Faith Film Festival at Grand Prospect Hall

December 13, 2012 Denise Romano

Rachel Moon, Festival organizer, and Joe Estevez presenting the Lighthouse Lens Award to Kimberly Horning. (BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by SB News)

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On Tuesday, December 11, Grand Prospect Hall in Park Slope was the perfect setting for the star-studded NET TV/Faith Film Festival.

Debra Sito, co-chairperson of the festival, explained that NET TV accepts indie submissions by amateur and professional producers of films with a faith-based theme. The 10 best features are picked to air on NET TV on Friday nights at 8 p.m.

NET Film Festival chairs Craig Tubiolo, head of Programming & Production and Debra Sito, head of Marketing and Business Development.

The awards are just like any other film festival, giving honors for categories such as “Best Cinematography.” Actor/director/producer Joe Estevez – also known as Martin Sheen’s older brother – was the night’s emcee.

“Like any film festival, there is a showing of a special film,” Sito said. This year, that film was “Doonby,” starring Estevez.

Sito said that this film festival is in the same vein as Sundance and the IFC. “There is a giant audience out there but not really people who cater to the audience,” she explained. “We are kind of establishing a footprint in the industry to meet the demand of faith-based films. No commercial studio wants to be involved in producing or distributing them.”

She added that Brooklyn is the best place right now to make a mark. “Brooklyn has things like Steiner Studios. We have production capability and digital talent,” Sito said. “We see New York as such an important place for film. Why not make it the birthplace for faith-based film?”

Sito and her co-chair, Craig Tubiolo, along with festival organizer Rachel Moon, are already looking forward to next year’s festival. Films can be submitted at www.NETNY.net/FaithFilmFestival.

Tune into NET TV on Time Warner Cable, channel 97; Cablevision, channel 30; on Verizon Fios on Demand and at NETNY.net.