Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival

April 1 & 2, 2023

The 2023 Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival will take place on April 1st and 2nd, 2023.

During the GLVFF, the ArtsQuest Cinema Committee will present one winner with the Best in Show Award and a $500 cash prize. The award will be determined by a jurying panel of committee members and regional film professionals. A celebration for filmmakers and cinephiles alike, the evening includes screenings of all the top submissions in the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas.

Festival pass: $29

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There are currently no events scheduled. Please view the full calendar for all upcoming events!

Saturday, April 1

STUDENT SHOWCASE (Running Time TBD) 11:30 AM *FREE Screening*

Free Tickets

Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts - As part of the Literary Arts curriculum at The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, students study Screenwriting, Film Studies, and Advanced Film Theory and Practice across their four years in the program. The students in these courses produce various film projects, including the “Ciné-Roman,” the “One-Shot Film,” and the final culminating "Final Short Film Project" from the Senior Class. These films are specially designed to be shot using smartphones, with “no budget/high concept” expectations where writing and vision are paramount. As part of The Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival, the Literary Arts faculty choose a sampling of the most effective works of the 2023 Year for inclusion in the “Student Showcase” at the GLVFF.

2022 Winners Spotlight (Running Time 45 min) 2:00 PM *FREE*

Free Tickets

This block features mature content such as violence, language and nudity and should be considered equivalent to rated R. The final film in this block, Cueball, features nudity

Please join us for a look back at the 2022 festival as we showcase last year’s winners for Best in Show, Best Performance and the Audience Awards.

BLOCK 1 (72min) 3:30 PM

Price: $8

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This program features mature content with a rating equivalent to R.

Altered (10min) dir. Jenn Marinello (Allentown)

Amerika Calls: Burgenlanders in the Lehigh Valley (11min) dir. Jeff Titchenal (Macungie)

Illuminated Perspective (5min) dir. Grace Wyckoff (DeSales University)

Life of the Party (12min) dir. Graham Burrell (Coplay) *OUT OF COMPETITION*

Lost & Found (4min) dir. Daniel de Bryn (DeSales University) *OUT OF COMPETITION*

Steve Brosky: Starting Over (8min) dir. Amy Unger (Allentown)

What A Difference A Day Makes (8min) dir. Matthew Donley (DeSales University)

Wise Body (5min) dir. Emmanuel Beatty (DeSales University)

Tomorrow, and... (9min) dir. Dane McMichael (DeSales University)

MANAGING MOVIE MAGIC: HOW TO BUDGET AS AN INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER 5:30 PM

Price: $8

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Are you an ambitious filmmaker eager to make your masterpiece but the budget is getting in your way? Join us for a panel discussion on how to properly budget as an independent filmmaker.

BLOCK 2 (82min) 7:30 PM

Price: $8

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This program features mature content with a rating equivalent to R.

Bombshell (14min) dir. Maggie Mustion (Muhlenberg College)

Fans Don't Boo Nobodies (12min) dir. Zachary Gutherman (DeSales University)

I (18min) dir. Daniel Paashaus (Quakertown)

Introducing, Dorothy Hardy (10min) dir. Jordyn Harris (Saylorsburg)

MOTHER (2min) dir. Juan Pablo Chaves (DeSales University) *OUT OF COMPETITION*

The Savior (9min) dir. Jeff Harvey (Nazareth)

Something About Us (18min) dir. Francisco Aguilar (Easton)

Sunday, April 2

33 AND ME W/STEPHANIE GARDNER (SNEAK PREVIEW) (60min) 1:00 PM

Price: FREE

Free Tickets

Join us for a FREE sneak preview screening of 33 and Me, an international travel documentary television series, created by Lehigh Valley native Stephanie Gardner as she travels to over 33 countries around the world to meet and engage with other film directors in their thirties, to explore their lives, careers, and cultures. Each episode of "33 and Me" features a specific country and introduces audiences to the current generation of cinematic storytellers who are dynamically challenging the status quo of the world today. "33 and Me" explores the past, present and future of cinema in each of the 33 featured countries Stephanie visits. The special sneak-peak episode will be an extended episode on Bosnia And Herzegovina.

If you'd like to see more episode of 33 and Me w/ Filmmaker Stephanie Gardner, tickets can be purchased here for her full event on 4/30 at 6:00 PM: here.

For more information on the series as a whole, visit: http://33andmefilms.com/

BLOCK 3 (85min) 2:30 PM

Price: $8

This program features mature content with a rating equivalent to R.

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Grocery List (3min) dir. Juan Pablo Chaves (DeSales University)

Intrusion (5min) dir. Nicholas Carrodo (Bethlehem) *OUT OF COMPETITION*

The Language of Luggage (13min) dir. David Toolan (Allentown)

LISTEN (4min) dir. Casey Schaffer (DeSales University)

The Story of the 7 of Clubs (13min)?dir. Zachary Gutherman (DeSales University)

Superfan (15min) dir. Marc & Karina Ripper (Lehigh Valley)

Torn (14min) dir. Carmen Chan (Macungie)

Twice for No (14min) dir. Brandon C. Lay (Bethlehem)

World of Shadow (6min) dir. Emmanuel Beatty (DeSales University)

REEL MEMORIES & FUTURES 4:30 PM

Price: $8

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Join us for an interactive discussion which celebrates the magic of cinema. Together we will reminisce about the first movies we saw, our go-to movie candies, our favorite moviegoing experiences and what we miss most watching movies on the big screen. There's nothing quite like going to the movies! We'll also dive into the current state of the theatre industry, current trends and where we see the future of exhibition going.

AWARDS CEREMONY 6:15 PM

After the Reel Memories & Futures, a special awards ceremony will take place to announce the winners in various categories including Best in Show and an Audience Award based solely on audience voting. The Best in Show film includes a $500 cash prize!

Past Winners

2022

The 2022 GLVFF showcased over twenty selections from nearly fifty submissions.

Winners:

• Best in Show: Lawrence Kennelly (Center Valley) for Purple Heart
• Best Director: Juan Pablo Chaves (DeSales University) for Alice Forgiven
• Best Performance: Sarah Cugini (Center Valley) for Cueball
• Audience Award: Lawrence Kennelly (Center Valley) for Purple Heart

The 2022 jury included:

• Jeremy Ballin, Creative Director at LOL Productions
• Catherine Ford, Cinema Committee member and Co-Curator of the LGBTQ+ Film Series
• Lou Fromm, Performing Arts Board and Cinema Committee Member
• Joanne Garcia, ArtsQuest Education Coordinator
  
• Adrianna Gober, Cinema Commitee Member, Co-Curator of the LGBTQ+ Film Series and the First Saturday Horror Series
• Ann Knerr, ArtsQuest Cinema Committee Chair, Co-Curator of the Fem in Film Series
• Parinda Patel, Performing Arts Board and Cinema Committee Member and Co-Curator of the Fem in Film Series
• Katina Sossiadis, Co-Writer and Co-Director of Epiphany
• Koula Sossiadis Kazista, Co-Writer and Co-Director of Epiphany

2020

The 2020 GLVFF showcased twenty selections from nearly forty submissions.

Winners:

• Best in Show: Vernard James (Allentown) for Five Stars
• Best Director: Vernard James (Allentown) for Five Stars
• Best Performance: Chad Eric Smith for Fatherless
• Best Animated Film: Elaine Donmoyer (Schnecksville) for Coal
• Audience Award: Elaine Donmoyer (Schnecksville) for Coal

The 2020 jury included:

• Jeremy Ballin, Creative Director at LOL Productions
• Catherine Ford, Cinema Committee member
• Ann Knerr, ArtsQuest Cinema Committee Chair
• Michael Kramp, Associate Professor of English at Lehigh University
• Zeke Zelker, CEO & President of IDreamMachine
• Katina Sossiadis, Co-Writer and Co-Director of Epiphany
• Koula Sossiadis Kazista, Co-Writer and Co-Director of Epiphany.

2019

The 2019 GLVFF showcased twenty selections culled from 30+ submissions.

Winners:

• Best Documentary: Wine in Moderation, directed by Adam Pivirotto (DeSales University)
• Best Narrative: The Last Fishing Trip, directed by Christopher Fox (Peekskill, NY), starring Diane Bakos (Bethlehem)
• Audience Award: Absolution Green, directed by Lois Silver (Scotrun), written by Paul Kodiak (Bethlehem)
• Best in Show: The Story of the Sectaurs, directed by Cliff Reese (East Earl)

The 2019 jury included:

• Jeremy Ballin, Creative Director at LOL Productions
• Adrianna Gober, Writer & Editor for Cinepunx
• Catherine Ford, Cinema Committee member
• Ann Knerr, ArtsQuest Cinema Committee Chair
• Michael Kramp, Associate Professor of English at Lehigh University
• Liam O' Donnell, Editor in Chief of Cinepunx
• Zeke Zelker, CEO & President of IDreamMachine
• Katina Sossiadis, Writer and Director of Epiphany

2018

The 2018 GLVFF showcased twenty selections culled from 40+ submissions.

Winners:

• Best Documentary: La Otra Manera (The Other Way), Joshua Marks (Cinematographer & Editor: Delaney McCaffrey of Lehigh University)
• Best Narrative: Para Todo Mal…Para Todo Bien, Stephanie Gardner (Emmaus)
• Audience Award: The Wisdom, Callie Harlan & Lindsay Penn (Bethlehem)
• Best in Show: Big Money Agenda, Vincent Mondillo (Easton)

The 2018 jury included:

• Jeremy Ballin, Creative Director at LOL Productions
• Adrianna Gober, Writer & Editor for Cinepunx
• Catherine Ford, Cinema Committee member
• Ann Knerr, ArtsQuest Cinema Committee Chair
• Michael Kramp, Associate Professor of English at Lehigh University
• Kelsey Snelling, Director; Amy Unger, Executive Producer at WFMZ and previous GLVFF Best Documentary winner
• Zeke Zelker, CEO & President of IDreamMachine

2017

The 2017 GLVFF showcased fourteen selections culled from 30+ submissions.

Winners:

• Best Documentary: Big Pharma: Market Failure, Vincent Mondillo (Easton)
• Best Narrative: The Greatest Movie of All Time, Claire Bambert & Tate Q. Steinberg (DeSales University)
• Audience Award: Stage 7, Jen Suwak & Steve Abruzzese (Easton)
• Best In Show: Stage 7, Jen Suwak & Steve Abruzzese (Easton)

The 2017 jury included:

• Daniel Roebuck, actor/director
• Stephanie Gardner, filmmaker/2015 GLVFF Best in Show winner
• Ann Knerr, ArtsQuest Cinema Committee chair
• Dan Maher, actor/director/3-time GLVFF award winner
• Lauren McAloon, ArtsQuest Cinema Committee member
• Jason Overdorf, filmmaker/owner, Jay & Brian’s Excellent Video Store
• Lauren Tocci, ArtsQuest Cinema Committee member.

2015

Best Documentary: Letters to Frieda, Amy Unger (Allentown)

Winners:

• Best Web Series: Transform my Transformer, Dan Maher (Bethlehem)
• Best Short <15min: In This Day and Age, Christine Shaman (Easton)
• Best Short <50min: Temporary Shelter, Ellen Galperin, Toby Schwartz, Katie Weeks (Easton)
• Audience Award: Letters to Frieda, Amy Unger (Allentown)
• Best In Show: If I Had a Piano (I’d Play You the Blues), Stephanie Gardner (Emmaus)

2014

Winners:

• Best Feature: Living with the Tiger, Mike Thomas and Roberta Morris Purdee (Easton)
• Best Documentary: Aftershocks, Jaccii Farris (Allentown)
• Best Web Series: Shark Week, Marie Guglielmo (Allentown)
• Best Commercial/PR Video: El Sistema, Phil Osborne (Allentown)
• Best Short < 10min: Plugged In, Ryan Spence (Allentown)
• Best Short 10-40mi: S.T.E.M. Education and Technology: A Philly Snapshot, Sumitha Ramesh (Colmar)
• Audience Award: The White Faced Man, Luke Ramer (Macungue)
• Honorable Mention: Just Like We Used To, Suzanne Doran (Allentown)

2013

Winners:

• Best Feature and Best Documentary: The Backyard Philly Project, Amanda Danziger (Allentown)
• Best Short 15-50 Minutes: The First Four, Meghan Barwick, Laura Casale, Liana Prodorutti & Nadia Sasso (Bethlehem)
• Best Short < 15min: Painted Love, John General (Hackettstown)
• Best Web Series: The Flighty Ducks, Dan Maher (Bethlehem)
• Audience Award: April Grace, Andrew Hutcheson (Washington)
• Honorable Mention: Pulling Teeth, Jennifer Suwak & Steve Abruzzese (Bangor)

2012

Winners:

• Best Feature: Wallowitch & Ross: This Moment, Richard Morris (Bethlehem)
• Best Short 15-50 Mintues: Doorman, Collin Kornfeind (Slatington)
• Best Short < 15 Minutes: Please Kill Me Again, Spencer Snygg (Allentown)
• Best Web Series: The Flighty Ducks, Dan Maher (Bethlehem)
• Audience Award: The Super List, Adam Winston (Macungie)
• Honorable Mention: A Cure, Matthew Herbertz (Center Valley)

2011

Winners:

• Best Documentary: Animating Autism, Sean Feely & John Gross (Lehigh Valley)
• Best Feature: The Obsession, Spencer Snygg (Allentown)
• Best Short Film: One Way Out, Eric Leadbetter (Bethlehem)
• Best Young Filmmaker: A Rough Draft, Anthony Delluva (Lehigh Valley)
• Special Technical Achievement: Here, Courtney Eady (Allentown)