Film lovers rejoice! The first - annual Burlington County Juried Short Film Festival will be held next week and features a fantastic line up of imaginative movies and documentaries .
   A total of 27 short films will be screened during the two - day festival on Thursday , May 12 , and Friday , May 13 , at the Burlington County Library , 5 Pioneer Boulevard , Westampton . Screenings will begin at 5 PM and include a mix of narrative , documentary and animation films .
   “Burlington County is blessed with incredible natural beauty , history and culture and we’re excited to hold our very first short film festival to further cultivate the arts and filmmaking here , ” said Burlington County Commissioner Allison Eckel , the Board’s liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation and Parks . “There’s an incredible mix of films , including narrative comedies , heart - warming documentaries and dramatic mysteries and adventure tales . The next Stephen Spielberg or Alfred Hitchcock could be here in Burlington County , so we want to encourage film lovers of all ages to come out and see these amazing short films . ” 
   Among the films that will screen is the uplifting tale “Dan the Man” , a documentary about a young man who doesn’t let Down Syndrome impede his huge passion for sports; the fantasy film “Prince and the Zs” , about a pair of friends attempting to survive a zombie apocalypse; and “Stand Off” , an imaginative and funny look at two children who imagine themselves to be fighting an Old West showdown .  
   Some of the other films scheduled to be screened include: “Who Says” , a documentary about a New Jersey program for developmentally disabled teens and young adults; “Midnight Paper” about a student’s frantic attempt to meet a deadline; “Chatsworth” , about a mysterious disappearance in the Pine Barrens; “We are Suns” , a documentary about a college student’s quest to meet his biological father; and the animated film , “Dams: Pros and Cons . ” 
   The movies were created by filmmakers with different backgrounds , including students from Moorestown High School and a Burlington Township Media TV class . Submissions also came from hobbyists and professional filmmakers . All films are 30 minutes or less and were deemed family - friendly , though some movies scheduled to be screened on the second night feature more mature themes .  
   Admission to the festival is free and both nights will conclude at around 8 PM following a discussion period with the participating filmmakers .
   In addition to screening each of the films , the Parks Division will announce 11 award winners for best animated film , best documentary , best narrative and best “Parks” film , a special category for films about nature or the Burlington County Parks . Movies filmed in Burlington County parks were also eligible for this category . Several other submissions will also be awarded special Judges Choice honors .
   A panel of three professional filmmakers and educators judged the films .
   The Burlington County Parks Division organized the new festival with support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts .  
   “With more than 1 , 000 acres of developed parkland and 50 - miles plus of interconnecting hiking , biking and running trails and several fantastic museums and galleries , our Burlington County Parks System is clearly one of the best in the entire state and region , but what also sets us apart is the incredible events and programs our Parks staff help organize and run , ” Eckel said . “Events like this film festival help enlighten and entertain residents of all ages and are a big part of why our county is such a great destination . You don’t want to miss it . ”
   The following films will be screened during the festival:
   Films scheduled to be screened on Thursday , May 12th
   DAN THE MAN
                   DAN THE MAN is a short Documentary Film that highlights the life of Dan , a young man with Down Syndrome , and his love and passion for sports . Filmmaker: Drew Rosania
   Who Says
                            Kate ' s Place Program wants everyone to know that even though our program is made up of people with Developmental Disabilities , we enjoy things all people do . Filmmaker: JoAnn McNamee
   Kate’s Place: Cool
             Kates Place Summer Video shows . The program produces a movie each summer because it is a fun activity for the entire group . Filmmaker: JoAnn McNamee
   Better Half
                           A young girl who is struggling with her self - image wishes to be popular and like the girls that she sees around her . Her wish comes true , but not in the way she might have imagined . Filmmaker: Claire Delany
   Princess and the Zs
           The duo of Princess and Jio are trying their best to survive the zombie apocalypse while being threatened by a new threat , the mad scientist Dr . Dynamite . They must overcome their crumbling friendship if they wish to survive . Filmmaker: Javier Cortez
   STAND OFF!
                       Two kids imagine themselves in the Old West as outlaw and bounty hunter . In the midst of their incredibly tense standoff , they keep getting interrupted by their busy house and the breaking of their characters . While both are itching to win the fateful duel , they also have chores to do . Filmmaker: Gabriel Pascual
   The Chain Mail
                   Newton has a great fear of pink erasers . When his friend , Roberta , pulls out a pink eraser , she gets kicked out by Newton . After this incident , Newton receives a chain mail threat saying if he doesn ' t send the email to 15 other people he will be haunted . However , Newton ignores this message and the pink eraser haunts him . Filmmaker: Kong Chen
   Bully’s
                                 This film shows how in life youth are experiencing the emotions of growth and how to prevent anti - bullying by having a support team . Filmmaker: Daja Joseph
   Midnight Paper
                   After playing a game with his friend for a little too long , Harrison realizes that his paper is due in one hour . Filmmaker: Benjamin Matsko
   Anything for Sergio
           Sergio and Lucia , a teenage couple , are in school reminiscing about their latest trip to Paris . While in school Sergio catches a glance at someone familiar - - his waitress from Paris , Alessandra .  He has a memory about Alessandra and their secret time together in Paris . Lucia notices Sergio staring at this girl , but when asked about it , Sergio brushes it off like it ' s nothing . A few days later , Sergio is walking down a hallway carrying a flower . At the other end of the hallway , Lucia and Alessandra are waiting eagerly . Filmmaker: Victoria DeNittis
   A Green Dream
                  Tired of the struggle of a push lawnmower , a team of rebellious adolescents assemble in an effort to steal a rideable mower . What he doesn’t realize is that crime comes with struggles of its own . Filmmaker: Colin Llewellyn
   Solomon Grundy
                      This crankie is based on an 19th century British nursery rhyme , with my own tweaks and an original addition of a second half . It narrates the living and dying of Solomon Grundy , whose health grows worse as the weather turns nice . While he is one of those rhymes intended to familiarize children with the days of the week , his story offers an opportunity to collectively honor the process of death , grief , and memory . Filmmaker: Maisie O’Brien
   Dams: Pros and Cons
       Dams are a perfect example of humans altering their environment and the unexpected consequences . Filmmaker: Ava Barton
   Can Trees Communicate?
      The film explains what mycorrhizal networks are , what they do , and discusses how they could be utilized to improve global food security . Filmmaker: Ava Barton
   The Rancocas Creek:
   What I love
                                The Rancocas Creek is loved for many different reasons by the residents of Burlington County . From the quiet and scenic Pine Barrens , through downtowns , under highways and past our lovely public parks it flows to the Delaware River . Whether you are a paddler , boater , angler , wildlife enthusiast or just enjoy the peace of sitting by the water the Rancocas Creek continues to be a treasured resource today as it was in the past when utilized as a navigable waterway for shipping goods into Burlington County towns and villages . Filmmaker: Heidi Winzinger
   Fallingwater
                              A music video for a cover of Maggie Rogers ' song Fallingwater by Tommy Zieger . Filmmaker: Daniel Marcus
   From Shift Work
   To Paradigm Shift
                    This film is researched , written , directed , and edited by a team of young filmmakers: Bryce Bibelheimer , Maggie Bibelheimer , Marcy Fiorentino , and Lily Walker . The group researched the history of child labor and discovered that Burlington County played a big role in ending oppressive child labor .
    
    
   Films scheduled to be screened on Friday , May 13th
   A True Gettysburg
                   The unusual and true story of a Civil War Veteran ' s surreal experience while visiting Gettysburg on Memorial Day after the war . Filmmaker: Joseph Wilson
   Civil War Story
                         
   Civil War Prisons:
                                                   During the Civil War , both sides neglected the plight of their captured soldiers and that led directly to the deaths of 56 , 000 prisoners . Abandoned soldiers died from disease , exposure , and starvation in vile prison camps while waiting for help from their respected governments that never materialized . Ideology took precedent over humanity in one of the saddest and least covered chapters of the war . Filmmaker: Joseph Wilson
   Ernest Kaufman: World War II 
   Hero Holocaust Survivor
                    This is an interview by the Armed Forces Heritage Museum ( AFHM ) , a non - profit military history organization that features Burlington County veteran Ernest Kaufman , a holocaust survivor and WWII hero . Among his heroics is his intervention with an occupying German army to save a German town of 30 , 000+ residents from being killed and injured without a shot being fired! A truly remarkable and brave effort that is one of many as captured in his book , From Flight to Fight to Farm , written in his post war days while self employed as a poultry egg farmer in New Egypt , NJ for 30+ years . Sadly , Ernest passed away at age 100 in 2020 , but his legacy lives on . Filmmaker: Roy Plummer
   Michael Ryan Lawrence:
   Filmmaker
                                 A deep dive into the career and lifestyle of independent filmmaker , Michael Ryan Lawrence , based in Philadelphia to better understand what it means to be successful . Filmmaker: Colin Llewellyn         
   Marooned
                                  A castaway is marooned in a location he does not understand nor is he familiar with . Reality is fundamentally different here; what ' s actually happening and who is causing it to happen is up in the air . Filmmaker: Alec Sutherland
   All In You
                                  A college student attempts to finish an essay but is being antagonized by a mysterious demon , and it ' s up to him whether he falls to its temptation or uses it as his motivation . Filmmaker: Javier Cortez
   Strawberry Shakes
                  Layla and Nora meet and begin to fall in love , but as the relationship develops Nora begins to question her sexuality and their relationship . Filmmaker: Ava Barton
   We Are Suns
                            Sam Spencer was a college student when he set out across country to meet his biological Dad . With his best friend traveling with him , Spencer’s “We Are Suns” is part road - movie , part psychological drama that builds to a resolution that is both stirring and unexpected . Filmmaker: Sam Spencer
   Stacy
                                         Stacy tells the story of a woman’s 45 - year search for her biological family and family connections . Filmmaker: Philip Garrison
   Chatsworth
                               In 2004 , a New Jersey park ranger trying to cope with the recent disappearance of his wife , searches for a co - worker deep within the Pine Barrens after he fails to routinely check in at the end of his shift . Filmmakers: Jesse Cornaglia & Joseph Junod
   Photo:
    A total of 27 short films will be screened during the two - day festival on May 12 and May 13 at the Burlington County Library , 5 Pioneer Boulevard , Westampton , including the mystery Chatsworth about a disappearance in the Pine Barrens .  
   

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