(TEANECK, NJ) -- Women of Wisdom (WOW) has named Barbara Ostroth its Woman of the Year.  The award will be presented to her at the closing film (Politics is a Mother - a documentary about Senator Loretta Weinberg) of the Teaneck International Film Festival on Sunday night, November 10, 2024 at Temple Emeth (1666 Windsor Road) in Teaneck.

It is appropriate, in light of Barbara’s many years as a member and leader of the Teaneck League of Women Voters where she is vice president for Voter Services, that Senator Loretta Weinberg, another long-time Teaneck resident and activist (and a recipient of a WOW award) is the subject of that closing film – the documentary, Politics is a Mother, which was written and directed by her daughter, Francine Graff.

A Teaneck resident since 1983, when she and her husband Jeff moved here with their four children, Barbara became involved in the Teaneck Public Schools and sports booster clubs in which her children were enrolled, often taking on leadership positions.  She led successful efforts to pass two bond issues, and in 1995 was elected to the Board of Education, where she served for 12 years.  She was president of Teaneck’s education foundation for several years, was a mentoring mom for the Bergen County Volunteer Center, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Scholarship Fund of Teaneck.  In 2018, the Teaneck Chamber of Commerce named her its Woman of the Year.

All this, and she is also a full-time residential – and top - sales associate with Coldwell Banker Realty.  As a realtor, she has always promoted Teaneck’s multicultural diverse community.  As a volunteer, she says her approach has always been “What can I do to help solve problems and make my town stronger?”

Barbara, who has always been a fan and supporter of the film festival, exemplifies TIFF’s commitment to inspiring activism and involvement.  They are delighted to recognize her many contributions and achievements.

The Teaneck International Film Festival takes place from November 7-14, 2024. More than 20 years ago, a small group of dedicated volunteers set out with the support of the nonprofit organization Puffin Foundation, Ltd. to create an event that would present a collection of compelling and imaginative feature-length films, documentaries, and shorts from a variety of cultures that would lead audiences to question, debate, and become caring and involved citizens who recognize the need to institute positive change. TIFF has found its niche on the film festival circuit, and, having been dubbed by the Star-Ledger, “the film festival with a social conscience,” is growing in reputation as well as numbers.