Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival Announces 2023 Winners - Plus Photos

In April 2023 the 12th annual Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival was its most successful event ever, with films screened at BowTie Warner Cinemas and the Ridgewood Public Library over four nights. By virtually every measure – number of attendees, quality of the 55 films screened, sponsorships, feedback from filmmakers and attendees – the festival this year was a resounding success.

Attendance was spurred to new heights by the premiere of Trinity’s Triumph, a feature-length fictional film co-written by Father Stephen Fichter, a Catholic priest who has worked with several congregations in Bergen County. His congregants were eager to see the long-awaited premiere and were not disappointed in the film which tackled real-world issues in the priesthood today. The film stars Joe Morton (The Brother from Another Planet; Scandal) who attended the film festival and it's activities.

Moonstruck Writer John Patrick Shanley's New Script "After the Deluge" To Become A Short Film - Crowdfunding Campaign Underway

Staff

American Playwright John Patrick Shanley has written a 12-page screenplay entitled "After the Deluge." Written during the pandemic it explores life and relationships in New York City after the pandemic. He is also known for writing Moonstruck and Doubt, the latter for which he won a Tony and Pulitzer Prize. 

This script will become a short film. For those not familiar with getting a film off the ground, many filmmakers run a crowdfunding campaign to help raise production funds and awareness for the film. The campaign for this film is on the platform Seed and Spark. 

To find out more about this production and some of the "perks" of donating, visit: https://seedandspark.com/fund/afterthedeluge?fbclid=PAAaYkfDYzT9wt_iDStOaZbKNu0nQ0rWA-oyFaHkoOOPLrvfrIqDInP49xbpc#story

Alicia Minshew, Austin Peck, Michael Lowry and Terri Ivens Guest on The LIBBY Show: Lunch With the Ladies and Dish on The Making of Tainted Dreams, Their Favorite Memories on Soaps and More

By Kenyan Smith

The Emmy-nominated, steamy drama Tainted Dreams is Creator Sonia Blangiardo’s ingenious and personal tribute to the iconic soap opera genre. The character-driven, digital dramedy series follows the lives of the cast and crew of a fictional soap opera, “Painted Dreams.” The show is a behind the scenes look that answers a question that soap fans have pondered for years. “I wonder what happens when the cameras stop rolling?” Answer...Lots! And fans’ curiosity is satisfied in the “soapiest” way!

The LIBBY Show: Lunch with the Ladies host Suzanne Ordas Curry and co-host Messalina Morley led a lively chat with Blangiardo and several members of the Tainted Dreams cast; Alicia Minshew (All My Children, Beacon Hill), Michael Lowry (All My Children, One Life to Life), Terri Ivens (All My Children, The Bay) and Austin Peck (Days of Our Lives, As the World Turns). You can watch the show here. 

Feel-Good Interview Series: Meet Marcus Coloma, Nikolas Cassadine of "General Hospital" - Six Things to Know About Him

 

By Markos Papadatos #Powerjournalist

Marcus Coloma is known for his role as Nikolas Cassadine on the hit ABC daytime drama “General Hospital,” which he played for three years. You may also know him from Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 and 3. He shared some of his favorite things. 

Favorite Movies 
On his favorite movies, he shared, “I really liked ‘Air,’ which just came out with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. I thought it was very inspiring. I also loved ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ that was really great.” 

Favorite Series to Binge 

His favorite series to binge-watch includes “Only Murders in the Building,” where he enjoyed watching the first two seasons of the show. 

A Review of the Film Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume by an 18 Year Old Male Student: Why He Says This Movie is a Timely as Ever and Needs to be Seen

By Ashton Samson

On Friday, April 28th 2023, an eighteen-year old guy and his mother walked into a movie theater to watch a feature film adaptation of Judy Blume’s seminal and timeless novel, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. The young adult and his mother entered the moderately crowded theater, filled to the brim with older women and teenage girls. The only men in the theater were two older men who were seated with their wives. 

And then there was the eighteen year old male. 

Hopefully you’ve caught on by now that that person was me. At first, when I sat down, a feeling of embarrassment fell over me. As a young man, I felt that I was intruding on the lives of these women who wanted to attend what seemed to have been a rite of passage for over fifty years. In some shape or form, many females get exposed to the writing of Judy Blume and Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret seems to be at the top of the list of novels that females relate to and adore.

Lighthouse International Film Festival on Long Beach Island NJ Runs June 7 -11 2023, See A Great Selection of Films in A Jersey Shore Setting

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

Do you enjoy movies? Do you like the Jersey Shore? The Lighthouse International Film Festival on beautiful Long Beach Island NJ, a beacon of the Jersey Shore is a great place to see carefully curated shorts, features, docs and more. Enjoy the camraderie of fellow cinephiles in a beach setting to see some top and new films by established and emerging filmmakers. The film festival runs June 7th-11th. Information and tickets are here: https://www.lighthouseff.com/

Feel-Good Interview Series: Get to know Actor James O'Halloran of Hallmark's When Love Springs - 7 Things to Know about Him

By Markos Papadatos #Powerjournalist

James O’Halloran is an Australian actor and model. He has starred in such television series as Never Tear Us Apart – The INXS Story, Offspring, and Twenty Something. He moved to the United States in 2014. That same year, O’Halloran became a series regular on The Price is Right on CBS with host Drew Carey, where he was the second-ever male model on the show (after Robert Scott Wilson). 
 
His other TV roles followed including The Young and Restless, The Bold and Beautiful, Jane the Virgin, Criminal Minds, The Mindy Project, Super Store, Single Parents, and AP Bio, among others. In 2019, O'Halloran he was the most watched Aussie on American TV. He is the star of the new Hallmark movie When Love Springs opposite Rhiannon Fish.

Feel-Good Interview Series: General Hospital's Daytime Legend Maurice Benard: 7 Things You May Not Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos, #Powerjournalist 

Maurice Benard is the "King of Daytime Television." He has played the role of Sonny Corinthos on the Emmy award-winning daytime drama "General Hospital" for nearly three decades. Here is some of his favorite things, and interesting facts about the "Godfather of Port Charles."

Favorite Movie 

"I loved the new George Foreman movie, "Big George Foreman." "I didn’t think I was going to like it, but it got me. It spoke about God, faith, overcoming, and the acting is superb in it. What upsets it is that this great movie didn’t do so well,” states Bernard. 

Feel-Good Interview Series: Get to Know Actor and Author of "Walking with Sam" Andrew McCarthy - 6 Things To Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos, #PowerJournalist

Andrew McCarthy is an acclaimed actor, director and travel writer. He is best known as a member of the "Brat Pack." He has starred in such films as St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Heaven Help Us, and Less Than Zero. He is also known for his directing work on the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black. This talented and popular actor is listed at No. 40 on VH1's "100 Greatest Teen Stars" of all-time.

New York City's Socially Relevant Film Festival Showcases 2023 Winners, Films, Announces Films Showing at Cannes Through Herflix

 

The Sociallly Relevant Film Festival 2023 has announced its winners and will be streaming the selections until May 21st. 

The Festival would also like to announce its presence at Cannes with four films on Climate and Sustainability through its with Herflix.com and will be broadcasting live from the Croisette on May 21st. 

Festival Founder Nora Armani said of the festival, "We take pride in showcasing stories of invisible people; be they indigenous, women, belonging to marginalized groups such as LGBTQ. They may be invisible because of their disabilities, because of the stigma of incarceration, their homelessness, their age, or their disease."

Females in Entertainment: Meet Young Actor/Dancer Jolie Cook of the New Children's Series "PAlette"

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

It's always a joy to interview a young girl who has a goal in mind and is already working towards achieving it. Jolie Cook is a young actress and dancer from Pennsylvania who is now starring in a new educational children's show called PAlette, produced by Scranton Films. I was happy to be able to interview this very talented young woman.

So Jolie, tell me about yourself. 

Feel-Good Interview Series: Actor Charles Esten of Nashville & Outerbanks Shares 6 Things You May Not Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos, #Powerjournalist

Charles Esten of Nashville fame is the star of Outer Banks, where he plays Ward Cameron. He has also been in many movies and TV shows including Big Love and Enlightened. Upcoming he stars as Tye Barton in an documentary- influenced narrative feature about a singer called Bad on Paper. He shared six interesting things about him that fans may not know. 

Favorite Movies 

Feel-Good Interview Series: Get to Know Actor Brendan Penny of Chesapeake Shores- Six Things To Know About Him

By Markos Papadatos, #Powerjournalist

You may know Actor Brendan Penny from his leading role in Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores series, but he does much more. The Canadian native has a new movie, The Wedding Cottage, which premiered in April 2023 on the Hallmark Channel. He's been in a slew of TV movies including Time for Them To Come Home for Christmas, Beverly Hills Wedding, The Secret Ingredient and many more. He can also be seen in BH90210. 

Penny described Chesapeake Shores as a wonderful experience, because it afforded him the opportunity to grow with his character, Kevin O’Brien, for six seasons, as well as form solid relationships. 

What He Likes To Watch

Feel-Good Interview Series: Get To Know Actor Daniel Lissing - Six Things To Know About Him and What His Favorite Charity is and Why

By Markos Papadatos, #Powerjournalist

Actor Daniel Lissing shared some of his favorite things.  A native of Sydney, Australia, he is a recognizable face in many TV movies including Christmas movies. 

He starred in the first Great American Family original holiday film called Catering Christmas alongside Merritt Patterson. Lissing is known for his acting work in such GAC Family original movies as The Christmas Star and When Hope Calls Christmas. 

He has also been in many movies and series on Hallmark, including The December Bride and is best known for playing Jack Thornton in the series When Calls The Heart. He has also been in TV series such as The Rookie and Last Resort.

Favorite Movies