Join us for our annual celebration that demonstrates the power of identity and how it shapes the stories we love to experience on screen and beyond.
As of 2023, we are officially a non-profit organization - our goal is to provide a stage to unique voices, so that they may share their stories in ways that foster a peaceful and compassionate society.
Past filmmakers include: hometown native director/producer Frank Coraci (Hot Air, Wedding Singer), renowned actor/director Austin Pendleton (Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, My Cousin Vinny, What’s Up Doc?), and showcased the work of local artists and industry professionals such as John Gray (Household Demons, Extra Innings), Alexandra Boyd (Widow’s Walk), Nancy Bannon (Blood, Lulu & Josie), and writer/producer Richard Vetere (Vigilante, Where Are We Now? The Italian Americans)
Over the course of the event we will screen select films, engage in industry talk backs, and dance the night away to live music!
Please carefully read the following criteria for what we are programming in 2023.
We are now accepting submissions via FilmFreeway:
*Student Short (both scholarship & exhibition)...
Student submissions will be considered for The Pearl Award which will be selected by our jury. Open to all undergraduate students pursuing a concentration in filmmaking (major OR minor).
*Short or Featurette...
All genres and concept. Comedy...make us laugh, Rom-Com...make us sigh, Drama...make us cry, Documentary…move us, Children's...for the kids, Thriller...have us on the edge of our seats! All submissions must have a runtime of 60 minutes or less.
*Screenplay Submissions...
we will be curating a collection of short film readings; we will help with casting local actors to read new works or screenplays that have been recently filmed and may be in post production...we will feature production stills during the reading with a talk back with all the screenwriters. All scripts must be 10 pages or less.
Please subscribe to our website for future developments regarding the festival as they unfold. Looking forward to seeing you in October!
All films submitted will be exhibition only, with the exception of our student scholarship.