Wildwood Film Festival wins Governor’s Tourism Award

The Wildwood by the Sea Film Festival has been honored by the New Jersey Governor’s Conference with an award for its 2008 event that brought Hollywood filmmakers to the resort from September 25 to 28.
Representatives of the festival and the Greater Wildwood Hotel and Motel Association (GWHMA), which presented the event, were given the prestigious award at the annual New Jersey Governor’s Conference on Tourism April 2 at Trump Marina in Atlantic City.
The film festival was among 10 organizations in the state that were honored from what tourism officials said was an unprecedented number of nominations.
The selection committee consisted of tourism professionals representing academia and private business associations throughout the state. The awards honor individuals and organizations that have contributed to the experience of the state’s visitors and the quality of life of its residents.
“We are highly pleased to have received this award because it recognizes the efforts made by the committee, headed by Paul Russo, to enhance tourism here and bring another level of culture to our resort,” said Steve Tecco, president of the GWHMA.
Tecco, Russo, and Edward Mebs, executive director of the hotel-motel organization, and festival chairman, accepted the award at the ceremony.
Russo, its artistic director, founded the festival two years ago, seeking to offer a cultural and educational package to tourists and local residents.
“One of our goals is to bring here filmmakers, directors, producers, and actors from around the world and to show films not usually seen in movie houses,” Russo said. “Last year more than 100 films were submitted from around the globe, countries including Japan, Australia, England, France, The Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, and the United States.”
It is planned to continue the festival next spring with early fundraising activities this year.
The 2008 event had several milestones. Included among them was the awarding of the rising star award to Hollywood actress Jenn Gotzon, who was featured in the Oscar nominated film “Frost/Nixon.” Gotzon frequently has vacationed in the Wildwoods.
Last year’s film festival also had a historic touch. It honored movie star Mario Lanza who spent his early year summers in the Wildwoods and whose family owned a house on Rio Grande Avenue.
The New Jersey Governor’s Conference on Tourism is a joint venture of the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism, and the New Jersey Travel Industry Association.