The New Jersey Film Festival Fall 2009, marking its 28th anniversary, kicks off this weekend at Rutgers.

Showcasing new international films, American independent features, experimental and short subjects, classic revivals, and cutting-edge documentaries, the New Jersey Film Festival Fall 2009 will feature over 50 film screenings. The Festival will run from September 4 through November 8.

Friday-September 4

At Scott Hall #123 (Near the corner of College Avenue and Hamilton Street),

43 College Ave/College Avenue Campus, Rutgers University, New Brunswick,

7PM $10; $9; $8

"Long Live Rock"

"Little Criminals" - Tony Gaddis

An experimental music video featuring Jon Hardy & The Public. 2009; 3 min.

"The Last Bastions of Rock" - Fritch Clark

A lively and compelling new music documentary that pays tribute to New Jersey's rock venues past and present. Centered on the rise, decline, and fall of the Court Tavern and the Melody Bar in New Brunswick, and City Gardens in Trenton. The Last Bastions of Rock features great live performances by local and national bands, as well as interviews with New Jersey rock legends Matt Pinfield, John Richey, Martin Atkins, and many others. 2009; 45 min. With in-person appearances by director Fritch Clark on Fr+Sa-9/4+5.

Part pilgrimage and part happening, this cinéma vérité documentary journeys with the band Phish on its swansong tour through New England. Filled with emotionally candid interviews, We Enjoy Yourself is a testament to Phish fans' unwavering dedication to and absolute love for the band and their music. After sitting in up to 50 hours of traffic, thousands chose to abandon their cars on the interstate and defiantly walked to the final concert. The film's soundtrack was crafted from the last shows of the tour, capturing the raw excitement and intensity of five days of nearly non-stop music. 2009; 60 min. With in-person appearances by director Chris Pepino on Fr+Sa-9/4+5!

Saturday-September 5

At Scott Hall #123 (Near the corner of College Avenue and Hamilton Street),

43 College Ave/College Avenue Campus, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

7PM $10; $9; $8

"Long Live Rock"

"Little Criminals" - Tony Gaddis

The Last Bastions of Rock - Fritch Clark

"We Enjoy Yourself" - Chris Pepino

Sunday-September 6

Scott Hall #123 (Near the corner of College Avenue and Hamilton Street),

43 College Ave/College Avenue Campus, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

7PM $10; $9; $8

"Love The One You're With"

"Open Door Policy" - Morgan Schmidt-Feng

Two New Yorkers coincidentally cross paths through the course of one day. 2009; 13 min. With in-person appearances by filmmakers Nicole Sudhaus and Hillary Rader on Su+Fr-9/6+11.

"The Girlfriend Experience" - Steven Soderbergh

It's really all about the money; the sex is the secondary transaction. Director Steven Soderbergh, who alternates between Hollywood blockbusters and low-budget indies, including Erin Brockovich and Sex, Lies, and Videotape, merges the experimental with the voyeuristic in this scripted yet non-linear film that tracks five days in the life of a high-end Manhattan call girl. Sasha Grey, an adult film star in her mainstream film debut, offers more than sex to her clients-she trades in the companionship and conversation - "the girlfriend experience"-- that costs them a small ransom. She proceeds as if her life is totally under control-as she runs her own business, and makes $2,000 an hour, but when you're contracting out intimacy, the currency has a hollow core. 2009; 76 min.

"Friends (with benefits)"- Gorman Bechard

"Friends (with benefits)" is a feature-length romantic comedy for all those allergic to romance, and for all who have come of (sexual) age in a cynical age of hook-ups, break-ups, and serial amour. Chloe and Owen are a non-binding couple who find little time for the messy relationship stuff, but lots of time for the insanely messy sex stuff. One fateful day, Owen proposes the perfect solution: to just be "Friends with Benefits." A perfect plan, that is...if he and Chloe were not secretly in love with one another. So what happens when two close friends decide to blur the lines between a friendship and a relationship? The answer: it gets very complicated. 2009; 94 min. With in-person appearances by director Gorman Bechard and co-screenwriter Ashley McGarry on Su+Fr-9/6+11.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Admission:

$10 for General; $9 for Students+Seniors; $8 for Rutgers Film Co-op/NJMAC Friends.

All films are subject to change. Call our information number 732-932-8482 the day of show to confirm titles.

Tickets:

Tickets are available on a "first-come-first-served" basis only and can be purchased at the door beginning a half-hour before the start time.

Directions:

Scott Hall #123=Take the NJ Turnpike to Exit 9 and then take Route 18N (New Brunswick direction) and go for 2 1/2 miles to the College Avenue Campus/George Street exit (immediately after the Route 27S exit) and make a left at the light at the end of the exit ramp onto George Street, then go to20the next light and make a right onto Hamilton Street, then go to the next light and make a right onto College Avenue. Almost immediately on your right hand side there is an University Parking Lot (#9) which is made available for our patrons to park in. Scott Hall is adjacent to the parking lot on the right. Patrons can also park in Rutgers Lots #1 (next to Kirkpatrick Chapel) and #16 (next to Murray and Milledoler Hall).

— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM