SPARTA, N.J. (May 9, 2025) — Daughter of Mine, the emotional short film chronicling Hillsdale resident Rosemarie D’Alessandro’s decades-long fight for justice following the 1973 murder of her daughter Joan, was named Best Short Film at the New Jersey Documentary Film Festival, held May 2–4 at the Sparta Avenue Stage.
Now in its fifth year, the annual festival showcased 24 films from around the world, each exploring compelling personal stories and urgent social issues.
Directed by Vanessa Martino, Daughter of Mine screened alongside Unpunished, a documentary examining the case of Ronald Greene and his mother’s relentless search for answers after his death in Louisiana police custody.
D’Alessandro attended the screening with family and supporters of the Joan’s Joy Foundation. She also connected with fellow filmmaker Chico Bryant of Jersey City, who directed Unpunished.
According to the festival’s program, Bryant’s film follows a whistleblower state trooper who risks everything to reveal body camera footage of Greene’s fatal encounter, igniting a broader fight for law enforcement accountability.
For more on Daughter of Mine and the Joan’s Joy mission, visit daughterofminefilm.com and joansjoy.org. More festival information is available at njdocfest.com.