writer / director / vfx
John J. Budion is an award winning writer, director, and visual effects artist, with over 15 years of experience in the film and television world. He started out his career at the tender age of 17, while concurrently working towards his degree at New York University.
ROCKAWAY was honored this weekend as a special Jury Selected Film at Paramount Studios as part of the Hollywood Film Festival. The festival vetted through over 6,000 film submissions from around the world to narrow the field to 50 films, representing the Jury Selected being honored. Additionally, ROCKAWAY took home the award of "MOST IMPACTFUL NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM!"
ROCKAWAY will be screened throughout the Hollywood Film Festival's showcase events in 2018.
ROCKAWAY, the coming of age drama, penned and directed by John J. Budion, received the first ever standing ovation at the CATALINA FILM FESTIVAL! The film also took home the festival's top award of BEST FEATURE FILM - BEST OF FESTIVAL. Many could be heard toting the film as "Oscar worthy" and the next Stand By Me, as John and his young talented cast walked the red carpet!
NEWSDAY - by RAFER GUZMAN
THE MOVIE “Rockaway”
THE DEAL The debut feature from North Shore native John J. Budion will have its premiere at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival on Sunday. Previously titled “Life Now, Life Then,” Budion’s semiautobiographical film is set in East Rockaway (and was partly filmed there) and tells the story of two brothers raised by an abusive father. Budion’s young cast includes Keidrich Sellati (FX’s “The Americans”), Maxwell Apple (“Person to Person”) and James DiGiacomo (CBS’ “Kevin Can Wait”). Read the full article here.
The Rhode Island International Film Festival has ear marked ROCKAWAY as a film not to miss at this years festival! See the full article here.
Fios 1 gets in on the production fun of writer/director John J. Budion's coming of age drama Life Now, Life Then. Check out the coverage here.