September 19, 2023, Cranford, New Jersey—Asbury Shorts USA, New York City’s longest-running short film exhibition and travel show will partner with The Garden State Film Festival once again to present their nationally recognized: “An Evening of the World’s Best Short Films,” sponsored by a generous contribution from Northfield Bank Foundation. The show will take place at The Cranford Theater in Cranford, New Jersey on Thursday, October 19th, 2023, with the first film blasting on to the screen at 7:00pm. This special screening of world-renowned short films from the past and present is strongly recommended for ages 16 and way above.
Asbury Shorts USA now in its 42nd anniversary year, is a New York City based national touring showcase of the world’s most renowned short films, specially selected for audiences who do not regularly attend film festivals.

This eclectic showcase combines award-winning films from the past with new global festival honorees, creating a rare opportunity for audiences to view world-class short films on a real cinema screen rather than YouTube, smartphones, or computers. Academy Award–nominated director Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air, Thank You for Smoking, and Ghostbusters Afterlife) calls this event: “the best short-film show I’ve ever seen.” The October presentation will feature the best in short film comedy, drama, and animation in a fast-paced two-hour program.
 
“An Evening of the World’s Best Short Films” series has been presented at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Old Vic Theater in Chicago; Summer Stage in Central Park & the DGA Theater (Directors Guild of America) in Manhattan; the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, CA; Alamo Draft House in Dallas, Texas; Royal Festival Hall in London, U.K.; the Osprey Arts Center in Nova Scotia, Canada; The Vero Beach Museum of Art in Florida; the Leminske Theater in Berlin, Germany and other prestigious venues where audiences have enjoyed these amazing films.

The Guest Host of the show will Ivy Charmatz.  Ivy is a graduate of Rutgers University and hails from Westfield, New Jersey. She is a Senior Vice President at Mercury’s New Jersey office, specializing in strategic communication, media relations and crisis management. For more than 20 years, Ivy worked as a journalist creating content for print, broadcast, and digital media.

Prior to joining Mercury, Ivy was the Executive Producer of News and Special Projects at News 12 New Jersey, where she managed the “Ask Governor Murphy” program and was responsible for several of the station’s most popular series; most notably “On The Road,” which highlighted communities, organizations, and people around New Jersey. She also created and produced several specials for the entire News 12 Network, including an exclusive sit-down interview with the family of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at their home in Atlanta.

Ivy has won several of the television industry’s highest honors, including a National Edward R. Murrow Award, two Gracie® Awards and three New York Emmy® Awards. Additionally, her work has been recognized by organizations throughout the tri-state area, such as The New York Press Club, Press Club of Long Island, Garden State Association of Black Journalists, the Salvation Army and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, among others.
Ivy serves on the Advisory Board of Allaire Community Farm, a non-profit in Wall, New Jersey that helps special needs children, teens and adults battling mental health issues, as well as veterans struggling with PTSD. She is also Chair of the leadership team for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of New Jersey’s Visionaries of the Year Campaign.

Doreen Sayegh, owner of the Cranford Theater, remarked “We are so proud to be part of hosting this important event.” The Cranford Theater is located at 25 North Avenue West, Cranford, NJ. Tickets are $15 and available online at https://bestshortfilmscranford.bpt.me/or at the door while supplies last.

About the Garden State Film Festival

THE GARDEN STATE FILM FESTIVAL
is New Jersey's Premier Independent Film Festival®. Now in its 22nd year, the GSFF, a 501-c-3non- profit organization, is a global destination festival that stimulates economic growth in New Jersey through the arts. It also promotes student creativity, makes the arts accessible to underserved populations and preserves heritage arts.
This globally recognized festival also provides creative arts education programs and creates a forum where local and international independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. Their outreach programs also support the U.S. Military, seniors, children, and underserved populations.  Since 2003, thousands of films have made their public premieres, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have attended; and the total infusion of cash to local businesses since inception exceeds $10 million. It is held in Asbury Park and surrounding area as well as Cranford, NJ.

It was also created to pay tribute to New Jersey’s legacy as the birthplace of the American filmmaking industry in Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratories where he invented the first film cameras and projectors, to Fort Lee, where the original studios were founded. Our event provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in careers in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals in an atmosphere conducive to learning and mentoring. Further, we are happy to be present each spring in Asbury Park and to serve as an added engine for the city’s vitality through arts, commerce, and culture.
 
For more information visit gsff.org or email [email protected]