MIDDLETOWN – The fourth annual Hoboken International Film Festival
to take place at the Paramount Theater in the City of Middletown got underway
Friday night with a star-studded procession of actors, producers and writers
walking the red carpet. This is the 11th year of the festival founded
by screenwriter, author, and filmmaker Kenneth Del Vecchio.
Del Vecchio, left, chats with Aiello
Terri Conn and Austin Peck
Actor Danny Aiello was presented the Award for Excellence in Film and the Arts by “As the World Turns” actress Terri Conn, who met him the first time seven years ago.
“He was so sweet,” Conn said. “He actually told me that his wife of soap operas that I used to be on; that was really kind of him to bring that up. I was standing there with a legend and he was like, ‘Oh, my wife loves your show’.”
Colleen Zenk, who has starred in daytime and Broadway, also walked the red carpet.
“My background is all in musical theater, but I just happened to be in daytime television for 32 years and then I went back to the theater after that,” she said. Zenk was in “Bring Back Birdie,” a sequel to “Bye Bye Birdie,” with Chita Rivera, Don O’Connor and not in the chorus. “I was actually third billing. At the same time, I was doing a soap opera and then I went right from that to doing the film “Annie,” she said.
Film festival founder Del Vecchio said his annual project promotes the art of film making but also benefits the local area.
“Every year, we get to boost the economy here, where literally, millions of dollars yearly through the film festival, my movie productions and creating hundreds of jobs, and that is quite honestly what I am most proud about, for all of my businesses,” Del Vecchio said. “Given that I am able to do that here where I live specifically excites me.”
Through next Thursday night, well over 100 films will be shown. The week will culminate with an awards presentation program hosted by comedian Gilbert Gottfried.
