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Teaneck International Film Festival Celebrates 10 Years

TEANECK, N.J. — Films from around the world will be screened at the 10th annual Teaneck International Film Festival from Nov. 5-8.

Lillias White, renowned cabaret performer, Broadway actor, and Tony award winner, is returning to town for the 2015 Teaneck International Film Festival Gala with a new show, From Brooklyn to Broadway.

Lillias White, renowned cabaret performer, Broadway actor, and Tony award winner, is returning to town for the 2015 Teaneck International Film Festival Gala with a new show, From Brooklyn to Broadway.

Photo Credit: Teaneck Film Festival
Teaneck International Film Festival celebrates 10 year anniversary.

Teaneck International Film Festival celebrates 10 year anniversary.

Photo Credit: Teaneck International Film Festival

They will include "Dil Dhadakne Do" (from India), "Félix and Meira" (Canada), and the original Dracula story, "Nosferatu" (Germany).

“The festival got started as a thought on the treadmill between the former executive director, Ellen Rand, and our public relations director, Judy Distler,” said Jeremy Lentz, the current TIFF executive director. “They thought Teaneck should have a film festival.”

The two co-founders reached out to the the not-for-profit Puffin Foundation to help fund their idea in 2006.

“TIFF has grown incrementally and exponentially,” Lentz said.

In the past six years, TIFF has promoted the theme "Activism: Making Change," which represents a multitude of interests and backgrounds and values differences, while fostering understanding.

“TIFF was introduced to reflect the history of Teaneck,” Lentz said. “We were the first town to inter-racially integrate schools in the 60’s. We were the first town to have one of the first Muslim mayors. We are the first for many and are largely a very multi-cultural community.”

Essentially the festival looks to present a program of independent features, documentaries, and shorts that will lead audiences to question, discuss, debate, and become caring and involved citizens who recognize the need to institute positive change.

“The films we show, largely in part, have a connection to social activism, telling stories of what needs to be told,” Lentz said. “This also gives us a niche in the film festival circuit. We distinguish ourself from other film festivals by having a purpose and serving the community in greater way."

FILM SCHEDULE & MORE INFORMATION: Teaneck International Film Festival, 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck. www.teaneckfilmfestival.org OR tiff@teaneckfilmfestival.org OR (201) 203-1723.

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