The Indie Street Film Festival (ISFF) has announced its 2020 film lineup, featuring one in-person screening and a fully online program to follow.
The opening night selection for its 2020 festival is “Class Action Park” (soon to be released by HBO Max). The feature length documentary film shines a spotlight on New Jersey’s Action Park, which earned a reputation as the most insane – and possibly the most dangerous – amusement park that ever existed, according to a press release.
“Class Action Park” explores the legend, legacy and truth behind a place that long ago entered the realm of myth. Shirking the trappings of nostalgia, the film uses investigative journalism, newly unearthed and never-before-seen documents and recordings, original animations, and interviews with the people who lived through it to reveal the true story for the first time, according to the press release.
“Class Action Park” will be screened at the festival’s first drive-in at Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, on Sept. 17 in association with Summit Soundz Entertainment.
The screening will take place in the parking area between the former Malette Hall and Expo Theater buildings on Avenue of Memories. Tickets will be $40 per car and doors will open at approximately 6:30 p.m. for a 7:15 p.m. start., according to the press release.
Attendees will receive up to two gift bags per car in celebration of the fifth year of the festival, with snacks from local vendors and sponsors. There will be a brief Q&A with filmmaker Seth Porges following the film.
The fifth Indie Street Film Festival is going virtual, offering all films online from Sept. 18-23 to continue the celebration of art, community and independent storytelling, according to the press release.
Any United States-based viewer can see all 47 official selections for $40. All access passes are available through indiestreetfilmfestival.org/attend
The following feature film selections have been revealed as part of the 2020 lineup:
• “Higher Love” by Hasan Oswald (Slamdance Grand Jury Award). Daryl Gantt is a struggling blue collar factory man striving to be a better father than his own, who abandoned him at childhood. Daily, he searches the streets of Camden for his pregnant, heroin addicted girlfriend Nani, in hopes of saving their son. (Documentary Feature)
• “Into the Storm” by Adam Brown (Brooklyn Film Festival Best Documentary and Audience Award). A troubled teenager from a crime-ridden barrio of Lima, Peru, struggles against the odds to realize his dream of becoming a professional surfer and lift his family out of poverty. (Documentary Feature)
• “Milkwater” by Morgan Ingari, featuring Younger’s Molly Bernard. A young woman rashly decides to become a surrogate and egg donor for an older gay man she meets in a bar. (Narrative Feature)
• “The Never List” by Michelle Mower. After the sudden death of her best friend, a straight “A “obedient teen sets out to fulfill their secret list of outrageous acts they said they would never do. (Narrative Feature)
• “Survival Skills” by Quinn Armstrong. In this throwback to 1980s police training videos, Jim (Vayu O’Donnell), a rookie cop, gets in over his head when he tries to resolve a domestic violence case outside the law. As the situation slips away from him, he is opposed by the video’s powerful and sinister narrator (Stacy Keach). (Narrative Feature)
• “This is Cristina” by Gonzalo Maza (Academy Award winning “A Fantastic Woman”). Cristina and Susana are best friends since high school. But now, when they are over 30 years old, they receive a wake-up call. (Narrative Feature)
• “We Don’t Deserve Dogs,” by Matthew Saleh (ISFF Alumni Filmmaker). A contemplative odyssey across our planet, looking at the simple and extraordinary ways that dogs influence our daily lives. (Documentary Feature)
Each year the festival also focuses on discovering talented filmmakers local to New Jersey, according to the press release.
This year ISFF has selected seven exceptional short New Jersey films: “Broken Bird” by Rachel Harrison Gordon, “Ex Disposer” by Daniel Ferrer, “Next Level Sh*t” by Gary Jaffe, “The Poet and the Plant” by Tom Basis and Robert Summerlin, “Stay Don’t Go” by Brian Velsor, “We’ll Miss You” by Gracianne Eldrenkamp, and “Wonder” by Javier Molina.
The festival’s artistic director, Jay Webb, said that “in a time of uncertainty and unfortunate divide, this year’s film program offers our virtual attendees a chance to dive deep into human stories from a wide range of perspectives.
“Even viewing from our homes, our hand-picked films have the power to connect us. This is what film and the arts can do, and why we felt it even more important to continue the festival in this new way to make creative expressions available to the public during these strange times,” Webb said.
The festival’s producer and senior programmer, Allyson Morgan, said the program will screen the most diverse slate of filmmakers yet.
The 47 films that are being presented at this year’s ISFF come from 12 different countries and 49% of the films are creations by female directors. Along with seven feature films, ISFF presents 40 short films from around the globe that will be screened within six uniquely crafted programs, according to the press release.
“For 2020, Indie Street is recognizing the struggles so many filmmakers and audience members are facing,” Morgan said. “Because of that, we turned an eye to stories of hope, resilience and perseverance. We know these films will challenge, excite and move our viewers.”
Other than the opening night drive-in at Fort Monmouth, the 2020 festival will screen entirely online through the platform Cinesend.https://cinesend.com/
ISFF offers passes for $40 that grant access to all films. Individual film tickets will also be available, according to the press release.
For a complete schedule of programming, including short film selections, and to purchase festival passes, visit www.indiestreetfilmfestival.org
