The Indie Street Film Festival makes its return to Red Bank, marking its 9th year hosting events and screenings. Full details of the festival can be found below, which will run from August 19 to 25 in various venues throughout Red Bank.
INDIE STREET FILM FESTIVAL, PRESENTED BY BASIE CENTER CINEMAS,
ANNOUNCES EXPANDED SEVEN DAY FILM PROGRAM FOR 9TH ANNUAL EDITION
“MEDIHA” TO OPEN FESTIVAL AT THE VOGEL WITH A NJ PREMIERE
NJ PREMIERE OF MARY DAUTERMAN’S FEATURE DEBUT “BOOGER”
AS CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Red Bank, NJ [July 29, 2024] —The ninth annual Indie Street Film Festival (ISFF), presented
by Basie Center Cinemas, announced today its selection of films, which will screen for a full
seven days from August 19th through 25th, 2024. ISFF 2024 will kick off at the Vogel theater
with the NJ Premiere of the acclaimed documentary MEDIHA, directed by ISFF alum filmmaker
Hasan Oswald (HIGHER LOVE). Both Oswald and subject Mediha Alhamad will be in
attendance.
The remainder of ISFF runs in person at Basie Center Cinemas (36 White Street, Red Bank, NJ
07701). Feature-length films, short films, filmmaker Q&As, and panels with industry
professionals will be presented.
IMAGES AVAILABLE HERE
The ISFF 2024 lineup brings almost 60 innovative short films and nine of the year’s most
exciting independent feature films to the screens of Red Bank. The shorts will be presented
across three narrative programs, three documentary programs, a special New Jersey program,
and an animation program. Jay Webb, ISFF Founder and Executive Director, says “this year
with all the divisiveness and fear around politics, AI, and the news cycle, we wanted to focus on
authentic human made stories from a broad brush of perspectives to remind us all once again
that our differences and our humanity can be a connecting and unifying force.”
The slate of Narrative Feature films in-competition this year are all New Jersey Premieres. They
include Johnny Barrington’s SILENT ROAR, Mary Dauterman’s BOOGER, Jordan Noel’s
GUACAMOLE YESTERDAYS, and Anu Valia’s WE STRANGERS.
Feature Documentaries in competition include Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck’s ETERNAL
YOU, Contessa Gayles’ SONGS FROM THE HOLE, Chris Kasick’s CITIZEN SLEUTH, Hasan
Oswald’s MEDIHA, and Michael Selditch’s HAPPY CLOTHES: A FILM ABOUT PATRICIA
FIELD.
Indie Street’s Artistic Director, Allyson Morgan, points out the increasingly competitive and
diverse program of films and filmmakers. The 68 films that are being presented at this year’s
ISFF come from across the globe, and over 50% of the films are creations by female and
non-binary directors. “In our ninth year, it was more important than ever to ensure we had a
variety of voices and points of view in the expanded festival,” says Morgan. “It’s our biggest and
most diverse Indie Street yet – we truly have something for everyone, with hilarious,
heartbreaking, moving, timely and poignant films across genre and the globe.”
Count Basie was the festival’s presenting sponsor for the first years of the Indie Street Festival,
and now Basie Center Cinemas returns as Indie Street’s presenting sponsor for the 9th annual
edition.
The winning films will be selected by a jury consisting of industry professionals, including
Samantha Bergeson, Senior News Editor at IndieWire, Red Bank Council-person and
Emmy-nominated documentary producer David Cassidy, Bedatri D. Choudhury, Programmer
for DOCNYC and SFFILM, Gina Cuomo, Cinema Consultant, and ISFF Alum Filmmaker Ryan
Moore (MARAJUNA MINUTES). The winning filmmakers will be honored during a ceremony
open to passholders at TRIUMPH BREWING CO. on Sunday, August 25th at 4:30pm.
For a complete schedule of events and to purchase festival passes, please visit
http://www.indiestreetfilmfestival.org. ISFF offers 5 day All-Access passes for $129.00 that grant
access to all films, discussions, parties, art events and complimentary food/beverages
from participating sponsors. Individual Film Tickets are also now on sale for $12.95.
The full feature film program for the 2024 Indie Street Film Festival is listed below:
OPENING NIGHT FILM: MEDIHA
Documentary Feature
Director: Hasan Oswald
Mediha, a teenage Yazidi girl who has recently returned from ISIS captivity, turns her camera on
herself to process her trauma while rescuers search for her missing family members. This is the
story of the Yazidi Genocide and its aftermath, shown through the lens of one young survivor as
she confronts her past through personal video-diaries, reclaiming her voice and stepping
bravely towards the future.
CLOSING NIGHT FILM: BOOGER
Narrative Feature
Writer/Director: Mary Dauterman
After the death of her best friend Izzy, Anna focuses all her attention on Booger, the stray cat
which she and Izzy took in. When Booger bites her, she begins to undergo a strange
transformation.
ADDITIONAL FEATURE FILMS:
CITIZEN SLEUTH
Documentary Feature
Director: Chris Kasick
A true crime podcaster from Appalachia blurs the line between fact and entertainment as she
investigates the mysterious death of a local girl. CITIZEN SLEUTH examines the ethics of the
true crime genre and how the power of narrative affects truth, victims, and communities.
ETERNAL YOU
Documentary Feature
Directors: Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck
If you had the chance to talk to a loved one who died, would you take it? ETERNAL YOU delves
into the world of startups using AI to create avatars of the deceased. A film about what might
become one of the greatest human experiments of our time.
GUACAMOLE YESTERDAYS
Narrative Feature
Director: Jordan Noel
Writer: Hudson Phillips
Following a painful separation, a heartbroken woman uses an experimental technology that
allows her to revisit and manipulate her memories as a means to cope.
HAPPY CLOTHES: A FILM ABOUT PATRICIA FIELD
Documentary Feature
Director: Michael Selditch
HAPPY CLOTHES is a candid look into the life and career of iconic costume designer Patricia
Field, a two-time Emmy-winning costume designer. Field is best known for her work on Sex and
The City, Emily in Paris, The Devil Wears Prada, and many other films and TV shows. Featuring
interviews with Kim Cattrall, Lily Collins, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
SILENT ROAR
Narrative Feature
Writer/Director: Johnny Barrington
A young surfer overwhelmed with grief for his dad lost at sea is brought to his senses by a
rebellious girl in his class.
SONGS FROM THE HOLE
Documentary Feature
Director: Contessa Gayles
At 15, he took a life. Three days later, his brother’s life was taken. An incarcerated musician
struggles for healing and peace as he comes of age in this documentary visual album
composed behind bars.
WE STRANGERS
Narrative Feature
Writer/Director: Anu Valia
Rayelle Martin, a commercial cleaning woman in Gary, Indiana, stumbles into a new job
cleaning the homes of several rich, suburban families. While working, she tells one small lie that
spins out of control.
SHORTS PROGRAMS at ISFF 2024:
NARRATIVE SHORTS PROGRAM: COMING OF AGE
Everyone is on their own, unique journey.
BUSINESS TRIP (Writer/Director: Gerardo Coello Escalante)
FISHING (Writer: Esme Allen, Director: Josie Charles)
ILY, BYE (Writer/Director: Taylor James)
JEDO’S DEAD (Writer/Director: Sara Nimeh)
LAYAWAY (Writer/Director: Kaitlyn T. Busbee)
LOVE TAPS (Writer/Director: Derrick Woodyard)
LUNCHBOX (Writer/Director: Anne Hu)
NARRATIVE SHORTS PROGRAM: WORK/LIFE BALANCE
Finding moments of lightness in the daily grind.
BUST (Writer/Director: Angalis Field)
GARY (Writer/Director: Irina Arnaut)
HAIR CARE (Writer: Karl-Mary Akre, Director: Fatima Wardy)
MERCI, POPPY (Writer/Director: Hanna Gray Organschi)
MERV (Writer/Director: Sam Roebling)
ORDER FOR PICKUP (Writer/Director: Jackie! Zhou)
NARRATIVE SHORTS PROGRAM: TAKING ACTION
All of these characters are moving forward – one way or another.
BITE (Writer/Director: Jorey Worb)
LOST NATION (Writer/Director: Hannah Cabell)
MAKING BABIES (Writer/Director: Éric K. Boulianne)
SAFE (Writer/Director: Debbie Howard)
SORRY GRANDPA HSIAO (Writer/Director: Candace Ho)
THE STEAK (Writers: Kiarash Dadgar & Ali Narimani, Director: Kiarash Dadgar)
THE WHITE RABBIT (Writer/Director: Michael Marantz)
NEW JERSEY SHORTS
A selection of short films across genre with a connection to our home state of New Jersey!
A LIEN (Writers/Directors: David Cutler-Kreutz & Sam Cutler-Kreutz)
COME AND SAVE ME (Writer/Director: Chris White)
DIGITAL AUTOMATIC WRITING! (Writer/Director: Jeffrey Delano Davis)
DON’T PICK UP (Writer: Susannah Nolan, Director: Jeremiah Kipp)
THE HANDYMAN (Writer/Director: Adam Worth)
HENRY AT THE GOLDEN HOUR (Writer: Karinne Keithley Syers, Director: Maureen Towey)
LAST SUMMER DAY (Writers/Directors: Flora Fei & Shintaro Ochiai)
PLACEMAT (Writer: Lindsey Hope Pearlman, Directors: Lindsey Hope Pearlman & Sean Welski)
PUPPY LOVE (Writers: Elizabeth Valenti & Daniel Rashid, Director: Daniel Rashid)
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS: BEING HUMAN
A look at all the ways we express ourselves.
CHRISTMAS, EVERY DAY (Director: Faye Tsakas)
DILIGENCE ON RED SAND (Director: Brooklyn Demme)
FRIENDS ON THE OUTSIDE (Director: Annabel Moodie)
NOTHING SPECIAL (Director: Efrat Berger)
THE QUEEN VS. TEXAS (Directors: Emil Lozada & Raemonn James)
REMEMBER, BROKEN CRAYONS COLOUR TOO (Directors: Urša Kastelic, Shannet Clemmings)
SANGRE VIOLENTA / SANGRE VIOLETA (Directors: Edna Diaz, Arturo R. Jiménez)
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS: SPECIAL HOBBIES
Learn more about what brings our subjects joy.
AMERICAN SEAMS (Director: Carly Jakins)
BALLOON BOY (Directors: Arlin Golden, Brian Gersten)
BIG MOVES (Director: Sarah Grant)
THE BIG WAIT (Director: Yannick Jamey)
CARNAVAL (Director: Justine Martin)
KRUSH THE WRESTLER (Director: Alex Megaro)
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS: COMPANIONS
We all need someone to lean on.
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTLAKE (Director: Wei Zishuo)
AUDIO & THE ALLIGATOR (Director: Andrés I. Estrada)
IS GAY MARRIAGE NEXT? (Director: Emily Clark)
LEONIE, SKEET & THE PIGLETS (Director: Jip Heijenga)
THE SCHOOL OF CANINE MASSAGE (Director: Emma D. Miller)
SISTERS AT THE COURT (Director: Marci Mazzarotto)
ANIMATED SHORTS
THE BLEACHER (Writers/Directors: Nicole Daddona, Adam Wilder)
CIRCLE (Writer/Director: Yumi Joung)
A COW IN THE SKY (Writers/Directors: Darren Press, C. Fraser Press)
A CRAB IN THE POOL (Writers/Directors: Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel)
CRUSH (Writers/Directors: Michal Socha, Jakub Socha)
DEMONS IN THE CLOSET (Writer/Director: James Smith)
HUMAN RESOURCES (Directors: Trinidad Plass Caussade, Titouan Tiller, Isaac Wenzek)
THE MIRACLE (Writer/Director: Nienke Deutz)
SPOTLIGHT (Director: Maya Puyat)
TENNIS, ORANGES (Writer/Director: Sean Pecknold)
WANDER TO WONDER (Writers: Daan Bakker, Stienette Bosklopper, Simon Cartwright, Nina
Gantz, Director: Nina Gantz)
ABOUT INDIE STREET INSTITUTE:
INDIE STREET INSTITUTE is a non-profit organization formed to create interactive art & film
experiences that challenge people to connect with and be inspired by new ways of thinking. The
organization’s flagship event, THE INDIE STREET FILM FESTIVAL, brings the most talented
storytellers from across the globe to the screens of Red Bank, NJ. Born from a cooperative of
filmmakers, Indie Street Film Festival combines top-notch independent cinema with industry
discussions, live art and music experiences, and social gatherings that look to spark important
conversations within our diverse communities. For more details on festival events:
indiestreetfilmfestival.org
ABOUT COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to
fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie Center
mission is to inspire, educate and entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic
offerings that embrace and amplify the diversity of the region. As a nonprofit organization, the Basie
Center is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for
participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based
organizations and driving regional economic prosperity. To learn more about the Count Basie Center
for the Arts, including events at its historic Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, its new
performance venue, The Vogel, or film screenings at Basie Center Cinemas, visit http://www.thebasie.org