Scott Black and Heather Donahue star in Phil Botti’s film The Walking Hack of Asbury Park.

A new film by award-winning independent filmmaker Philip Botti will be featured at the 2002 Red Bank International Film Festival scheduled for Aug. 21-25.

Botti’s Bust a Move won the Jersey Grown Award at the inaugural 2001 Red Bank Film Festival. His new film, The Walking Hack of Asbury Park, will premiere Aug. 25 at the 2002 festival, which will take place at Clearview Cinemas on White Street in Red Bank.

An offbeat comedy about a down-and-out Asbury Park cab driver who sets his sights on a pilgrimage to Graceland, The Walking Hack of Asbury Park features local actor Scott Black, Heather Donahue, star of The Blair Witch Project, and veteran character actor Gene Ruffini of Analyze This.

According to Botti, the film uses many of Asbury’s famed landmarks as its backdrop, including Palace Amusements.

"I think people will be amazed at how great Asbury looks," said Botti, who will be available for a discussion session after the screening. Most of the $10,000-budget movie was shot in Asbury Park with additional scenes filmed at the famed Roadside Diner in Wall.

The International Film Festival will open Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. with "Music for a Better Tomorrow," a free concert and light show in honor of jazz legend William "Count" Basie’s 98th birthday. The concert by the Sun Ra Arkestra will take place at the Count Basie Theatre on Monmouth Street and will be followed by a parade to the Clearview Cinema, where screenings will include A Joyful Noise followed by a discussion session with members of the Arkestra.

The popular Jersey Fresh lineup of films by local filmmakers will close the festival. This year’s entries focus on the Asbury Park mystique and include Asburied by Steve Herald, Making for the Sea by Bob Gilanyi, Rasbury by Bob Mataranglo, Corona by John Columbus and Untitled Asbury Park Cabbie Movie by Flip Daniels.

In between, films have been grouped into segments around themes that probe the unconscious, challenge female gender representations, highlight the disconnect between contemporary consumer culture and mainstream values and ideals, examine the complexities of relationships, and confront the inequity of incarcerating criminals who commit minor crimes.

Tickets are available at the Clearview Cinema box office, 36 White St. Ticket prices begin at $7 for a segment and range up to $100 for a pass to the five-day event.