The Golden Door International Film Festival awarded over $5,000 in scholarships to students from schools in Hudson County, as well as to filmmakers of movies promoting autism awareness, at a ceremony held on Monday evening. 
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
In addition to supporting independent filmmaking, the GDIFF has also established a philanthropic branch to raise awareness about autism through cinema.
This year, scholarships were presented to Caitlin Costello, a student at New Jersey City University, Gabriella Robles from St. Peters University, Hali Merrill, a senior at High Tech High, Lauren McKenzie-Lindo, a senior at Snyder High School Media Arts Program, and Amanda Capra, a filmmaker from Long Island who received the Autism Awareness scholarship.
The GDIFF has awarded in total more than $25,000 in scholarships over the course of the past 6 years and been named Best Film Festival in the state by NJ Stage Awards for two years in a row.
