ACEFEST 2008

In the heart of New York City (just steps from Times Square), patrons and filmmakers came together from all corners of the globe for 4 full days of independent cinema September 4-7, 2008. The 500-seat theater at the award-winning New World Stages was the ultimate setting for any film exhibition and a dream come true for our selected filmmakers.

Opening night featured introductions from festival Director Tom O'Malley, New York Foundation for the Arts Director Michael Royce, New York State Commissioner of Film Pat Kaufman and FilmThreat Founder Chris Gore. The evening was studded with stars, VIP's, press and countless heavy-hitters on the business end of the film industry.

Over 40 films were screened throughout the event - all to enthusiastic audience praise. ACEFEST 2008 was proudly presented by New York Foundation for the Arts.

Event Highlights

+ 4 full days of American independnet film, including several premieres
+ 2-story modern venue with state-of-the-art sound and video projection
+ Filmmaker talk-backs and introductions throughout the 4-day program
+ On-Site bar and lounge with drink specials all weekend

Photo Gallery click thumbnail for larger image

Winners

Best Feature Film: Remarkable Power!
Best Short Film: Person, Place or Thing
Best Documentary: Second Skin
Audience Choice Award: Looking for Ms.Locklear

Program

4 World Premieres - 10 East Coast Premiere - 12 New York Premieres

Speed Dating Directed by Crystal Liu
L'amie De Zoe Directed by Danny Robashkin
Person, Place or Thing Directed by Elle Martini
The Outhouse Directed by Jack Truman
Rumble Valley Directed by Zach Strauss
Viola Directed by Shih-Ting Hung
Joe Mover Directed by Gabe Fazio and Lev Gorn
The Collector Directed by Dempsey Tillman
Wherever You Are Directed by Rob Margolies
Kill Kill Faster Faster Directed by Gareth Maxwell Roberts
Been Rich All My Life Directed by Heather Lynn MacDonald
Crawford Directed by David Modigliani
Theo Directed by Rati Oneli
Long Night Drone Directed by Neil Forman
Waiting Directed by Anthony Sclafani Jr.
Second Skin Directed by Juan Carlos Peneiro
Raccoon & Crawfish Directed by Calvert J. Waller III
Maggie & Mildred Directed by Holly Klein
The Creation Directed by Keith Carter
Zoologic Directed by Nicole Mitchell
Dear Fatty Directed by Hsin-I Tseng
The Rainbow Tribe Directed by Christopher R. Watson
Music from the Inside Out Directed by Daniel Anker
Water Flowing Together Directed by Gwendolen Cates
Grass Roots Directed by Jeffrey Daniels
Transrexia Directed by Aurelio Voltaire
Window Directed by Matthew Schroeder
Bookie Directed by Bao Tran
Carissa Directed by David Sauvage
Looking for Ms.Locklear Directed by Link Neal and Rhett McLaughlin
Remarkable Power! Directed by Brandon Beckner
Hypothetically Directed by J.P. Snell
Path Directed by Evan S. Frushtick
Longshots Directed by Kate Buhrmaster
Chasing Baja Directed by Steve Beebe
The Children of Chabannes Directed by Lisa Gossels and Dean Wertherell
My Architect Directed by Nathaniel Kahn
The Recruiter Directed by Edet Belzberg
Baghdad Diary Directed by Joseph Consentino and Sandra Consentino
The Big Shot Caller Directed by Marlene Rhein

Judges

Murphy Gilson - Producer, PBS, Comedy Central. Two Emmies
William Ericsson Crawley - Founder, WEMA International Talent Agency
Colin Boyd - Critic, BigPictureRadio.com
Claudia Jean - PR, HBO, BET, Nickelodeon, MTV, Showtime and TLC
David Nusair - Critic, Reel Film Reviews
Jim Connors - Broadcasting, ThinkBright TV Network

After Parties

Thursday, September 4 - Natsumi
Friday, September 5 - Latitude
Saturday, September 6 - Touch