Hoboken’s Back East Picture Show, running Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28, 2002, bills itself as "A Festival of Independent Films by Independent People."

Nowhere is that more evident than in the Festival’s Co-Founders Anthony Costanza and Maria Perfetto.

The Back East Picture Show will have gone from conception to execution in just seven months. And in the crunch directly before the first film hits the screen, Perfetto is very tired. But happy. "A lot of people thought this would be impossible," she comments, sipping a huge cup of coffee.

Indeed, it does seem impossible that in half a year, the Back East Picture Show would acquire sponsorship from major corporations like Fuji, Hertz, and Doubletree Hotels, receive over 150 film submissions, and host acting talent like Vinnie Pastore and Frank Vincent.

It seems even more unlikely, considering the Back East Picture Show’s full-time staff consists of Costanza and Perfetto (along with three others part-time: Cybill Conklin of Conklin Design, serving as Creative Director; Stuart Ginsberg, serving as publicist; and Andrew McNally, of Spider's Web serving as Creative Director, New Media).

Of course Perfetto is tired – she just finished the festival’s comprehensive programs – at 3:00 a.m. "I just can’t wait until this all happens," she adds.

The festival has selected 53 films to show, and will screen them at Hoboken’s Hudson Street Cinema. The movies include documentaries, shorts, features, thrillers, silent, and animation. In addition, the Back East Picture Show has received films from as far away as Ireland, England, and Spain.

One of the goals of the Back East Picture Show is to select a wide range of movies with maximum audience appeal. While the festival’s founders encourage attendees to view as many of the films as possible, they do have their favorites.

Films that Perfetto herself recommends include "Suspended Animation," a thriller directed by John Hancock, who also directed "Bang the Drum Slowly;" "The Russian Job," starring Danny Aiello; and "Three Weeks After Paradise," a documentary written, directed, and performed by internationally acclaimed playwright/screenwriter Israel Horovitz.

The Back East Picture Show, however, consists of much more than just movie screenings. One of the festival’s attributes is its commitment to filmmaking’s process, and thus it features several seminars led by film community leaders.

"I love movies," she adds, and stresses that this is her "way of becoming part of the industry."

For example, on Thursday, New York University’s Gary Gasgarth will lead seminars on directing. And Saturday’s "How to Produce, Finance and Distribute Your Independent Film," panel moderated by CAVU Pictures’ Emmy Award Winning Director and President Michael Sergio and Producer and VP of Production Isil Bagdadi, will take participants through the secrets of getting the right film to the right people.

Saturday’s Awards Dinner serves to not only honor the winning films, but also to pay tribute to actor Frank Vincent. Vincent will receive the 2002 Back East Lifetime Achievement Award – honoring an actor’s talent, inspiration and ties to the New York/New Jersey filmmaking community. The dinner will recognize Vincent’s work in films including "Goodfellas," "Casino," and "Do the Right Thing." Actor Vincent Pastore ("Big Pussy" on The Sopranos) and Director Mike Corrente (Federal Hill, American Buffalo) will also join in honoring their colleague and friend.

Perfetto says their hottest-selling ticket is a panel taking place over Sunday’s breakfast: "Mob Movie Mania – A Genre Exposed." This discussion welcomes participants including Paul Borghese, President of the Guild of American Actors; screenwriter Victor Colicchio ("Summer of Sam") and talent agent Mary Anne Claro ("The Sixth Sense," "Rocky").

Even though the festival has yet to launch, Perfetto is already thinking about next year and the year beyond. Key is fundraising – after the festival, she and Costanza plan to hire professional fundraisers and focus even more on public relations. Response from the area continues to be positive, with the most recent accolades from the office of Hudson County Cultural Affairs. Perfetto does look forward to things running smoothly, so she and Costanza may actually attend the festival that they worked so hard to create. Yet, in fatigue, there is also fulfillment.

"It’s a tremendous sense of accomplishment," Perfetto comments. All festival information, including scheduling, event, and all ticket information and order forms is available 24 hours, 7 days a week at: www.backeastpictureshow.org.

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