By Lois Rogers|Features Editor

A new exciting venue and an additional award category for works about Superstorm Sandy are among the details just released by the diocese for the 2014 RE:IMAGE Film Festival.

The festival, the fourth since its debut in 2010, will take place April 6 in the landmark Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank.  It will again invite filmmakers and film audiences to share in a celebration of works that communicate a positive and uplifting message about humanity and the reflection of God’s love in the world.

Matthew Greeley, associate director of the diocesan Office of Communications and a member of the festival’s planning committee, said RE:IMAGE was inspired by the exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI to those with creative talent to participate in renewing the Church’s friendship with the arts.

Of particular emphasis, according to Rayanne Bennett, executive director, Office of Communications, was the goal of engaging teens and young adults to use the readily accessible technology of digital media, in which many have an interest and talent, in ways that serve the mission of the Church.

“From the beginning, RE:IMAGE was meant to build awareness, especially among students, of the responsibility we all have to use our gifts and resources in a manner that reflects the dignity and sanctity of each human person and the importance of recognizing that we are part of God’s creation.  This is the basis for the festival’s mission,” Bennett explained.

At the same time, she added, theater goers from across the diocese and beyond are invited to come out and support filmmakers who have committed themselves to this important endeavor – making films that everyone can be proud of.

According to the rules posted to the festival’s website, reimagefilmfestival.com, film entries will again be accepted in three age categories -- Youth/High School, Young Adult/College and General -- and must be no longer than 25 minutes in length. Entries must have been completed no earlier than January, 2011 with English subtitles required for all foreign language films.

The call for entries has gone out for musical films, documentaries, animation, dramas and comedies. All eligible entries will be judged on direction, storyline, artistic quality and adherence to the mission of the festival.

Awards and cash prizes will be given for the following: Best Picture $500; Mission Excellence $200; Viewer’s Choice $100, and, new this year, a $200 award for “Stories of Hope,” a category inspired by Superstorm Sandy. Entry fees and deadlines are posted to the festival website.

Entries can be submitted online on Withoutabox.com or sent directly to the RE:IMAGE committee by filling out the online form at http://reimagefilmfestival.com/entries/ and submitting your film and payment by the necessary deadline.

Bennett described other components of the festival’s mission, including the sponsorship of a RE:IMAGE Filmmakers Workshop for teens provided by WHYY Studios in Philadelphia.  This year, the workshop will take place over two sessions scheduled for Sept. 21 and 28.  Registration is being accepted on a first come, first served basis until Sept. 9.

The festival committee has also made available to the diocesan community copies of the films that have won awards in the past three events.  Titled RE:IMAGE Rewind, the DVDs containing the films have been distributed to parish groups for the purpose of screening and discussion.  

Participation in the RE:IMAGE Film Festival, both from filmmakers and audiences, has grown dramatically since the first event, Bennett reports. “Entries have come in from around the world, but we’ve seen a nice rise in the number of local entries we’ve received, especially in the youth/high school category,” she noted.

This year’s festival, set to take place in the Count Basie Theater, is expected to draw an even larger audience.  Bennett commented, “The theater is well-known as a wonderful place to see a show, and Red Bank has long been a regional hub for the arts.  We’re very excited to be holding the festival there, and know that it will add to what has already become recognized as an enjoyable and inspirational experience for our audiences.”

The festival will run from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. , and the address of the theater is 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. To learn more, go to reimagefilmfestival.com, find the RE:IMAGE Film Festival on facebook or contact Matthew Greeley at (609) 403-7212; [email protected].