'Rockaway' keeps rolling at Jersey Shore Film Festival

It was seventh heaven for local director John J. Budion’s “Rockaway,” as it finished its festival run with two more awards at the Jersey Shore Film Festival on Aug. 10 — its seventh film festival to date.
Fresh off of winning Best Film and Best Director at the Long Beach International Film Festival earlier this month, the movie — which is based on Budion’s real-life experiences growing up and forming friendships in East Rockaway — won the Best Film award in New Jersey. In addition, Keidrich Sellati, who plays the lead role of young Anthony Budion in the film, won Best Actor.
The wins ensured that “Rockaway” was a perfect 7-for-7 in winning awards at festivals.
“We won nine major awards at seven festivals,” John Budion said. “It’s kind of amazing.”
The screening was held at the House of Independents in Asbury Park, N.J.

“Rockaway,” set in East Rockaway during the summer of 1994, chronicles characters based on Budion and his brother, Anthony, as they plot revenge against their abusive father. Other characters are based on the friends they grew up with in the village. Most of the movie was filmed in East Rockaway during the summer of 2016.
Before filming, Budion decided to have the young cast members hangout together in a Lynbrook hotel room for a few weeks in the hope of creating a bond between them. It worked, as their off-screen chemistry translated to a great rapport when the cameras were rolling.
“If these festivals had best ensemble categories, I have no doubt that these boys would have won seven best ensemble awards,” Budion said.
Sellati, 16, who is perhaps best known for playing the role of Henry Jennings on the FX drama “The Americans,” was also named Best Actor at the Sunscreen Film Festival during the movie’s Florida premiere in April.
“It’s been awesome,” Sellati said of the festival run. “It’s been great, and I’m just so glad that I could be a part of this film and have it be as successful as it is.”
Maxwell Apple, 9, plays the role of young John Budion, who is protected by Sellati’s character throughout the film. In addition to Sellati and Apple, young actors James DiGiacomo, 14, (Dom), Tanner Flood, 15, (Brian), Colin Critchley, 15, (Sal) and Harrison Wittmeyer, 17, (Billy) round out the cast, playing Budion’s friends.
The Jersey Shore Film Festival was the first time the six actors got together at the same festival, but Apple said they picked up right where they left off. “It was fun and happy,” he said, “and I think the way we acted together in the film showed how close our relationship was. These guys are like my big brothers.”
For Critchley, of Essex County, N.J., the premiere was a homecoming. He said he was pleased to be able to have his friends and family in attendance to see the film in his home state, and noted that he instantly felt a connection to the plot.
“It’s nice to represent New Jersey,” he said. “ … It’s kind of surreal because when I first read the script, I felt the same way many of the audience members felt. I was tearing up, I really connected with it.”
With the festival run now over, Budion said he is excited for what’s next for the film. He said he started the run last August at the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival with the goal of getting a sales agent to distribute the movie to a wider audience, and that one year later, he is in talks to give “Rockaway” a limited theatrical release and make it available on several streaming services through a major distributor. 
“I’ve always been someone that appreciates the journey,” Budion said, “and this was a journey for everyone that was involved and everyone that supported us. Anything that is going to pay off in the way you want it to, you have to put the work in and be relentless, especially in this industry.”
Budion said he learned a lot during the festival run and that he believes the cast and crew put together a product that resonates with a lot of people. He added that he was proud of the young actors for carrying the film and that he believes they will reflect on their time together proudly.
“I think they’re always going to remember this film and the time that they had,” he said. “I think they’ll always look back with a smile and with nostalgia about working on this film and meeting each other. … It’s been a journey, but I don’t think we would have wanted it any other way.”