to be given at June event in Snug Harbor
"I'm thrilled!" said the 50-year-old from Brooklyn. "I was just thinking what can be connected between the movies, Staten Island and the rest of the world. I just thought it needed a bridge between all three of them, and there is a bridge."
Ms. Galapo's idea was selected from more than 130 entries suggesting names for the festival's award, on the order of Oscar, Tony, Emmy, etc.
The winner was announced last night at a special screening event in the Snug Harbor Music Hall, Livingston. Ms. Galapo gets a $300 cash prize and two All-Access Passes to the festival.
The Staten Island Film Festival, being presented by the Richmond County Savings Foundation, will run June 1-4.
It will include feature films, documentaries, shorts, animation, student projects, youth films and family-oriented films by local, national and international artists.
At last night's event, movie buffs had the opportunity to view two short films, the animated "The Fan and the Flower" and the comic offering "Waiting for Maggio," as well as a feature film that will be shown at the festival, Joseph Castelo's "The War Within." The latter concerns a Pakistani engineering student who is imprisoned and interrogated by Western intelligence agencies for suspected terrorist activities.
"This will serve as a great primer of what you will see at the film festival this summer," said Richard Diamond Jr., honorary co-chair of the festival.
Staten Island native Ayad Akhtar, who acted in and helped write "A War Within," was on hand to discuss the film.
"It's so cool," said Akhtar. "If it can get people thinking and participating in their community ... it will increase their bond with the borough."
Jeanette Milione of Great Kills was one of the 300-plus attendees. "I love movies," she said. "I'm looking forward [to the festival]. I think it's great."
Her friend Annette Battista is a volunteer with the festival and is looking forward to seeing the various independent films that will be screened in June.
"Manhattan has a film festival -- why shouldn't we?" asked the Oakwood resident, explaining why she decided to volunteer. "I really want it to be a success."
General admission for the June festival will be $5 for adults; children (younger than 12) get in for free. Various ticket packages are also available.
Sponsoring organizations include the Staten Island Economic Development Corp., KeySpan Energy, Time Warner Cable, Staten Island Board of Realtors Inc., Building Industry Association of New York Inc. and Jewish Community Center of Staten Island.