New Jersey movies head to Sundance Film Festival

New Jersey is ready for its closeup.

Amid the state’s encouragement of film and television production industry growth, the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, announced that seven movies filmed in the state will appear at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Filming of the movies took place across locations including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic and Union counties.

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“New Jersey is honored to be the staging location for several films being screened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said in a news release.

“The Garden State offers an array of diverse landscapes and backdrops, and under Gov. Phil Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey’s commitment to protecting and bolstering civil liberties has enhanced an already compelling case for filming in New Jersey. We look forward to welcoming even more productions in the months and years to come as we become an East Coast hub for the film industry.”

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The 40th anniversary Sundance Film Festival takes place through Jan. 28.

The seven films, along with their descriptions from the NJMPTVC, are:

‘I Saw the TV Glow’

The horror film “I Saw the TV Glow” filmed at Verona and Cedar Grove High Schools, The Saint in Asbury Park, Keansburg Amusement Park, Funplex in East Hanover, Pump It Up in Roselle Park, Camp Lewis in Rockaway Township, Corrado’s Supermarket in Wayne, and other locations.

A24’s newest horror film “I Saw the TV Glow” follows two teenagers (Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine) who bond over their love for a scary television show that gets mysteriously canceled. The movie is directed by Jane Schoenbrun and produced by Emma Stone and Dave McCary under the Fruit Tree banner. Filming took place at Verona and Cedar Grove High Schools, The Saint in Asbury Park, Keansburg Amusement Park, Funplex in East Hanover, Pump It Up in Roselle Park, Camp Lewis in Rockaway Township, Corrado’s Supermarket in Wayne, and at other locations in Cedar Grove, East Rutherford, Kinnelon, Succasunna, Verona, Wayne and West Caldwell. A24 and Fruit Tree reported spending over $7 million in New Jersey for labor, goods and services.

‘Your Monster’

“Your Monster,” based on Caroline Lindy’s 2019 short film of the same name, depicts a depressed woman (Melissa Barrera) who returns home to find the monster that lived inside her closet as a kid is still alive and well. The movie was filmed at East Orange General Hospital and at various locations in Elizabeth, Hoboken and Newark. Bombo Sports and Entertainment reported expenditures of $3 million during the course of production.

‘Rob Peace’

“Rob Peace” filmed at various locations in Newark including the Lower Roseville section, Newark Penn Station and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School. Additional locations included the Essex County Jail, Sandy Hook, New Jersey City University in Jersey City, and a site in East Orange.

“Rob Peace,” based on a true story, focuses on an inner-city kid (Jay Will) from Newark who attends Yale, only to succumb to harsh economic realities and the demons of his past. Written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, the movie stars Ejiofor, Jay Will and Mary J. Blige. Filming took place on various locations in Newark including the Lower Roseville section, Newark Penn Station and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School. Additional locations included the Essex County Jail, Sandy Hook, New Jersey City University in Jersey City, and a site in East Orange. The production company, Hill District Media, spent over $11 million in New Jersey and hired 290 cast and crew members and 650 extras for the filming of “Rob Peace.”

‘Ponyboi’

“Ponyboi” was shot at the L&P Laundromat in Palisades Park, the Chalet Motel in Ocean Township, the Bridgeview Diner in Kearny, the Kearny-Belleville Elks Lodge and the Silverball Retro Arcade in Asbury Park.

“Ponyboi,” based on the groundbreaking short of the same name, follows an intersex sex worker (River Gallo) who must fight for survival after a drug deal gone south. The feature was executive produced by Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson, and shot at the L&P Laundromat in Palisades Park, the Chalet Motel in Ocean Township, the Bridgeview Diner in Kearny, the Kearny-Belleville Elks Lodge and the Silverball Retro Arcade in Asbury Park. Dream Queen Productions reported expenditures of $5 million while working in the state.

‘Presence’

“Presence,” shot on a DSLR camera, filmed entirely in Cranford.

“Presence” takes place in a suburban house inhabited by an unknown force. Shot on a DSLR camera, this feature from director Steven Soderbergh was written by David Koepp. Starring Lucy Liu and Julia Fox, the movie was filmed entirely in Cranford. Over $2 million was spent in state during its production.

‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’

“Exhibiting Forgiveness” filmed in Allendale, Bayonne, East Orange, Hillside, Kearny, Montclair, Orange, Paterson, and West Orange.

“Exhibiting Forgiveness” follows a Black artist (André Holland) on the path to success, only to be derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. This movie was filmed in Allendale, Bayonne, East Orange, Hillside, Kearny, Montclair, Orange, Paterson, and West Orange. The production company, Homegrown Pictures, spent over $7 million in state and hired 125 cast and crew members and 200 extras.

‘A Different Man’

“A Different Man” tells the story of Edward (Sebastian Stan) who, after undergoing facial reconstructive surgery, becomes fixated on an actor in the stage production based on his former life. Scenes were filmed in Maplewood and Montclair.

Other productions filmed in New Jersey

The NJMPTVC also highlighted several other projects filmed in New Jersey that have garnered recent accolades, including Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which filmed partly at Princeton University and won five Golden Globes, including the award for Best Motion Picture. HBO’s “Succession” received an Emmy as Best Drama Series and two Golden GlobeAwards. Much filming for Season 4 of the hit television show took place at CNBC in Englewood Cliffs and in Jersey City.

Visit film.nj.gov to learn more about the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Jersey movies head to Sundance Film Festival