The Asbury Park Music & Film Festival is unlike any other event of its kind in that it explores and celebrates a single, and perhaps the most dramatic, aspect of cinema…the role of music in film.
Every City has its own rhythm… its own history…its own journey to greatness. For more than 100 years, Asbury Park has been a fabled music destination. From the bandstand shows of Arthur Pryor in 1904 to the more than 70 clubs which formed a cradle of rock during the 60s and 70s, Asbury Park and Music are forever intertwined.
Today, the City is enjoying an artistic and economic renaissance and music remains at the center of it all. Asbury Park is emerging stronger and more vital than ever, and the Festival will help maximize its resurgence with unparalleled music and film collaborations, attracting a diverse audience from around the region and around the world.
PURPOSE
The Festival will benefit the underserved children in Asbury Park; one the most challenged youth communities in the country by providing music education, instruments and social connection opportunities.
APMFF provides funding for the Beat Bus through film festival sponsorships, including RWJ Barnabas Health and Jersey Mike’s. The Beat Bus has brought high tech music education to over 2,000 students since its launch in April 2018. It regularly provides after school programming at schools in Asbury Park, Long Branch and Bradley Beach as well as the Boys and Girls Club at Monmouth County.
Additionally, the APMFF supports the Lady of Mt. Carmel after school music program, which had lost state funding and was in jeopardy of closing.
Funding scholarships to Lakehouse Music Academy provide personal attention, positive relationships and commitment to musical excellence offering life-changing experiences.
Funding also supports the Asbury Park Music Foundation performance space, hosting open mics and recitals for the students in the Hip Hop Institute and Lakehouse programs.
A portion of the APMFF contributions in 2019 will be targeted to add a new summer camp, support a new Audio Tech program and fund scholarships for a new Jazz/Strings/Drumline program.
TOM BERNARD
Co-President, Co-Founder, Sony Pictures Classics
Tom has distributed some of the finest independent movies during his 30 year career garnering 158 Academy Award Nominations and 22 Golden Globe Awards.
DANNY CLINCH
Director & Photographer
One of the premier photographers on the popular music scene, Danny has photographed a veritable who’s who of music artists and received 3 Grammy nominations as a director.
TOM DONOVAN
Tom Donovan retired in June 2019 as the President of the Northeast Group for the USAToday Network. Hw also served as the President / Publisher of the Asbury Park Press from 2017-19. Tom remains committed to the APMFF and other nonprofit work at the Jersey Shore.
ADAM BLOCK
Amazon Music
Adam is Amazon Music’s Global Head of Catalog Music, a role he’s recently taken after serving as label president of Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings for many years. He is also a founding partner in the burgeoning Los Angeles-based cultural movement, Jazz Is Dead.
BOARD MEMBERS
JOSH BRAUN
Co-President, Submarine Entertainment
JIM DOWD
NJ Devils 1995 Stanley Cup Winner, Jim Dowd’s Shoot For the Stars Foundation
ERIC EISNER
Founder and CEO, Double E Pictures
JEREMY GRUNIN
President, Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation
DENIS GALLAGHER
Founder, Charliewood Pictures
TOM JONES
Founder, Halo Group / POP Music Foundation
JUSTIN KREUTZMANN
Filmmaker
ANNIE MCDONOUGH
Vice President, Falco Ink
JEFF ROSEN
Producer and Bob Dylan’s Manager
RICH RUSSO
Musicologist. Curator. Marketer.
BOB SANTELLI
Executive Director, GRAMMY Museum
SHELLI SONSTEIN
Co-Host, The Jim Kerr Rock and Roll Morning Show, Q104.3
MICHAEL USLAN
Film & TV Producer