New Jersey Creator Tom Cavanaugh Wins 'Best Feature Screenplay' at 2026 Garden State Film Festival

Cavanaugh's original dramedy script 'BEDBUGGERS' earns top honor at the 24th annual festival in Asbury Park and Cranford.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Award-winning playwright and filmmaker Tom Cavanaugh has officially been named the winner of the Best Feature Screenplay award at the 2026 Garden State Film Festival (GSFF). Cavanaugh, a New Jersey native, received the top honor for his original dramedy script, 'BEDBUGGERS.' The recognition will be celebrated during the 24th annual festival, which runs from March 26 to March 29, 2026, across multiple venues in Asbury Park and Cranford, New Jersey.

Why it matters

The Garden State Film Festival is recognized as New Jersey's premier independent film festival, acting as a global platform for cinematic excellence. Cavanaugh's award-winning screenplay 'BEDBUGGERS' explores themes of nomadic life, questionable ethics, and the search for identity within a highly unconventional family dynamic, resonating with the festival's mission to celebrate independent storytelling.

The details

As part of the festival's official programming, GSFF will host a live table reading of the winning screenplay. The event is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Oval Room of The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park. The live reading is open to festival attendees and will feature a cast of established and emerging actors bringing Cavanaugh's characters to life for a live audience.

  • The 24th annual Garden State Film Festival will run from March 26 to March 29, 2026.
  • The live table reading of 'BEDBUGGERS' is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

The players

Tom Cavanaugh

An award-winning writer, director, and producer whose work bridges the creative communities of New York and Los Angeles. Operating under Paris Avenue Productions, Cavanaugh focuses on character-driven narratives across stage plays, feature screenplays, and independent films.

Garden State Film Festival (GSFF)

New Jersey's premier independent film festival, acting as a global platform for cinematic excellence.

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What they’re saying

“Being recognized by the Garden State Film Festival in my home state is a tremendous honor. The script for 'BEDBUGGERS' has been a dedicated passion project, and seeing it resonate with the festival's jury validates the hard work poured into this story. I look forward to sharing this unique family dynamic with audiences and industry peers during the live reading in Asbury Park.”

— Tom Cavanaugh

What’s next

The live table reading of Cavanaugh's award-winning screenplay 'BEDBUGGERS' is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Oval Room of The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park.

The takeaway

Cavanaugh's award-winning screenplay 'BEDBUGGERS' explores themes of nomadic life, questionable ethics, and the search for identity within a highly unconventional family dynamic, resonating with the Garden State Film Festival's mission to celebrate independent storytelling and provide a global platform for cinematic excellence.