Rahway International Film Festival Celebrates Local Student Filmmakers

Rahway International Film Festival hosted the 1st Annual Rahway Film Festival Junior for New Jersey students in grades 3 through 12 on May 21, 2016. The student film festival was a great success and the lucky winners of the "Best Film of the Festival" and "Audience Choice" awards will be honored at this year's main Fourth Annual Rahway International Film Festival event on October 21 through October 23, 2016.

Students Izellah Montes, Kayleen Ojeda, Miguel Rodriguez, & Yamileth Tepox of Abraham Clark High School in Roselle, NJ, who were all 15-16 years old and in Grade 10 at the time, created the short film "You Are Not Alone" about the dangers of bullying. They were the winners of the "Best Film of the Festival" at the Rahway Film Festival Junior 2016. As part of their prize, the students will be appearing on Edison TV's "Classic Movies with Ron MacCloskey" and will screen their film once more for the RIFF audience on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 3:15pm. They are filming their episode of "Classic Movies with Ron MacCloskey" on October 5, 2016 with the air date yet to be determined.

Cadian McGaw Jr. of Marist High School in Bayonne, NJ, who was 15 years old and in Grade 9 at the time, took home the "Audience Choice" award for his short crime thriller, "Keeping Up with the Society Hillians: Society Hill Victims Unit." He too will be appearing on Edison TV's "Classic Movies with Ron MacCloskey" and will screen his film once more on Sunday, October 23rd at 3:15pm. He will share the episode of "Classic Movies with Ron MacCloskey" with the other winners.

Rahway Film Festival Jr. Official Selection alumns David Paris and Colin Tunney will be screening their film "Lucas, Kevin, and the Technicolor Dream Watcher" along with Corinne Antonelli's film "Small Fry" as well.

The Fourth Annual Rahway International Film Festival will take place Friday, October 21, 2016 through Sunday, October 23, 2016 at the UC PAC's Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts in Rahway, New Jersey.

For the full lineup, more information, and synopses and trailers for each film, please visit www.rahwayfilmfest.com. Connect with Rahway International Film Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for regular updates.