As New Jersey’s film and television industry continues to grow, Montclair Film is expanding its role as a festival, year-round cinema, education organization and connection point for filmmakers and audiences.
On the latest episode of Garden State Greenlight, Tricia Haggerty Wenz, executive director of Montclair Film, and Tom Hall, artistic director, join ROI-NJ Multimedia Journalist Thomas Philip to discuss the upcoming Montclair Film Festival and the organization’s place in New Jersey’s growing entertainment industry.
The Montclair Film Festival, running Oct. 16-25, features films and appearances from filmmakers and talent including Ava DuVernay, Tony Gilroy, Jesse Eisenberg, Paul Giamatti and Julianne Moore. Haggerty Wenz and Hall discuss how the festival has grown into an important destination for filmmakers and audiences, particularly since moving from May to October and becoming part of the fall awards-season circuit.
The conversation also explores Montclair Film’s expanding role in New Jersey’s production ecosystem. The organization is developing education, production assistance and workforce programs designed to help people gain experience and find opportunities on film sets while connecting emerging filmmakers with the state’s growing production infrastructure.
Haggerty Wenz and Hall also discuss the importance of creating career pathways beyond directing and writing, including production assistant, camera, editing and other below-the-line roles. They highlight programs such as Real Thursdays, which brings more than 100 industry professionals together each month to network, find jobs and develop new collaborations.
Looking ahead, the pair discuss how Montclair Film hopes to deepen its relationships with New Jersey studios, expand education and workforce development programs and help create a more sustainable film industry in the state. They also examine broader industry challenges, including studio consolidation, the availability of work for crews and the future of theatrical exhibition.
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