Nigrin, through The Rutgers Film Co-Op/New Jersey Media Arts Center alongside the Rutgers Cinema Studies Program, and offers a competitive season that displays both domestic and international films.
Types of movies that are included in the festival range from a wide variety of independent films, both domestic and international, such as experimental films, short subjects, classic revivals, and documentaries. Full length feature films are also showcased.
This year, the New Jersey Film Festival will be playing international movies from Austria, China, Cuba, and Poland, as well as domestic films from both the East and West Coast.
The festival opens up on January 30th at 7 p.m. with a viewing of “Pitter Patter Goes My Heart” by Christopher Rainer from Austria and “In the Dark” by David Spaltro from New York City.
Two screenings will air free to the public, “Sacrifice” by Chen Kaige and “Three Times” by Hsiao-hsien Hou from China, sponsored by the Confucius Institute of Rutgers University.
Tickets for The New Jersey Film Festival are $12 for the public and $10 for seniors and students.
For more information about the event, and a complete listing of their screenings, please visit www.njfilmfest.com.
Jad is a local writer, organizer, and life-long resident of New Brunswick. He is a graduate of both Rutgers University and The University of Toronto.
