ASBURY PARK — Movie buffs excited about the inaugural Boardwalk Film Festival on Sept. 16-18 in this shore town can attend a one-day Pre-Season Mini-Fest this Saturday.

The sneak preview includes three movies that will be shown on a 20-foot screen at Asbury Park High School, starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, according to organizer Kevin McLaughlin.

"It's just a one-day event to give people a feel for what the festival is going to be," said McLaughlin. He described the two short films and a feature documentary that will be previewed as "one to make you cry, one to make you laugh and one to make you think."

"Out of This" is from a director in Iran, and McLaughlin cautioned, the audience should have tissues handy when viewing it.

"I think that this film will remind people that people around the world are not as different from us as they sometimes think they are," he said.

"Taking the Plunge" is an animated film made by students at the School of Visual Arts in New York and a director from Rumson, according to McLaughlin. He noted that film won both the Oscar and the Emmy this year for Best Animated Student Film.

(Boardwalkfilm.com)
(Boardwalkfilm.com)
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"It doesn't look like a student film. It looks like anything out of Disney or Pixar, just as good."

McLaughlin directed "Riot" about the Newark riots of 1967 and how they changed the city. He anticipates the documentary to especially appeal to residents of the Jersey Shore.

"So many people here trace their roots to the Newark area and came down here because they wanted to get away from the strife that was the riots in the 60s," McLaughlin said.

Saturday's Pre-Season Mini-Fest includes a panel discussion with some of the filmmakers and participants of the documentary, and an after-party at 7 p.m. at Johnny Mac's House of Spirits in Asbury.

A $23 package includes all three movies, the panel discussion and the after-party, as well as two drinks, pizza and live entertainment. Tickets also can be purchased separately for the events and are available online at www.boardwalkfilm.com.

More than 1,100 films from over 70 countries have entered to be part of the First Annual Boardwalk Film Festival in September, according to McLaughlin. He added the event is still seeking sponsors. Donations also can be made through the website.

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