Oftentimes it is only audiences in New York or Los Angeles that are fortunate enough to see any movie in limited release, leaving those who live outside the “big cities” no access to a plethora of well-made and original films. The Freedom Film Society (FFS) of Monmouth, New Jersey was formed with this problem in mind. “It is our goal to bring a little bit of that independent mindset to the Jersey Shore,” says FFS president Marc Leckstein.
Arguably the most intriguing and innovative idea to come out of the Freedom Film Society is Film Addicts Anonymous. The group meets once every month and is organized much like a book club, with a discussion group following the private screening of an otherwise inaccessible film. FSS brings intellectual, esoteric films to Monmouth and invites cinephiles from the area who might be starved for a little film-based conversation. It “allows participants the opportunity to screen ‘art’ films and then sit back after the fact and intelligently discuss with others what they have just seen,” Leckstein explains.
But this is only part of Freedom Film Society’s solution to reinvigorate film appreciation in the previously nicknamed “Dead Bank.” Run entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers, each year the society hosts the Red Bank International Film Festival in addition to the Emerging Filmmakers Series. The festival brings the arts community of Red Bank together every October to celebrate with the international film community. To encourage the up-and-coming talent, the Emerging Filmmakers Series offers the winner of local high school competitions a screening at the fest, as well as scholarship money to further pursue the art of moviemaking.
Entries for this October’s Red Bank International Film Festival are now being accepted. For more information on the festival and Freedom Film Society, visit www.rbiff.org.
SOUND OFF QUESTION: If there was a Film Addicts Anonymous in your area, would you attend? Which upcoming movies would you want to watch and discuss as part of such a group? Talk back in the comments section!
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