An Evening of the World’s Best Short Films hosted by radio legend Michael Tearson

GET TICKETS HERE: https://tickets.gsff.org/events/419

Asbury Shorts USA, New York City’s longest-running short film exhibition and travel show, will partner with The Garden State Film Festival once again to present a new line up of their nationally recognized: “An Evening of the World’s Best Short Films,” sponsored by The South Jersey Film Office Cooperative. The show will take place at The Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood, New Jersey on Thursday, October 17th, 2024, with the first film blasting on to the screen at 7:00pm. This special screening of world-renowned short films from the past and present is recommended for all audiences ages 16 and up.

Asbury Shorts USA, now in its 42nd anniversary year, is a New York City-based national touring showcase of the world’s most renowned short films, specially selected for audiences who do not regularly attend film festivals. This eclectic showcase combines award-winning films from the past with new global festival honorees, creating a rare opportunity for audiences to view world-class short films on a real cinema screen rather than YouTube, smartphones, or computers. Academy Award–nominated director Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air, Thank You for Smoking, and Ghostbusters Afterlife) calls this event: “the best short-film show I’ve ever seen.” The October presentation will feature the best in short film comedy, drama, and animation in a fast-paced two-hour program.

“An Evening of the World’s Best Short Films” series has been presented at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Old Vic Theater in Chicago; Summer Stage in Central Park & the DGA Theater (Directors Guild of America) in Manhattan; the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, CA; Alamo Draft House in Dallas, Texas; Royal Festival Hall in London, U.K.; the Osprey Arts Center in Nova Scotia, Canada; The Vero Beach Museum of Art in Florida; the Leminske Theater in Berling, Germany and other prestigious venues worldwide.

Joining us as host this year is Michael Tearson. Michael helped start album rock radio as a college student on WXPN at Penn in October ’67. It led to a career on WMMR doing late nights 1970-92. It was a reinvention of how to do radio using natural voices and making the music segues note for note musically continuous to tell stories. Later he was on WMGK doing Saturday Morning 60s 2001-2012. He was also on Sirius/XM Deep Tracks 2008-2015. Along the way he also acted in about 50 films and TV shows. After starting as a folk singer before radio he returned to performing and recorded an album Stuff That Works (2011) and an EP Ruby’s Greatest Hit (2013). He continues performing with his group Michael Tearson & Co-Conspirators as well as doing weekly webcasts for free on http://www.radiothatdoesntsuck.com). His credo is “Kindness for its own sake.”

Paula Lara, Director of The Scottish Rite Auditorium, remarked “We are so proud to be bringing back this important event.” The Scottish Rite Auditorium is located 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, NJ. Tickets are $15 and available online https://tickets.gsff.org/events/419 or at the door while supplies last.

Eric Ascalon, Garden State Film Festival Board Chair and Camden County resident remarked “We are thrilled to welcome Asbury Shorts USA and the Garden State Film Festival back to the Scottish Rite Auditorium for the second consecutive year. We are especially honored to have as our host for the evening Michael Tearson, a local resident who not only revolutionized rock radio, but who also has a wealth of experience in the film industry as an actor.”

This program would not be possible without the gracious support of the its presenting sponsor, The South Jersey Film Office Cooperative, which was founded to highlight the unique assets the southern counties of New Jersey have to offer the film and television industry. Since the establishment of the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program, South Jersey has become a destination to produce independent films, major motion pictures and television series. South Jersey offers a vast landscape of urban areas, suburbs, rural farmland, waterways, and historical sites and unique settings.

About the Garden State Film Festival (GSFF): Held each March in Asbury Park and Cranford, NJ, GSFF is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization, created to promote the art of filmmaking on all levels. This globally recognized festival also provides creative arts education programs and serves as a forum where local and international independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. Their outreach programs also support the U.S. Military, seniors, children, and the underserved. Since 2003, thousands of films have made their public premieres, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have attended; and the total infusion of cash to local businesses since inception exceeds $9 million. For more information, visit GSFF.org.

This program would not be possible without the support of the following sponsors: The South Jersey Film Office Cooperative, VisitNJ.org, Discover New Jersey, and The New Jersey State Council for the Arts.