Cape May NJ State Film Festival

Susan Sarandon at Congress Hall, Cape May Thursday.

Sarandon receives award from the NJ State Assembly.

Academy award winner Susan Sarandon kicked off the 2nd annual Cape May NJ State Film Festival at Congress Hall last November.

Hundreds jammed the hotel ballroom to see Sarandon receive the first ever New Jersey Governor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Jersey Arts.

Sarandon's three new films, released this fall, topped the film festival's feature presentations on Saturday.

The Banger Sisters, with Goldie Hawn and Geoffrey Rush; Moonlight Mile with Dustin Hoffman and Igby Goes Down with Jeff Goldblum were screened at Hoyt's Cape May Beach 4 Cinema.

Many other films were shown between Friday night and Sunday morning, including STRUT!, a film about the Mummers shot partially in North Wildwood, a Festival of Independents featuring cutting edge short films and animations, Woody Allen's Purple Rose of Cairo, and Standing in the Shadows of Motown, about Motown's unsung backup musicians.

Robert Prosky, who co-starred with Sarandon in Dead Man Walking, introduces the actress.

Sarandon answers questions from young aspiring artists and actors.

Curtis Bashaw from Congress Hall addresses the crowd of over 700 in the hotel ballroom.

Ron Rollet, Film Festival Director

Sarandon ends by telling the audience to make your life count.