The 2024 festival ended on a high note December 8 with Ursula Ryan Lifesaver honoree Austin Pendleton regaling the audience with his tales of life in show business. The 84-year-old actor also won Best Actor Short Drama for "Weekend at the Agamemnons." (fb)

The 2024 festival opens at noon tomorrow, December 7 at the Fannie Hamer Event Center at Stockton University, 3711 Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City. On Sunday during the awards ceremony at 5 p.m., we will honor Austin Pendleton for his years as an actor in film and TV. The Atlantic City Cinefest returns December 7 and 8 to the Fannie Hamer Event Center at the Atlantic City campus of Stockton University, 3711 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, N.J. Submissions have been selected and a schedule released for the two-day film festival. The selections include a mix of short and feature length narratives, documentaries, music videos and animation. The screenings run Saturday, December 7: 12 to 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 8: 12 to 6 p.m. “We usually run the festival in mid-October, but this year we pushed it back to early December, a normally slow time in Atlantic City,” said Bill Sokolic, chairman of the board of trustees. “Different time, but we hope filmgoers will discover interesting movies.” Like Weekend at the Agamemnons, which stars Ginger Grace and Austin Pendleton. Or the stunning performance of child actress Hailey Kate Schmidt in Mr. Sandman. These are just two of the films from South Jersey, around the country and Canada who were selected. Pendleton will also be honored for his decades of work in Hollywood. Austin Pendleton carries a pedigree that has sustained his career for decades as a character actor. A small, but memorable role was as a public defender in the deep south assigned to the trial of two northern young men accused of murder in the comedy “My Cousin Vinny.” Playing quirky characters is common for Pendleton. He stars in “Weekend at the Agamemnons” as a retiring professor feted by his two daughters, ex-wife and live-in lover. He will receive the Ursula Ryan Lifesaver award for his long distinguished career. The Warren Ohio native graduated Yale before joining the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, according to IMDB. His first feature was 1968’s “Petulia,” a minor uncredited role. But that served as the beginning of a career of well over 100 appearances in film and television. Few knew that Pendleton got the late Philip Seymour Hoffman one of his first acting jobs at a New Jersey theatre company. And he also received consideration for the role of Fredo in “The Godfather.” With roots in the theatre, Pendleton received a nomination for a 1981 Tony Award as Best Director for directing Elizabeth Taylor in a revival of Lillian Hellman's "The Little Foxes." But it’s comedies that define much of Pendleton’s work. “All the comedies I've done have been hard to film,” he says on IMDB. “Film is an anomalous environment for it because you don't know whether they're going to laugh or not. So you're doing this stuff in total silence. Also comedy is hard to master. In theater when you do a comedy, you rehearse for a few weeks, and you begin to feel the rhythm. In film it's an arbitrary rhythm usually that has to look like a truthful one to work, I'm not complaining, I've been in some of the best comedies ever made. But I have never been on the set for a comedy where you don't feel like you were in trouble all the time.” “As a character actor, Austin has impressed me for years. He’s got a unique way of expressing himself on film,” Sokolic said. Tickets range from $6 for an individual block of films, $15 for a daily pass and $26 for an all-festival pass and are available through FilmFreeway. Visit https://filmfreeway.com/atlanticcitycinefest/tickets to order. Tickets will also be available at the door. Schedule for 2024 Atlantic City Cinefest December 7 BLOCK 1: 12 p.m. Krampus on Campus 2 5:47 min Krampus returns this time to the campus of an asylum where the one survivor from the first film is accused of murder. Production from Middletown High North Director: Richard Pecoraro Lethal Lizard 9:16 min A semi sequel to Super Dude, a high school comedy film. The evil mask is taken by another student who abuses its powers, and it is up to Justin to take it back. Another Middletown High production. Directed by Justin Fearon The Accidental Spy 97 min Days after 9/11, Blerim Skoro was recruited from a Manhattan prison by the CIA. For over a decade, he was America’s infidel mole, roaming the Middle East as a spy deep inside al-Qaeda. Directed by Anthony Wonke BLOCK 2: 2 p.m. Weekend at the Agamemnons 39 min Family problems come home to roost for a retiring, world-famous professor and translator of Greek classics, when he is honored over a weekend by his two adult daughters, estranged wife, and live-in lover. Directed by Bruce Gorman Eager Heater Alone 5 min A lone eager-to-please space heater, with no person to heat, discovers he is not alone in an empty home. Directed by Markus Graves Wxlf Pack 8:55 min A cinematic musical production like you’ve never seen. Directed by Damon Abwon Clindinin Stardrift Spacelines 2:29 min The future of travel, in the world of the past Directed by Dominique Masia BLOCK 3: 3 p.m. Room 10 The Revision 16 min Ex-cop/ex-gang member looking for revenge for his father. When a young man realizes that his past choices have been feeding his long list of regrets. He finally comes to terms with everything. By taking down the main reasons why his past is something not to be reflected on. Directed by Philip Titus Barnett Fabulous Seven Forever 100 min After more than thirty years apart, a group of high school friends reunite to memorialize their recently deceased high school drama teacher. They discover their need to make peace with their past, reclaim their youthful fighting spirit to combat the many injustices and prejudices that surround them. They find themselves in a divided, divisive world. Directed by A.J. Ciccotelli BLOCK 4: 5 p.m. The Cafone Episode #1 The Badge 23 min After a brief stint in prison, consummate “low life,” Sal Forte "AKA THE CAFONE," reaches out to his old pal from the neighborhood, John Falcone for a little help getting back on his feet. John is a married, successful funeral director who has a fondness for Sal because he protected John from the “wise guys” in their old stomping grounds. Directed by Thomas Bentey. Full Throttle Paradise 15 min A dark farce that explores feminism, materialism, and fetishes. Pat Padula, a seemingly connected man in the neighborhood, expresses his love for the free-spirited Dottie in an atypical family therapy session. Directed by Nick DeSimone Costume Party 2:29 min The Successful Failures music video, “Costume Party” Songwriter: Brooks Wieszcze CopyCataclysm 7:29 min Things quickly get out of hand when two women begin to show symptoms of a mysterious disease. Directed by Joe Rechtman Bitter Angels 6:25 min Two young women kidnap a billionaire. Venom wants revolution, Angel wants revenge. Directed by Mark L Mazzeo BLOCK 5: 6 p.m. Puzzle Box Killer 8 min An aspiring actress is going into an audition for her big break, but the director gets more than he bargained for. Directors: Jack Skylar and Alex Zinzopoulos The Devil and Red Wine 101 min Secrets, lies, and temptation push a married couple to the brink. When vows are tested, you learn just how far one will go for their happily ever after. Directed by Maurice Paramore December 8 BLOCK 6: 12 p.m. Blueberries 24:16 min Terrance needs to convince his fiancé, family and friends he does not have a drinking problem. But can he convince himself? Directed by Eric A. Eisenstein Mr. Sandman 36:12 min A young girl tries to survive till sunrise amidst nightmarish terrors brought on by Mr. Sandman. Directed by Matthew Schmidt The Everyday Adventures of Brig and Joe 37 min Two Mormon missionaries, at odds with each other, attempt to rescue Donnie Baker, a down-and-out individual struggling with alcoholism and living in a trailer park. Their efforts end disastrously when they inadvertently trigger his peanut allergy, leading to a choking incident. In a hasty attempt to save his soul, they perform an impromptu baptism, tragically resulting in his drowning. Now, they find themselves fugitives. Directed by Jeffrey Hunter Curry BLOCK 7: 1:45 p.m. Memory Card 23:30 min Memory Card chronicles the adventures of two friends competing in a championship after the enigmatic blogger Mr. Monkey reveals that hidden coordinates in several PlayStation One games lead to a coveted memory card. To uncover these coordinates, our heroes dive into a thrilling journey across beloved retro games. Directed by Taras Lashchak, Stanislav Puzdriak Unlikely Allies 97 min In 2003, a low-level cannabis case would end Weldon Angelos’ budding and promising career in the music industry. But it would also give birth to a national movement to reform our country’s criminal justice system, uniting far right conservatives like billionaire Charles Koch and Senator Mike Lee with liberals such as Senator Corey Booker, Van Jones and musicians Alicia Keys, and Snoop Dogg. Directed by Anthony Pedone BLOCK 8: 3:45 X-mas Anonymous 17:24 min When a group of Christmas addicts gather for their regular meeting, the addition of a new member could be the catalyst for a relapse they've all been waiting for. Directed by Sammy Smedley Christmas and Me 40 min Christmas hasn't always been Eddie's favorite time of year because he's always had bad things happen around that time of year, so he decides to take drastic measures. Directed by Sebastian Foxworth Family Blend Xmas Remix 5 min The blend family is back in action with more shenanigans at the most wonderful time of year! Directed by Sebastian Foxworth Mommy Trailer 2 min Trailer for the upcoming 2025 feature Mommy, a psychological drama about a bipolar woman who may or may not see ghosts. Directed by Sebastian Foxworth Awards Ceremony 5 p.m. All events at the Fannie Hamer Event Center of Stockton University, 3711 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City. (fb)