Paul Schraders First Reformed won the top narrative prize at the Montclair Film Festival Saturday night, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy confirmed he will sign an ambitious tax-incentive bill as a stimulus for film and TV production in the state.
After an introduction by Stephen Colbert (a local resident long tied to the festival), Murphy said, “New Jersey is a world-class location to be the backdrop for any filmmaker – from our small towns, to our big cities, rolling hills, and the Jersey Shore – and were ready for our close up. Tonight, through the Montclair Film Festival, were sending a message that New Jersey isnt just a great place to view the arts, but that there isnt any better place to shoot a film than right here.”
Murphy added, “We have the artists. We have the Art DNA. We have the Film DNA. And so I will tell you, were committed, and Im going to sign a law in the new few weeks that will give the financial incentives back to make movies again in New Jersey.”
Before the governors remarks, the festival announced the award winners. Here are the winners, along with films recognized with special jury prizes:
Fiction Feature Competition
Winner
First Reformed
Directed by Paul Schrader
Special Jury Prize
Julianne Nicholson, for her performance in Who We Are Now
Directed by Matthew Newton
Bruce Sinofsky Prize for Documentary Feature Competition
Winner
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Directed by RaMell Ross
Special Jury Prize
Black Mother
Directed by Khalik Allah
Future/Now Competition
Winner
We the Animals
Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
Special Jury Prize
Helena Howard, for her performance in Madelines Madeline
New Jersey Films Competition
Winner
Crime + Punishment
Directed by Stephen Tiang
Special Jury Prize
Liyana
Directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp
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