Local Filmmaker Selected For Film Festival In Asbury Park

ASBURY PARK– Celebrating its 18th anniversary, the Garden State Film Festival is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and celebrates this spirit through dramatic screenings and attracting a diverse audience from around the world.

From Wednesday, March 25 through Sunday, March 29 in Asbury Park, GSFF unveils world premieres, Hollywood stars, industry panels, and as a nonprofit enterprise, serves as an added economic engine for Asbury Park’s vitality through art, commerce and culture.

Make your plans to be a part of intriguing panel discussions and can’t miss parties, all held in numerous locations all over the city by the sea.

The Garden State Film Festival is pleased to announce the films Unclaimed Remains and Vietnam Aftermath, directed by Holmdel resident, Tom Phillips will screen at this year’s festival.

The film Unclaimed Remains subject is: Sometimes the living must help the dead. In funeral homes throughout the United States, Japan and the UK, there are untold numbers of unidentified and unclaimed remains, 20% of these are Military Veterans. They rest above copiers, on shelves, in lockers, and even in utility closets, unnamed and forgotten.

Men, Women, Children and War Veterans. How is it that we know nothing about thousands of unclaimed remains? Two Vietnam veterans try to piece together what happened to private "Donald Sutton" (Actor and U.S. Air Force Veteran, Dan Kroeper) a Korean War Veteran from New Jersey whose remains sat on a shelf of a funeral home for over 40 years. Who was he? Why was he forgotten? How did he die?

The film’s subject of Viet Nam Aftermath is: The horrors of war never die. The story emerging is not one on the War itself but on the horrors these men and women now face at home. Their story is of the war after the war, rejection, disenchantment, death, nightmares and resiliency. More than 40 years have passed since the official end of the Vietnam War. For years, many veterans of this war refused to talk about their experience. Now, however, as many begin to die out, four Vets that belong to the New Jersey Vietnam Veteran's Memorial have decided to share their stories for the first time.

“We are extremely proud to present Unclaimed Remains and Vietnam Aftermath as a part of our 18th Annual Film Festival in Asbury Park, and to showcase the exceptional talent from our state as well as serve as a launching pad for the next generation of film maker,” says Lauren Concar Sheehy, the festival’s Executive Director. "From our first event 18 year ago we have dedicated a screening to our veterans and active military. Our Founder, Diane Raver presents a monthly film club on the largest military radio station in the USA “Frontlines For Freedom” We do this as tribute to those who preserve our freedom."

These films will both screen on 3/28/2020 11:00am-12:45pm at The Asbury Park Senior Center which includes a Q & A with the cast and crew of the films, during the Garden State Film Festival which runs from March 25-March 29, 2020. To contact the filmmaker, email: tomgstreetproductions@gmail.com.