In “Dog Years,” Burt Reynolds stars as an aging, former movie star who is forced to face the reality that his glory days are behind him. A tale about faded fame, but at its core, a universal story about growing old. Also starring Ariel Winter (Modern Family). A funny and ultimately touching cross-generational comedy. The film is part of the Gold Coast International Film Festival.
GREAT NECK, NY — The 2017 Gold Coast International Film Festival presents an exciting slate of more than 80 feature-length and short films for this year. Among the impressive array of films is the Long Island Premiere of Dare to Be Different about WLIR 92.7,
the influential Long Island radio station on the cutting edge of music in the 1980s. The festival’s Spotlight Film is Darkest Hour starring Gary Oldman, whose brilliant performance as Sir Winston Churchill drives this historic account of the early days of World War II. Festival events will take place at venues across the storied Gold Coast of Nassau County, and the public is guaranteed an exciting week of films, parties, filmmaker Q&A’s, and glamour.
The Gold Coast International Film Festival will celebrate its launch on Sunday, November 5, 2017, with screenings of two very inspiring films at the Bow Tie Squire Theater in Great Neck:
Underfire: The Untold Story of Pfc. Tony Vaccaro will be shown at 3:30 p.m. and Supergirl at 3:00 p.m.
Underfire is the remarkable story of WWII infantryman and legendary photographer Tony Vaccaro, who created one of the most comprehensive, haunting and intimate photographic records of the war using a smuggled $47 camera while developing the negatives in his helmet at night. Tony Vaccaro, Director Max Lewkowicz and Producer Valerie Thomas will participate in a post-screening Q&A session, followed by the opening reception of Tony Vaccaro’s acclaimed, wartime and celebrity photography at the Gold Coast Arts Center Gallery in Great Neck.
Naomi Kutin, an Orthodox Jewish pre-teen girl with an extraordinary talent – holding a world record in powerlifting is the subject of the film “Supergirl,” to be shown at the Gold Coast International Film Festival. The film’s director will join Naomi and her family for a Q&A following the movie.
Supergirl is the story of Naomi Kutin, an Orthodox Jewish pre-teen girl with an extraordinary talent – holding a world record in powerlifting. The film’s director will join Naomi and her
family for a Q&A following the movie.
The Long Island Premiere of Dare to Be Different will screen on Sunday, November 12, at Soundview Cinemas in Port Washington at 5:00 p.m. Director Ellen Goldfarb and Executive Producer and former WLIR Program Director Denis McNamara, plus a host of other special guests, including artists and DJs featured in the film will participate in a Q&A that could only happen on Long Island, where WLIR brought new wave music to America. WLIR helped launch the careers of U2, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Blondie, Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, The Clash, and The Cure, among others. Special guests attending the premiere include Larry
“The Duck” Dunn, Michael “Eppy” Epstein, Max Leinwand, Steve North, Carol Silva, Donna Donna and “Malibu Sue” McCann.
Darkest Hour will be screened on Monday, November 13 at Soundview Cinemas in Port Washington. The film, which is receiving rave reviews for Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Sir Winston Churchill, will be followed by a Q&A with Churchill’s granddaughter and world-renowned sculptor, Edwina Sandys.
“Ben-Gurion: Epilogue,” a documentary compiled from six hours of never-before-seen footage of conversations with Israel’s founding father, is a work of undeniable historical significance with prophetic implications for Israel’s future. The screening at Gold Coast International Film Festival on Wednesday, Nov. 8 will be followed with a Q&A with Alon Ben-Gurion.
Other standout films and events at this year’s festival include more than 40 premieres, including French movie-star Isabelle Huppert’s new film Souvenir; Burt Reynold’s new film Dog Years; Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story; and the timely Bill Nye: Science Guy. The festival is also featuring Yellow Birds, starring Jennifer Aniston, Toni Collette, Alden Ehrenreich and Tye Sheridan, Ben-Gurion, Epilogue about Israel’s founding father, with a live post-screening Q&A with David Ben-Gurion’s grandson Alon Ben-Gurion; the delightful documentary Hummus!
The Movie, followed by “The Great Gold Coast Hummus Taste-Off” at Lola; and the East Coast premiere of the Iranian film Gholam, starring Shahab Hosseini, star of the 2016 Oscar-winning film The Salesman, which premiered at last year’s festival. On Saturday, November 11, the festival will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Oscar-winning Hollywood musical Pal Joey, starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak. Sinatra’s granddaughter, Amanda Erlinger will be on hand for a Q&A following the screening.
The seventh anniversary of the not-for-profit Gold Coast International Film Festival features over 80 films and dozens of filmmakers at screenings and events at North Shore venues,
including Soundview Cinemas in Port Washington, the Bow Tie Cinemas in Great Neck, Port Washington, Manhasset and Roslyn, and the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck. Films presented this year showcase some of Hollywood’s best actors, include Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Arquette, Burt Reynolds, Isabelle Huppert, Rainn Wilson, Bill Nye, Rosemarie DeWitt, Imogen Poots, and Shahab Hosseini. Films starring screen
immortals Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Gary Cooper and many more industry stars will also be presented. Award-winning feature films from the world’s most prestigious festivals (Cannes, Toronto, Sundance, Tribeca, Hamptons) will be shown, along with dozens of excellent short films.
Can Bill Nye show the world why science matters in a culture increasingly indifferent to evidence? With intimate and exclusive access, this documentary is a behind-the-scenes portrait of “the Science Guy,” as he inspires Millennials to participate in STEM. With wonder and whimsy, the film follows Bill’s journey to change the world… with science.
This year, GCIFF again presents the work of talented young filmmakers in grades K-12 in our Young Filmmakers Program, presented in partnership with Hofstra University.
Filmmakers and special guests scheduled to attend the Gold Coast International Film Festival include: renowned photographer Tony Vaccaro; Alon Ben-Gurion; award-winning filmmakers Alexandra Dean (Bombshell); Max Lewkowicz (Underfire); Ellen Goldfarb and Denis McNamara (Dare to Be Different); Jessie Auritt (Supergirl); Jean-Stéphane Bron (Paris Opera); Yael Melamede and Jenny McQuaile (Straight/Curve); Edwina Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill; Amanda Erlinger, granddaughter of Frank Sinatra;
plus many more.
Sponsors and partners of this year’s Gold Coast International Film Festival include: founding partners, the Town of North Hempstead and Douglas Elliman Real Estate; major partners, Hofstra University and the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency; as well as Neiman Marcus Garden City; GEICO; Deluxe Entertainment Services Group; AARP Long Island; A.L. Sarroff Fund; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; The Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health; St. Mary’s Kids; , Jet Blue; Biener Audi; LVR Rental; The Inn at Great Neck; The Andrew Hotel; WLIW21; Altice; New York Women in Film & Television; Anton Publications; Blank Slate Media; LI Pulse; Edelman Financial Services, LLC; and LOLA of Great Neck.
For tickets to all screenings and events visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org
Here are some of the highlights:
Underfire: The Untold Story of Pfc. Tony Vaccaro – Long Island Premiere
Q&A with Tony Vaccaro, Director Max Lewkowitz and Producer Valerie Thomas
Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3:30pm
Great Neck Squire
Max Lewkowicz | USA | English | 73 min |Documentary
The remarkable story of WWII infantryman and photographer Tony Vaccaro, who created one of the most comprehensive, haunting and intimate photographic records of the war using a smuggled $47 camera while developing the negatives in his helmet at night.Sponsored by AARP Long Island
*Will be followed by the Opening Reception of an exhibit of Tony Vaccaro’s stunning wartime and celebrity photography at the Gold Coast Arts Center Gallery
Supergirl – Long Island Premiere
Q&A with Director Jessie Auritt and the “Supergirl” herself!
Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3:00pm
Great Neck Squire
Jessie Auritt | USA | English | 80 min |Documentary
When a nine-year-old girl breaks a powerlifting world record, she turns into an international phenomenon – and “Supergirl” is born. Naomi Kutin seems like a typical New Jersey Orthodox Jewish pre-teen until her extraordinary talent transforms the lives of her family and thrusts her into news headlines. Supergirl follows Naomi’s unique coming-of-age story as she fights to hold on to her title while navigating the perils of adolescence—from strict religious obligations to cyber-bullying, to a changing body, and on top of that, health issues could jeopardize her future in powerlifting.
Ben-Gurion: Epilogue
*Q&A with Alon Ben-Gurion
Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7:30pm
Great Neck Squire
Yariv Mozer | Israel | Hebrew, English | 70 min | Documentary
Compiled from six hours of never-before-seen footage, the discovered conversations with Israel’s founding father present a rare and fortuitous piece of cinematic archeology. A work of undeniable historical significance with prophetic implications for Israel’s future.
Presented in Partnership with American Friends of Soroka Medical Center
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story – Long Island Premiere
Q&A with Director Alexandra Dean, Dr. Christine Metz and Fleming Meeks; moderated by Diane Masciale of WNET
Thursday Nov. 9 at 7:30pm
Great Neck Squire
Alexandra Dean | USA | English | 90 min |Documentary
Hedy Lamarr, the woman many critics and fans alike regard as the most beautiful ever to appear in films, was also the secret inventor of secure wifi, Bluetooth and GPS communications, but her arresting good looks stood in the way of her being given the credit she deserved…until now. A film for lovers of history, Hollywood and science. Sponsored by Edelman Financial Services, LLC. A Science on Screen screening Sponsored by Edelman Financial Services, LLC
Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image – Long Island Premiere
Q&A with Director Jenny McQuaile and Producer Yael Melamede and a panel of distinguished experts from Northwell Health
Saturday, Nov. 11 at 4:00pm
Soundview Cinemas
Jenny McQuaile | USA | English | 83 min |Documentary
The exciting new documentary that examines the industries and obstacles responsible for the body image crisis and showcases the dynamic leaders fighting for more diversity of size, race and age. “[This film] will change the way you think about yourself.” Sponsored by Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health
Pal Joey
Q&A with Amanda Erlinger, Frank Sinatra’s granddaughter and Nancy Sinatra’s daughter
Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6:30pm
Soundview Cinemas
George Sidney | USA | English | 111 min | Narrative
Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak star in this Academy Award-winning musical gem celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Joey Evans (Sinatra) is a second-rate singer known for his womanizing ways. When he meets Linda (Novak), a naive chorus girl, he has stirrings of real feelings. However, that does not stop him from romancing a former flame and ex-stripper, now society matron Vera Prentice-Simpson (Hayworth). With a great cast and book and a score full of unforgettable songs, you won’t want to miss this rare chance to see this Technicolor classic on the big screen.
Hummus! The Movie – Long Island Premiere
Sunday, Nov. 12 at 4:00pm
Great Neck Squire
Oren Rosenfeld | Israel | English, Arabic, Hebrew w/ English Subtitles | 70 min |Documentary
It Unites! It Divides! It’s Delicious! An eclectic, touching film about Hummus, the delicious super food sweeping across America. Includes secret recipes, a Guinness World Record and the power of Hummus to bring Muslims, Christians and Jews together – in the Middle East, America and around the world.
Sponsored by The Nassim Family
Dare to be Different – Long Island Premiere
Q&A with Director Ellen Goldfarb and special guests
Sunday, Nov. 12. There is a 4:30pm and 7:30pm screening. The 4:30 has a Q&A. We will also likely add a Tuesday 11/14 screening with Q&A
Soundview Cinemas
Ellen Goldfarb | USA | English | 93 min |Documentary
U2, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Blondie, Duran Duran, The Clash, The Cure: Over half a billion records sold but you may never have heard of them if not for a small suburban radio station on Long Island, NY: WLIR. The story of the small group of radio visionaries who changed the sound of radio forever by battling the FCC, the record labels and mega-radio to create a musical movement that brought the New Wave to America.
Darkest Hour
Q&A with Edwina Sandys, Winston Churchill’s granddaughter
Monday, Nov. 13 at 7:00pm
Soundview Cinemas
Joe Wright | UK | English | 114 minutes | Narrative
Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman’s brilliant performance as Winston Churchill drives this story of the early days of World War II. Britain faces its darkest hour as the threat of invasion looms. As the seemingly unstoppable Nazi forces advance, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the leadership of the newly-appointed British Prime Minister. While maneuvering his political rivals, he must confront the ultimate choice: negotiate with Hitler and save the British people at a terrible cost or rally the nation and fight on against incredible odds.
The festival will finish on Wednesday November 15 with a Closing Awards Lunch at the cafe at Neiman Marcus Garden City (in Roosevelt Field), noon to 2pm. The lunch will also be the launch of the Neiman Marcus ”Love to Give” Collection. 10% of the proceeds from the sale of the ”Love to Give” items goes back to the Arts Center.
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