5x5 Film Festival
The 5x5 Film Festival is coming! Filmmakers are challenged to create a film of five minutes or less while embracing the spirit of a $5 budget, where ingenuity, resourcefulness, and creative problem-solving matter more than expensive equipment or production value. Each film must incorporate at least one of five festival elements, including one of our partner logos, the number five, the beach, music, or green screen, with filmmakers encouraged to make their chosen element part of the story. There are no restrictions on genre, style, or experience level, so professionals, students, first-time filmmakers, actors ready to step behind the camera, and anyone with a story to tell are welcome to participate. The FilmFreeway submission page, including complete Rules & Terms, will be live in the coming week!
First Annual VIP Event
Join Hollywood East Media for an intimate evening connecting the people building New Jersey’s growing creative industry. Meet local filmmakers, actors, producers, and other creatives, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and connect with the community in a relaxed setting at Triumph Restaurant & Brewery in Red Bank. Get your tickets here.
Micro-Short Showcase
with Long Wharf Productions
Stephanie Long (Director of Community Engagement for HEM and Writer/Director of Film One Fest Winner, "The Last Fry") and Thomas Ryan Ward (Director of Creative Collaborations and Writer/Director/Star of Major Problems) are developing a series of social media-friendly micro-shorts designed to help actors, filmmakers, and content creators build their portfolios and showcase their work. New projects, casting calls, and crew opportunities are announced monthly. Visit their website or follow @longwharfproductionsnj on Instagram and TikTok for updates and opportunities to get involved.
Community Spotlight: Team Vienna
Team Vienna 4 SUDC Awareness Inc. was founded in memory of Vienna Carly Savino, who died in 2017 at the age of two from Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC). According to the organization, SUDC affects children and adolescents ages 1–18 and remains unexplained even after a thorough investigation.
In the years since Vienna's death, her family has dedicated itself to raising awareness, supporting research, and educating the public about SUDC. Through fundraising events, community outreach, advocacy efforts, and Vienna's Day of International SUDC Awareness, Team Vienna has helped bring attention to a condition that remains unfamiliar to many families.
Their work is a powerful example of how one family's story can create lasting impact. By sharing Vienna's legacy, Team Vienna continues to promote awareness, encourage research, and foster community support for families affected by SUDC.
Coming Soon!
An interview with Dr. Denise Wunderler, Producer of "Vienna: Suddenly an Angel," featured at the Monmouth Film Festival, and winner of the Best Homegrown Documentary Short at the Garden State Film Festival, Audience Choice Best Short Documentary at the Long Island International Film Expo, and Audience Choice Best Short Documentary at the New Hope Film Festival.
Learn more at www.vienna.team
Community Spotlight: Silver Bridge Film Club
The Silver Bridge Film Club was created to help emerging filmmakers, actors, writers, and creatives build experience through collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on projects. Based in New Jersey, the club focuses on helping members develop professional portfolios while connecting with others who share a passion for storytelling.
Rather than simply talking about filmmaking, Silver Bridge encourages members to create. Through guided projects, networking opportunities, and collaborative productions, participants gain practical experience while building the skills and relationships needed to grow within the industry.
Organizations like Silver Bridge play an important role in strengthening the local creative community. By bringing artists together and creating opportunities to learn by doing, they help turn aspiring filmmakers into active contributors to New Jersey's growing film scene.
To learn more about the Silver Bridge Film Club and upcoming opportunities, visit silverbridgefilmclub.org.
