First-Time Filmmaker Marvin Samel Discusses the Making of ‘iMordecai’ at Gold Coast International Film Festival

Gold Coast International Film Festival director Caroline Sorokoff hosts Q&A with first-time filmmaker Marvin Samel about making ‘”Mordecai,’”an uplifting, heart-warming and frequently comic movie based on his family © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com

To describe the new film “iMordecai” as being about an 80-something year old man confronting the intimidating new technology of the i-phone is to miss what it is really about: it is about resiliency, survival, life and living and relationships, which manages to be uplifting and even comic, despite dealing with such weighty issues as the Holocaust and Alzheimer’s. The making of the film by a first-time filmmaker, Marvin Samel, who has written a superb screenplay and as director elicits Oscar-worthy performances from Judd Hirsch, Carol Kane and Sean Astin, is itself worthy of a film.

 iMordecai is heartwarming movie based on the director’s own life features Oscar-worthy performances from Emmy-winning actor Judd Hirsch as Mordecai Samels and Academy Award-nominated actress Carol Kane (Hester Street) as his wife, Fela,  Holocaust survivors living in a Miami condo. When Mordecai takes the leap of getting an iPhone, the device opens him up to novel experiences and adventures, rekindling in him the youth he lost. It is an uplifting movie that manages comedy even when confronting such weighty issues as the Holocaust, survival, and the onset of Alzheimer’s.

What is most commendable is how the first-time film director-screenwriter Marvin Samel manages to create characters you care about, a plot that moves along at good pace, keeping you interested in the resolution, and seemingly outrageous situations without becoming cliché – and the answer is, because it is all so based in truth – even the ring that Sean Astin, who plays Marvin, wears is the same ring as the one Marvin is wearing when he comes to the Gold Coast International Film Festival for a Q&A after the screening, the first in the New York region.

Samel reflects how he was born in Brooklyn, to Mordecai and Fela Samel, not only immigrants, but Holocaust Survivors. His childhood, he says, was filled with the colorful and oftentimes comedic conflicts (actually, between Mordecai calling his son a screw-up and Marvin calling his father a jinx, the conflicts are more than comedic). In 1995, fueled by his passion for premium cigars, Marvin founded Drew Estate as a kiosk in the World Trade Center Mall, which grew to become one of the world’s largest premium cigar companies. But the movie focuses on 2014, when his company was hanging by a thread and he was trying to negotiate a sale.

After the sale of his company, he founded FeMor Productions, and at the same time, learned his mother had Alzheimer’s. In order to cope with his mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Marvin
began compiling the colorful stories of his family’s past. He began to see the stories as a film, and after his frustration writing the screenplay, collaborated with seasoned screenplay writer Rudy Gaines.

Marvin currently resides in Boca Raton, FL with his wife, Netta, and his twin daughters, Talia and Ariella.

What is real and what is fictionalized? The surprise answer is some of the most outrageous comic situations were real. The fictionalized elements work so successfully in moving story along, weaving the various story-lines together, keeping you interested – especially because you care about the characters – in how it will resolve.

But how did the neophyte first-time filmmaker even begin to get such glitterati to do his film?

Samel, who currently resides in Boca Raton, FL with his wife, Netta, and his twin daughters, Talia and Ariella, came to the Gold Coast International Film Festival’s New York region premiere of “iMordecai” to participate in a Q&A about making the film with Festival Director Caroline Sarnoff. Here are notes from the conversation.

How in the world did you get the idea to be filmmaker?

I was a cigarmaker – I started a kiosk in World Trade Center mall, I had a factory in Nicaragua, grew my business to becoming one of largest cigar companies in world – my father mortgaged his home, 1995, not when he was 85 years old –when we were in big trouble just starting and I almost lost my business and they almost lost their home. But he wasn’t as magnanimous as in the movie; he was really pissed.

I sold the company in 2014 – my wife was pregnant during the sale and gave birth to our twin daughters in 2015. It should have been the happiest time, but a month later, my mother was officially diagnosed with Alzheimers. For the year leading up to diagnosis, my pregnant wife on bed rest with twins, me running around trying to sell business, I would stop by  and say,
Dad, something is wrong with mom.  “What ya talking about, she’s brick made from stone.” Her diagnosis sent me into depression.

I had no intention of making film. I was a lover of film – great acting, writing – I loved going to movies. I lived in Manhattan, went to Astor Place theater, art houses, to see film. I never had any intention of making a movie.

How do you go from that to get Judd Hirsch, Carol Kaine, fantastic actors- were they huge cigar fans?

When I started writing stories – my father as a plumber and a painter – I took a step back, forget about them being my parents, my family, and realized there was a cinematic feel to these characters.

Samel says how he studied other movies – Good Will Hunting, Almost Famous.

I analyzed how many characters- started trying to write myself. This shit is hard – I had no idea what I was doing. I got stuck – sequencing, scenes, how many acts, what to keep/not.  After a long search, met Rudy Gaines, a well known Hollywood ghost writer- has Oscar nominated script he wrote (not allowed to say which ones). He worked his ass off with me – we did this together- I gave him the writing credit.

So then, I had a script, like a million others. A long time passed, a mutual friend introduced to Dahlia Heyman, Italian award winner for best screen play – who agreed to be producer; she brought Alan Bain, Executive Producer.

They brought in a top casting director who set up a meeting with Judd Hirsch at Nick’s Pizza at 91st and 1^st (I paid $20 to get the back room). Pepperoni pie and a couple of drinks later he said, “So who’s directing.” “I am.” “You? What have you directed?”

I had never been on a film set but I know these characters. He wasn’t sure.

I said, “Judd are you in or out?” He said “Let me think.”

I said [in a scene reminiscent of the movie dialogue] “Sorry Judd, this is a one-time offer.” I am not brave or tough, but my mother didn’t have much time. I didn’t care it was Judd Hirsch – he could have been God. I said, “Give me an answer now, I’ve got to keep moving”. Finally, he shook my hand, then said, “Who are you thinking for Fela?” I said, Carol Kaine. “I love it.”

He called Carol by the time he was out the door. That was it, I had a movie to make. We shot the film four months later, but unfortunately my mom passed a month after our meeting.

My mother died three months before filming. I tried everything in my power to get it done first, but as first-time filmmaker, everything takes awhile.

“iMordecai” filmmaker Marvin Samel at the Gold Coast International Film Festival© Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Samel described the conversation he had with his father when he told him he was writing a movie about him.

“Who the hell will watch movie about an old Jew. You will lose your money, you’re still turning money into shit.” [Another line that is used in the movie dialogue.]

Even when we were filming he didn’t understand – the plumber and painter scene. We filmed in 3 locations. My dad showed up to the location where Judd was at a comedy store. My dad doesn’t understand there’s another half. I got into creative difference with Judd – as all actors-directors do – we’re in a little argument. In the back of the set, I hear my father, ‘Oh Marvin’s fucking the thing up.’ In front of cast and crew! Everyone started laughing.  Meta I told dad he can’t say that on the set. He was on the set every single day.

How much real vs fiction? Is the leaking car real?

That was real. My dad’s car was broken into so he put plastic in place of the window so nobody would break in. So when he moved to Florida – monsoons  would fill the car with water. So he pulled out the carpet, and cut a hole with a plug to let out the water. Funny stories- but they weren’t funny when they happened.

[Apparently the scene of his father using a power drill in his condo bathroom was true.]

What stories didn’t make into the film? How much on cutting room floor?

I could fill a series with stories.

A pipe breaks. Throughout the night he’s fixing the broken pipe –he’s 86.  He went downstairs and broke into the utility room – this is a 300-aparment building –  andshut off main water line. The sun is coming up on Sunday morning – no water. So the next morning everyone says where’s the water?  My father goes down, turns the water back on. The entire place erupted in cheers, Mordecai! He’s still doing this. Now 86. [A version of this is in the movie.]

There are other real elements in the movie – Marvin’s twin daughters, now 7 ½ years old now, have a fleeting cameo when they were four;  the cigar company characters “were my frenemies –– all real cigar makers in the world today.”

But a key character, the young woman who gives Mordecai lessons on the i-phone and then unlocks his interest in  trying new things and drives  the plot – is actually a composite. But Marvin says, the premise has its basis in fact -his father did takei-phone lessons that Apple offered – but so many that the company changed its policy on account of Mordecai.

It’s a love letter to my family, to the cigar industry, to Miami – and to New York.

Even though the film is shot in Miami, it has a New York sensibility –the characters are all New Yorkers, via Poland, Siberia, Israel. My formative years were spent in New York – I dropped a number of Easter eggs- the mural they paint – I thought about what Mordecai would paint – he knows the Twin Towers – that was my love letter to New York –to paint the towers, what we all have in common.

In fact, he says, it was 9/11 that was the impetus for Mordecai getting an i-phone to begin with.

“iMordecai” filmmaker Marvin Samel at the Gold Coast International Film Festival© Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Samel has been making the film-festival circuit – it was the audience award winner at the Miami Jewish Film Festival.

My father came to the Miami Jewish film festival – outdoors, 700 people with COVID. He got a standing ovation. Last week, he came to Woodstock Film Festival. There were no hotels, so we were Airbnb roommates for the first time since I was 17 years old (when I left to attend Oneonta state).It was great, but a lot – I’m exhausted after 3 days with Mordecai.

How do you plan going forward with film?

I’m on the festival circuit now – traveling – was in Arizona, Prescott Arizona film festival –my opening line there, ‘Hello gentiles.’ We won best director and audience award. On to 8 more festivals.

Long range: February 4 will be the theatrical premiere in 50 theaters in south Florida – individual theater premieres – like concert tour – where me and a cast member will appear at each theater’s first screening. If we do well in south Florida and have all the 55 and over communities behind us , we will be on to New York. We hope to be out in 2023.

Gold Coast International Film Festival

The Gold Coast International Film and Arts Fest taking place through October 25 also features:

• THE LOST KING, Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins stars in this heartwarming, inspirational true story of amateur historian Philippa Langley’s quest to find the long-lost remains of Richard III from Oscar nominee Stephen Frears. Official Selection of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.

• KARAOKE, nominated for 14 Israeli Ophir Awards (the Israeli equivalent of the Academy Awards). A bittersweet drama/comedy about a middle-class suburban couple in their 60s who are drawn to their new neighbor, a charismatic bachelor who has karaoke evenings at his apartment.

• LOVE, CHARLIE, a fascinating documentary about culinary bad-boy/superstar Charlie Trotter who had it all: an eponymous restaurant, worshipful global respect for his revolutionary innovations, books, film cameos, fame, wealth. Was hyper-driven self-destruction inevitable? (Monday 10/24 at 7:00pm, Manhasset Cinemas);

• FAREWELL MR. HAFFMAN, Legendary French actor Daniel Auteuil stars as the owner and gifted jeweler of a humble shop in Paris in this gripping film, a cinematic adaptation of an award-winning play. This period drama of life in Vichy France in 1941 is a transfixing humanist portrait of survival and resistance, as well as the tragic consequences of complicity and collaboration.

• HARD SHELL, SOFT SHELL, a dramedy about love, class, and finding oneself that tells the story of a handsome 20-something oyster farmer who plunges into depression after a botched proposal to his actress girlfriend. To win her back, he turns to his old friends for advice. Filmed on location in the beautiful southern port city of Sète, France.

• THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING, Essie Davis and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) star in this compassionate drama about a mother suffering at the hands of a system stacked against her as she attempts to win her kids back from foster care.

The festival is also presenting a special advance screening of the highly anticipated new film My Policeman, starring Harry Styles. While not a Festival film eligible for awards, this highly anticipated screening is being presented before the film arrives in theaters. The star-studded cast of My Policeman was recently presented with the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival TIFF TRIBUTE AWARD FOR PERFORMANCE.

The 2022 GCIFF also features a selection of over 40 short films presented free to the public.

In early 2023, the festival will present the Burton Moss Hollywood Golden Era Award to Hollywood legend William Holden at an event that will feature film screenings and interviews with friends and family of Mr. Holden, including his companion Stefanie Powers who will accept the award on his behalf. Information regarding this year’s films and events, and tickets is available at www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org and www.goldcoastarts.org.

Gold Coast Arts is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serving the Long Island and greater New York community for over 25 years, dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts through education, exhibition, performance and outreach. Since its founding in 1995, more than100,000 people of all ages and backgrounds have taken advantage of its wide selection of classes in many different media and forms from art to dance, live performances including Comedy Festival, musical programs and year-round film festivals; workshops, and art exhibits.

Gold Coast Arts Center, 113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, NY 11021 (entrance from the Maple Avenue parking lot), 516-829-2570, www.goldcoastarts.org.

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Long Island’s Gold Coast International Film Festival 2022 Spotlights Films, Special Events from October 10 – 25

Festival to include over 40 films and special events in venues throughout Great Neck, Manhasset and Port Washington

Past Gold Coast International Film Festival honorees Ben Vereen and artist Edwina Sandys. The 2022 festival takes place in North Hempstead, Long Island, Oct. 10-25. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

LONG ISLAND, NY —The 2022 Gold Coast International Film Festival, taking place on October 10-25, will once again bring the best in new and independent films and special events to audiences throughout the region at venues throughout the north shore. Over the past two years, thousands have logged on to Gold Coast’s virtual films and filmmaker Q&As and attended their year-round film screenings at the Manhasset Cinemas. This October, Gold Coast is thrilled to welcome audiences for a full slate of the type of award-winning feature length and short films that audiences have come to expect, and will add several special events for audiences of all ages. Festivities include screenings of new independent, documentary and foreign films at Manhasset Cinemas; award-winning short films screened free for the public at area libraries; the Long Island Comedy Festival presented live at the Gold Coast Arts Center; and an interactive family festival to celebrate art and film, among other special events.

This year’s not-to-miss films include:

• iMORDECAI, Judd Hirsch stars as a Holocaust survivor who must now face the realities of the modern world. When confronted with an unfamiliar object, an iPhone, will Mordecai be able to fit into a world that has changed so much around him? Also starring Carol Kane and Sean Astin. Winner of the Audience Award at the Miami Jewish Film Festival. INCLUDES POST-SCREENING Q&A WITH DIRECTOR MARVIN SAMEL. (Wednesday 10/12 at 7:00pm, Manhasset Cinemas);

• THE LOST KING, Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins stars in this heartwarming, inspirational true story of amateur historian Philippa Langley’s quest to find the long-lost remains of Richard III from Oscar nominee Stephen Frears. Official Selection of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (Tuesday 10/18 at 8:00pm, Manhasset Cinemas);

• KARAOKE, nominated for 14 Israeli Ophir Awards (the Israeli equivalent of the Academy Awards). A bittersweet drama/comedy about a middle-class suburban couple in their 60s who are drawn to their new neighbor, a charismatic bachelor who has karaoke evenings at his apartment. (Wednesday 10/19 at 7:00pm, Manhasset Cinemas);

• LOVE, CHARLIE, a fascinating documentary about culinary bad-boy/superstar Charlie Trotter who had it all: an eponymous restaurant, worshipful global respect for his revolutionary innovations, books, film cameos, fame, wealth. Was hyper-driven self-destruction inevitable? (Monday 10/24 at 7:00pm, Manhasset Cinemas);

• FAREWELL MR. HAFFMAN, Legendary French actor Daniel Auteuil stars as the owner and gifted jeweler of a humble shop in Paris in this gripping film, a cinematic adaptation of an award-winning play. This period drama of life in Vichy France in 1941 is a transfixing humanist portrait of survival and resistance, as well as the tragic consequences of complicity and collaboration. (Tuesday 10/25 at 7:00pm, Manhasset Cinemas);

• HARD SHELL, SOFT SHELL, a dramedy about love, class, and finding oneself that tells the story of a handsome 20-something oyster farmer who plunges into depression after a botched proposal to his actress girlfriend. To win her back, he turns to his old friends for advice. Filmed on location in the beautiful southern port city of Sète, France. (Thursday 10/13 at 7:00pm, Manhasset Cinemas);

• THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING, Essie Davis and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) star in this compassionate drama about a mother suffering at the hands of a system stacked against her as she attempts to win her kids back from foster care. (Monday 10/11 at 7:00pm, Manhasset Cinemas).

The 2022 GCIFF will also feature a fantastic selection of over 40 short films presented free to the public at the Great Neck Library and Port Washington Public Library. Great Shorts 1 will be screened on Friday 10/14 at 7pm at the Port Washington Public Library (followed by a brief discussion with festival Director Caroline Sorokoff) and Tuesday 10/25 at 1pm at the Great Neck Library. Great Shorts 2 will be screened on Saturday 10/22 at 1:30pm at the Great Neck Library (followed by a Q&A with curator Alexandra Gil and select short filmmakers) and Monday 10/24 at 1:00pm at the Port Washington Public Library. Gold Coast’s short film programs have always been some of Festival’s most popular events.

Additional special events to look out for this year include:

• LONG ISLAND COMEDY FESTIVAL, live at the Gold Coast Arts Center, featuring performances by Paul Anthony, Art Schill and John Ziegler (Saturday 10/15 at 8:00pm, Gold Coast Arts Center).

• ART EXPLOSION! FAMILY FESTIVAL, including family-friendly SHORT FILMS; Book talk & signing with award-winning children’s book author ROXIE MUNRO; GLASS PAINTING & ZENTANGLE workshops; hands-on art activities with THE BLUE BUS PROJECT; Live GRAFFITTI demo by world-famous artist ZIMAD. (Sunday 10/16 at 1:00pm, Gold Coast Arts Center. $20 per child includes all film and art activities.

• ENCANTO SING-ALONG! A free event at the Port Washington Public Library on Monday 10/10 at 2pm.

Gold Coast is also excited to present a special Advance Screening of the highly anticipated new film My Policeman, starring Harry Styles. While not a Festival film eligible for awards, this highly anticipated screening is being presented before the film arrives in theaters. The star-studded cast of My Policeman was recently presented with the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival TIFF TRIBUTE AWARD FOR PERFORMANCE.

All Festival screenings and events are presented with the support of Founding Festival sponsor the Town of North Hempstead. Additional 2022 sponsors include Nassau County Industrial Development Agency; A.L. Sarroff Fund; TD Charitable Foundation; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; The Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health; Neiman Marcus; The Bristal Assisted Living; Liman Video Rental; WLIW21; Altice; the Great Neck BID, Destination: Great Neck and many local businesses.

In early 2023, the festival will present the Burton Moss Hollywood Golden Era Award to Hollywood legend William Holden at an event that will feature film screenings and interviews with friends and family of Mr. Holden, including his companion Stefanie Powers who will accept the award on his behalf. In 2017, the Gold Coast International Film Festival introduced the first Burton Moss Hollywood Golden Era Award, named after a man who has represented and befriended some of the greatest stars in Hollywood. The creation of this award, itself a genuine original work of art created by an internationally known sculptor, Edwina Sandys (granddaughter of Winston Churchill); preserves the legacy of the Golden Age of Hollywood and shines a spotlight on the stars who made it so great.

Information regarding this year’s films and events, and tickets is available at www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org and www.goldcoastarts.org.

Over the past 10 years, Gold Coast’s Festival and year-round film screening series has premiered close to 1,000 feature length and short films from over 30 countries, many of which have gone on to receive the film industry’s highest awards, including 2020’s Minari, and 2019’s The Two Popes, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, Marriage Story, starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, and Clemency, starring Alfre Woodard.

One of the hallmarks of Gold Coast’s film programs are filmmaker and special guest Q&As. Some of their most unforgettable moments include an audience of several hundred film lovers singing happy birthday to Bruce Dern as he accepted the GCIFF 2011 Legend Award; hearing Baz Luhrmann discuss his extraordinary filmmaking process in a live introduction to the sold-out premiere of The Great Gatsby; and listening to Hugh Grant joke about his favorite diner meals while filming in Nassau County.

Since 2011, the Gold Coast International Film Festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to standing room only audiences throughout the fabled Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix, and it’s easy to see why the Gold Coast International Film Festival has become the “go to” festival for film buffs and the public. The Gold Coast International Film Festival is produced by the not-forprofit Gold Coast Arts Center.

Previous honorees and special guests of the festival and the Gold Coast Arts Center include film industry VIPs Francis Ford Coppola, Hugh Grant, Baz Luhrmann, Brian Dennehy, Paul Sorvino, Ed Burns, Bruce Dern, Isabella Rossellini, Lou Diamond Phillips, Morgan Spurlock, Eli Wallach, Gabriel Byrne, Jacques Pepin, Bill Plympton, Phil Donahue, Phylicia Rashad, Joan Allen, Jay McInerney and Michael Cuesta, as well as composer Morton Gould, artists James Rosenquist, Oleg Cassini, Edwina Sandys and Bob Gruen, comedian Susie Essman, Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara, Melissa Errico and Savion Glover, and 4-time Oscar winner for production and costume design Catherine Martin.

Gold Coast Arts is a 501(c)(3) multi-arts organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach. For a quarter-century, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the Long Island region. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, afterschool programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops, and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts “Partners in Education” program and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

For more information, visit www.goldcoastarts.org.

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Gold Coast Film Festival Goes On With Virtual & Drive-In Films, Free Opening Night Virtual Gala to Celebrate 10th Anniversary

Actor Bruce Dern, in 2011, was honored as the first recipient of the Gold Coast International Film Festival’s Legend award. This year’s film festival features Dern starring with Lena Olin in The Artist’s Wife © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

LONG ISLAND, NY — The 2020 Gold Coast International Virtual Film Festival and Drive-In Series will celebrate its 10^th anniversary from October 13 – 20 with a host of unique offerings that will appeal to a wide range of audiences throughout the Long Island, New York, region and beyond.  The Virtual Film Festival, powered by CineSend, will be available via mobile and desktop web browsers as well as Apple TV and Roku apps. This special digital platform will allow you to customize your Film Festival experience either through an All-Access pass or single-ticket option, and special discounts will be offered to Gold Coast Film Society members. Films offered as part of the Virtual Festival will be available to view throughout the Festival week. The Festival will also feature four Drive-In events that will take place at various venues across the Town of North Hempstead including in Great Neck and Port Washington.

This year’s lineup showcases more than 70 feature-length and short films, many with pre-recorded filmmaker Q&As, including documentaries, foreign films, narratives, dramas, comedies and more.

The Festival will launch on October 13 with a free Opening Night Virtual Gala to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Gold Coast Arts Center, the non-profit organization that produces the Festival. Included in this year’s virtual film screening lineup are several new films saluting the visual and performing arts including BILLIE, a documentary about the life and music of iconic jazz singer Billie Holiday; MATISSE, From MoMA and Tate Modern, an intimate behind-the-scenes documentary celebrating the giant of modern art; a 10^th anniversary screening of the NAACP Image Award-winning film Thunder Soul, a heartwarming documentary showcasing the Kashmere High School Stage Band and word-class funk powerhouse; and Beyond Moving, which tells the inspirational story of a South African ballet prodigy on his ‘Billy Elliot’-like journey to become a professional dancer, followed by a special conversation with the film’s director Vikram Dasgupta and ballet dancer and star Siphe November.

Other highlights include the Sundance Grand Jury Award-winning film YALDA: A Night for Forgiveness, a provocative new film from Iran about a woman who accidentally kills her husband and must plead forgiveness from his family on a reality TV show; The Artist’s Wife, starring Lena Olin and Bruce Dern (GCIFF 2011 Legend Award winner); SXSW winner for Best Documentary The Donut King, about an immigrant achieving the American Dream by baking one of America’s favorite desserts; and Thou Shalt Not Hate, a tense drama about an Italian doctor and son of a Holocaust survivor, who comes across a traffic accident victim with a Nazi tattoo on his chest. In honor of National Emergency Room Nurse’s Month, and as a tribute to all essential workers, the Festival will also present a free online screening of the new documentary In Case of Emergency which profiles the life and work of several emergency room nurses around the United States. This screening is being presented in partnership with Northwell Health’s Katz Institute for Women’s Health.

In addition to its Virtual Festival, GCIFF will present several films as part of a new Drive-In Series including The Beatles in their feature film debut A Hard Day’s Night, one of the “most deliriously entertaining movies of all time”; a fabulously fun program of Family Short Films appropriate for children of all ages and the award-winning classic suspense film North by Northwest by Alfred Hitchcock, best viewed on the big screen.

For more information regarding the complete schedule of virtual film screenings and filmmaker Q&As and drive-in events, and to purchase passes and tickets, visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org. 

To RSVP for the free Opening Night Virtual Gala celebrating Gold Coast Arts 25^th Anniversary, and for ways to help sponsor or support this important event, visit www.goldcoastarts.org/gala25.

Gold Coast International Film Festival

Since 2011, the festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to standing room only audiences throughout the fabled Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix, and it’s easy to see why the Gold Coast International Film Festival has become the “go to” festival for film buffs and the public. The Gold Coast International Film Festival is produced by the not-for-profit Gold Coast Arts Center.

Previous honorees and special guests of the festival and the Gold Coast Arts Center include film industry VIPs Francis Ford Coppola, Hugh Grant, Baz Luhrmann, Brian Dennehy, Paul Sorvino, Ed Burns, Bruce Dern, Isabella Rossellini, Lou Diamond Phillips, Morgan Spurlock, Eli Wallach, Gabriel Byrne, Jacques Pepin, Bill Plympton, Phil Donahue, Phylicia Rashad, Joan Allen, Jay McInerney and Michael Cuesta, as well as composer Morton Gould, artists James Rosenquist, Oleg Cassini, Edwina Sandys and Bob Gruen, comedian Susie Essman, Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara, Melissa Errico and Savion Glover, and 4-time Oscar winner for production and costume design Catherine Martin. 

Sponsors and partners of this year’s Festival include: founding partner, the Town of North Hempstead; Nassau County Industrial Development Agency; Warner Media; AT&T; AARP Long Island; A.L. Sarroff Fund; TD Charitable Foundation; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; The Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health; Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock; The Bristal Assisted Living; Liman Video Rental; Sid Jacobson JCC; Great Neck Parks District; Landmark on Main Street; The Inn at Great Neck; WLIW21; Altice; Blank Slate Media; and many local businesses.

Gold Coast Arts is a 501(c)(3) multi-arts organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach. For a quarter-century, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the Long Island region. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, after-school programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops, and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts “Partners in Education” program and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

For more information, visit www.goldcoastarts.org.

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9th Annual Gold Coast International Film Festival Announces Line-up of Award-Worthy Films

‘Gatsby’ Director Baz Luhrmann at the preview screening during the 2013 Gold Coast International Film Festival. Luhrmann is one of a star-studded  list who have been honored by the Gold Coast International Film Festival, this year taking place Nov. 4-13 © Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

LONG ISLAND, NY —The 2019 Gold Coast International Film Festival, now in its ninth year, will present more than 80 feature-length and short films, certain to appeal to filmgoers of all ages and tastes. The Festival, taking place November 4-13, will once again be at venues across Long Island’s North Shore, including Great Neck; Port Washington; Manhasset; Roslyn and Huntington.

Last year’s Gold Coast International Film Festival broke all previous records while presenting films from over 20 countries and featuring dozens of visiting filmmakers and special guests for unforgettable post-screening Q&As. This year’s highlights include:

• “The Two Popes,” starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce; which will be the Festival’s Closing Night Spotlight (Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Soundview Cinemas, Port Washington)
• “Marriage Story,” starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver (Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Soundview Cinemas)
• “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” the winner of the Best Screenplay at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival(Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Soundview Cinemas)
• “Clemency,”starring Alfre Woodard, won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. (Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Soundview Cinemas)
• “By the Grace of God,” the Grand Jury Prize winner at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival.  (November 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Soundview Cinemas)
• “American Dharma,” groundbreaking documentarian Errol Morris’s probing portrait of controversial Breitbarthoncho and Trump advisor, Steven K. Bannon. (Nov. 9 at 8:00 p.m. at Great Neck Squire Cinemas)

The launch of the Festival will take place on Monday, November 4, 2019, at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts with an on-stage conversation with Broadway, Hollywood, and television legend Ben Vereen, who will be receiving the Gold Coast Arts Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Vereen’s illustrious career includes starring roles in Broadway’s “Pippin,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Wicked,” among many other hits, and on television as Chicken George in the award-winning mini-series “Roots.”  Emmy Award-winning journalist Frank DiLella will conduct the on-stage Q&A. The nationally recognized Uniondale (NY) High School show choir, Rhythm of the Knight, will also perform that event.

Other Festival standouts include:

• November 5:“Safe Spaces,” starring Justin Long, Fran Drescher, and Richard Schiff. Director Daniel Schechter and cast member Michael Godere will be on hand for a live Q&A after the film; and “Tel Aviv on Fire,” the hit Israeli comedy, which will include a live Q&A with Israeli Ambassador Ido Aharoni.  Both films are at the Soundview Cinemas.  “Safe Spaces” screens at 7:30 p.m. and “Tel Aviv on Fire” is at 8 p.m.
• November 6: “Standing Up Falling Down,” a comedy/drama starring Billy Crystalat Soundview Cinemas at 7:30 p.m.  Director Matt Ratner and Screenwriter Peter Hoare will be on hand for a live Q&A after the film; and “WASTED! The Story of Food Waste,” a film produced by Anthony Bourdain that tackles the issue of food waste. A discussion with Randi Shubin Dresner (President & CEO of Island Harvest Food Bank), NYS Senator Todd Kaminsky, NYS Assemblyman Steve Englebright and Kendrick Repko, MS, RD (Brand Lead, Sustainable Retailing, Stop & Shop) will follow the film which starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., East Hills.
• November 9: “Henri Dauman: Looking Up,” about the legendary photographer of Marilyn Monroe, JFK, Elvis, and more. Mr. Dauman will join us for the Q&A after the screening at 4:00 p.m. at Soundview Cinemas.
• November 10: “Those Who Remained,” Hungary’s submission to the 2019 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, playing at 1:00 p.m. at Great Neck Squire Cinemas; and “The Keeper,” the incredible true story of Bert Trautmann, a German soldier and prisoner of war who became the Goalkeeper at Manchester City, playing at 7:00 p.m. at Great Neck Squire Cinemas.
• November 12:“Balloon,” the thrilling award-winning narrative based on a true story about two families who try to escape from East Germany in 1979 in a homemade hot air balloon, screening is at 7:30 p.m. at Great Neck Squire Cinemas.

These are just a few of the stellar selections of comedies, dramas, independent films, narratives, documentaries, foreign films, and short films that round out this year’s festival.

Thousands of people from more than 175 different ZIP codes throughout the tri-state area attend the Gold Coast International Film Festival each year, including hundreds of children and adults who attended free community screenings of our highly-regarded short film programs at Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington and the Port Washington, Manhasset, Bryant and Great Neck libraries. Dozens of veterans are once again invited to attend screenings free pf charge courtesy of a grant from Operation Democracy. The Festival will again include an edition of its free monthly Making Memories with the Arts programs for people with memory loss and their caregivers as well as its popular Young Filmmakers Program, which screens selected films from talented filmmakers in grades 7 – 12 on the big screen.

For information, to buy tickets and see a complete listing of the films, visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org.

Since 2011, the Gold Coast International Film Festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to standing room only audiences throughout the fabled Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix, and the fact it is also the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season and it’s easy to see why the Gold Coast International Film Festival has become the “go-to” festival for film buffs and the public; The Gold Coast International Film Festival is produced by the not-for-profit Gold Coast Arts Center.

Previous honorees and special guests of the festival and the Gold Coast Arts Center include film industry VIPs Francis Ford Coppola, Hugh Grant, Baz Luhrmann, Brian Dennehy, Paul Sorvino, Ed Burns, Bruce Dern, Isabella Rossellini, Lou Diamond Phillips, Morgan Spurlock, Eli Wallach, Gabriel Byrne, Jacques Pepin, Bill Plympton, Phil Donahue, Phylicia Rashaad, Joan Allen, Jay McInerney and Michael Cuesta, as well as composer Morton Gould, artists James Rosenquist, Oleg Cassini, Edwina Sandys and Bob Gruen, comedian Susie Essman, Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara, Melissa Errico and Savion Glover, and 4-time Oscar winner for production and costume design Catherine Martin.

Sponsors and partners of this year’s 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 the Long Island Community Foundation; Neiman Marcus Garden City; Atria Senior Living; AARP Long Island; A.L. Sarroff Fund; Peter & Jeri DeJana Family Foundation; TD Charitable Foundation; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; Samar Hospitality; The Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health; Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock; Goidel Law Group PLLC; The Bristal Assisted Living; Jet Blue; El Al; Liman Video Rental; The Inn at Great Neck; Operation Democracy; WLIW21; Altice; Anton Publications; Blank Slate Media; Long Island Parent; Science on Screen; and many local businesses including LOLA, American Brasserie and Rothchilds of Great Neck.

The Gold Coast Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the region for over 20 years. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, after-school programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education program, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

More information can be found at www.goldcoastarts.org.

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9th Annual Gold Coast International Film Festival Showcases 80 Award-Worthy Films, Nov. 4-13

Gold Coast International Film Festival Director Regina Gil at the 2018 Awards Ceremony. Some 80 full-lenth and short films will be presented at GCIFF 2019 taking place in venues around North Hempstead, Long Island, November 4-13, 2019 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

LONG ISLAND, NY —Mark your calendars for November 4-13, 2019 as the Gold Coast International Film Festival enters its ninth year, presenting more than 80 feature-length and short films, certain to appeal to filmgoers of all ages and tastes. The Festival will once again be in venues across the North Shore, including Great Neck; Port Washington; Manhasset; Roslyn and Huntington.

Last year’s Gold Coast International Film Festival broke all previous records while presenting award-winning films from more than 20 countries and featuring dozens of visiting filmmakers and special guests for unforgettable post-screening Q&A’s.

This year’s highlights include “The Two Popes,” starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce; which will be the Festival’s Closing Night Spotlight Film. Other films of note this year include “Marriage Story,” starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” the winner of the Best Screenplay at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and “Clemency,” starring Alfre Woodard, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival will also be screening “By the Grace of God,” the Grand Jury Prize winner at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival.

The launch of the Festival will take place on Monday, November 4 at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts with an on-stage conversation with Broadway, Hollywood and television legend Ben Vereen, who will be receiving the Gold Coast Arts Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Vereen’s illustrious career includes starring roles in Broadway’s “Pippin,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Wicked,” among many other hits, and on television as Chicken George in the groundbreaking series “Roots.”  Emmy Award-winning journalist Frank DiLella will conduct the on-stage Q&A. The Uniondale High School show choir, Rhythm of the Knight, a nationally recognized, award-winning group will also perform at the event. The Festival’s full schedule will be released on October 4, 2019.

Thousands of people from more than 175 different ZIP codes throughout the tri-state area attended the   Gold Coast International Film Festival each year, including hundreds of children and adults who attended free community screenings of our highly-regarded short film programs at Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington and the Port Washington, Manhasset, Bryant and Great Neck libraries. Dozens of veterans are once again invited to attend screenings free of charge courtesy of a grant from Operation Democracy. 

Since 2011, the festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to standing room only audiences throughout the fabled Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix, and it’s easy to see why the Gold Coast International Film Festival has become the “go-to” festival for film buffs and the public; it is also the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season. The Gold Coast International Film Festival is produced by the not-for-profit Gold Coast Arts Center.

Previous honorees and special guests of the festival and the Gold Coast Arts Center include film industry VIPs Francis Ford Coppola, Hugh Grant, Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, Baz Luhrmann, Brian Dennehy, Paul Sorvino, Ed Burns, Bruce Dern, Isabella Rossellini, Lou Diamond Phillips, Morgan Spurlock, Eli Wallach, Gabriel Byrne, Jacques Pepin, Bill Plympton, Phil Donahue, Phylicia Rashaad, Joan Allen, Jay McInerney and Michael Cuesta, as well as composer Morton Gould, artists James Rosenquist, Oleg Cassini, Edwina Sandys and Bob Gruen, comedian Susie Essman, Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara, Melissa Errico and Savion Glover, and 4-time Oscar winner for production and costume design Catherine Martin.

The Gold Coast Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the region for 25 years. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, after-school programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops, and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education program, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. More information can be found at www.goldcoastarts.org.

For information about upcoming films in the Festival’s year-round film screening program plus the latest news on the 2019 Festival visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org.

 

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Long Island’s Gold Coast Film Festival to Screen 80 Films, Host Q&As With Filmmakers Nov 2-13

Artist Edwina Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, discusses her grandfather at the Long Island premiere of “Darkest Hour” at the 2017 Gold Coast International Film Festival, Long Island, with Festival Founder and Executive Director Regina Gil and Diane Masciale, VP & GM of WLIW21 and Executive Producer of local productions at WNET. Sandys will be among the guests at the Gold Coast Arts Center and its Gold Coast International Film Festival gala honoring actor Robert Wagner, Oct. 24, kicking off this year’s film festival © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The 2018 Gold Coast International Film Festival is November 2 – 13 at various venues in North Hempstead, Long Island. The festival this year features 80 films over 10 days including:

• Dozens of DOCSincluding great films about Culinary Prodigies, Baseball Underdogs, Film Icons, Remarkable Inventions, Famous Fashion Designers, Broadway Legends, Racecars, the Israel Art Museum, and even Sinatra and the Beatles.
• COMEDIESfeaturing French Playboys, Unlikely Friendships, Aging Arabs, Family Adventures, Buster Keaton and even a film that finds unexpected humor in chronic back pain
• FOREIGN FILMSfrom 22 countries including Period Dramas, French Farces, Psychological Dramas and Film Noir
• DRAMASspotlighting Powerful Performances, Art World Masters, Gripping Holocaust Stories, and Iranian Refugees
• FAMILYPrograms including Family Film Day, Family Shorts, and Films to enjoy with your teens
• Plus lots of SHORTS

In addition to seeing new films and films that are only screened at festivals, the Gold Coast International Festival features dozens of Q&As with filmmakers and special guests special events, award-winning spotlights and premiere after premiere after premiere.

Here is a run-down:

 

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2

DECONSTRUCTING THE BEATLES:
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR FILM & CONCERT- Long Island Premiere

Friday 11/2, 7:00PM – Great Neck Squire

Sponsored by the Atria and Little Neck Beverage

Sean Gallagher & Justin Drobinski | 2018 | USA | Documentary

Enjoy an unforgettable night of everything Fab Four! In 1967 the Beatles produced a free-wheeling, largely-improvised television special that married their pop sensibilities with countercultural experimentalism. This new filmed multimedia lecture from expert Scott Freiman takes fans behind the scenes during the production of the film and explores the creative process behind the songs. Q&A with Musicologist, Scott Freiman, followed by a Beatles celebration at the Gold Coast Arts Center featuring a concert by Beatles cover band Penny Lane, dessert, drinks and more!

 

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6

MAKING MEMORIES WITH MUSIC AND ART

A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WITH MEMORY LOSS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

Tuesday 11/6, 11:30AM – Gold Coast Arts Center

Pay tribute to our Veterans and military personnel with a special Making Memories program that includes clips from your favorite military themed films and a live music sing-along of patriotic favorites led by award-winning musician Roberta Fabiano.

Making Memories is a series of FREE monthly arts programs at the Gold Coast Arts Center for people living with memory loss and their care partners led by Marcy Rhodes, a certified special education teacher and licensed master social worker. Includes light refreshments. RSVP required.

 

FAMILY SHORTS

Tuesday 11/6, 1:00PM – Bryant Library (Roslyn) – FREE

 

THE LAST SUIT

Tuesday 11/6, 7:30PM – Soundview Cinemas

Pablo Solarz | 2018 | 93 min | Argentina/Spain | English subtitles | Narrative

A bittersweet story featuring an 88-year-old Jewish tailor who embarks on a long, transcontinental journey to try and find the man who saved him from certain death during the

Holocaust. Heartfelt and charming, with a wonderful comedic flavor, the film reminds us of the importance of family, friendship, and keeping your word. Festival Programmer talk following the film.

 

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7

FAMILY SHORTS

Wednesday 11/7, 1:00PM – Port Washington Library – FREE

 

GREAT SHORTS 1

Wednesday 11/7, 1:30PM – Great Neck Squire – FREE

 

THE CHARMER– New York Premiere

Wednesday 11/7, 7:30PM – Soundview Cinemas

Milad Alami | 2017 | 100 min | Denmark/Sweden | English subtitles | Narrative

A psychological drama about Esmail, a young Iranian refugee who is desperately looking to meet a woman who can help secure his stay in Denmark. As time is running out he meets the whip-smart Sarah, an Iranian-born Danish citizen, and more than one person ends up getting hurt as his deception catches up with him.

Q&A with Dr. Jamsheed Akrami, Iranian Film Scholar

SINATRA IN PALM SPRINGS– New York Premiere

 

Wednesday 11/7, 7:30PM- Manhasset Bow Tie

Leo Zahn | 2018 | 92 min | USA | Documentary

Sponsored by AARP Long Island

A warm, entertaining look at Frank Sinatra’s deep attachment to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, his primary home for almost 50 years. Featuring revealing interviews with Barbara Sinatra, Mel Haber, Tom Dreesen, Nelda Linsk, Bruce Fessier, Trini Lopez and many others who knew and played with Frank Sinatra. Q&A with Director Leo Zahn, Moderated by Prof. Stanislao Pugliese

 

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8

DIANE – Long Island Premiere

Thursday 11/8, 7:30PM – Soundview Cinemas

Kent Jones | 2018 | 95 min | USA | Narrative

In one of the finest performance by an American actress this year, Mary Kay Place stars in this moving portrait and character study of a widowed older woman, who overextends herself trying to take care of her family and friends, while dealing with a drug-addicted son. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese. Winner – Best Narrative Feature at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Q&A with Matt Prigge, NYU Film Professor and Critic 

 

In one of the finest performance by an American actress this year, Mary Kay Place stars in “Diane,” a moving portrait and character study of a widowed older woman, who overextends herself trying to take care of her family and friends, while dealing with a drug-addicted son. The film, executive produced by Martin Scorsese, was the winner of Best Narrative Feature at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival and will have its Long Island Premiere at the 2018 Gold Coast International Film Festival, Nov. 2-13.

THE INTERPRETER– New York Premiere

Thursday 11/8, 7:30PM – Great Neck Squire

Martin Sulík | 2018 | 113 min | Slovakia | English subtitles | Narrative

In this unique drama, layered with humor, two elderly men embark upon a bittersweet journey to meet surviving witnesses of the wartime tragedy involving both of their fathers, one a Nazi criminal and the other a victim of the Holocaust. Slovakia’s official submission to this year’s Academy Awards. Film Programmer talk following the film

 

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9

BECOMING ASTRID– Long Island Premiere

Friday 11/9, 7:30PM – Roslyn Bow Tie

Pernille F. Christensen | 2018 | 123 min | Sweden | English subtitles | Narrative

This gorgeous period drama chronicles the character-forming period in the young life of the  astonishingly unconventional Astrid Lindgren (author of Pippi Longstocking), who would go on to worldwide fame as one of the most beloved children’s authors ever. A warm and lively film featuring vibrant performances and stunning set design. 

YELLOW IS FORBIDDEN– Long Island Premiere

Friday 11/9, 7:30PM – Great Neck Squire

Pietra Brettkelly | 2018 | 94 min | New Zealand | English subtitles | Documentary

Sponsored by Neiman Marcus Roosevelt Field

Celebrated Chinese couturier Guo Pei is perhaps best known for designing the brilliant gold gown Rihanna wore to the Met Ball in 2015. But Guo’s quest to be recognized by the gatekeepers of Paris haute couture goes beyond the red carpet and taps into global power dynamics and the perpetual tension between art and commerce. An eye-opening, behind-the-scenes documentary.

 

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10

GENERAL MAGIC – Long Island Premiere

Saturday 11/10, 1:30PM – Manhasset Bow Tie

Sarah Kerruish, Matt Maude | 2018 | 92 min | UK/USA | Documentary

A tale of how great vision and epic failure can change the world. In the early 90s, the world’s largest electronics corporations formed a secret company tasked with developing the ‘next big thing’. The company was General Magic and their invention took a thing of sci-fi fiction to reality – a handheld wireless personal communicator. The fascinating story of the rise – and fall – of the pioneering tech company that created a product years ahead of its time. 

 

GREAT SHORTS 2

Saturday 11/10, 2:00PM – Soundview Cinemas 

 

306 HOLLYWOOD – Long Island Premiere
Saturday 11/10, 4:30PM – Manhasset Bow Tie
Jonathan Bogarin & Elan Bogarin | 2018 | 82 min | USA | Documentary
Do objects retain a spark of life from their owner after that person dies? This question catapults a dynamic brother-sister filmmaking duo on an epic odyssey to excavate their deceased grandma Annette’s unassuming Newark home of 71 years. A Sundance Film Festival hit!
Q&A with Film Subject, Marilyn Ontell 

 

CHEF FLYNN

Saturday 11/10, 5:00PM – Soundview Cinemas

Cameron Yates | 2018 | 83 min | USA | Documentary

A disarming and candid documentary about culinary prodigy Flynn McGarry. At 10, he transformed his living room into a sophisticated supper club; at 13, he was working under

some of the world’s most celebrated chefs and by 16, he was featured in a cover story of The New York Times Magazine. A uniquely comprehensive portrait of a young star’s rise as seen from the inside.

BATHTUBS OVER BROADWAY

Saturday 11/10, 7:00PM – Soundview Cinemas

Dava Whisenant | 2018 | 87 min | USA | Documentary

A musical-comedy-documentary! Comedy writer Steve Young’s assignment to scour bargain-bin vinyl for a Late Night with David Letterman segment becomes an unexpected, decades-spanning obsession when he stumbles upon the strange and hilarious world of industrial musicals.

Q&A with the star of the film, Steve Young

 

SONG OF BACK AND NECK– Long Island Premiere

Saturday 11/10, 7:30PM – Soundview Cinemas

Paul Lieberstein | 2018 | 85 min | USA | Narrative

In this charming romantic comedy, nice-guy Fred (Paul Lieberstein, Toby from The Office) rarely gets through the day without falling to the ground with crippling back and neck pain, and is not taken seriously by anyone at work. But as he discovers unexpected love and a rather unique talent, it is just the start of the unpredictable happenings coming his way.

Q&A via Skype with Director & Star, Paul Lieberstein 

 

ON BORROWED TIME – New York Premiere

Saturday 11/10, 8:00PM – Manhasset Bow Tie

Yasir Al Yasiri | 2018 | 93 min | United Arab Emirates | English subtitles | Narrative

Sponsored by AARP Long Island

Four grumpy old men in a Dubai retirement home get a new lease on life when one of them receives a windfall inheritance. Dotted with tender moments, this feel-good comedy about aging, friendship and new directions moves along with a sprightly energy that can’t help but make you smile.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11

HAPPY

Sunday 11/11, 11:00AM – Soundview Cinemas

Roko Belic | 2013 | 76 min | USA | Documentary

Sponsored by Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health

What makes you happy? Money? Kids and family? Your work? Academy Award® nominated director Roko Belic’s film explores the secrets behind our most valued emotion. From the bayous of Louisiana, the deserts of Namibia, the beaches of Brazil and the villages of Okinawa, Belic goes in search of what really makes people happy.

Special activities before and after the screening include:
• Q&A via Skype with Academy Award nominated filmmaker Roko Belic

• A discussion of the role of mindfulness, yoga, and meditation in helping you live a vibrant, healthy, and happy life led by distinguished experts from the Katz Institute for Women’s Health; • Mandala making in the theater lobby;
  • Special giveaways from local businesses 

 

YOUTH FILM DAY

Sunday 11/11, 12:30PM – Soundview Cinemas

Sponsored by Hofstra University

Come meet the next Scorsese, Spielberg or Bigelow! Support the next generation of filmmakers at this special FREE event that is one of the most talked about events each year.  We’ll screen the best short films selected from the hundreds submitted to our 2018 Young Filmmakers Program by kids in grades K-12. 

 

THE MUSEUM– Long Island Premiere

Sunday 11/11, 1:00PM – Great Neck Squire

Ran Tal | 2018 | 74 min | Israel | English subtitles | Documentary

Housing one of the world’s greatest collections of art and antiquities, the Israel Museum poses for its own complex portrait in this elegant and fascinating observational documentary. This masterful behind-the-scenes film seeks to explore the Israeli soul through its galleries, storerooms and visitors. Q&A with Maureen Cogan, Co-Chair of the International Friends of the Israel Museum

 

THIS BUSINESS OF AUTISM– World Premiere Encore Screening

Sunday 11/11, 1:30PM– Soundview Cinemas

Stephen Mackey | 2018 | 102 min | USA | Documentary

Sponsored by Spectrum Designs

A fascinating look at the economic and societal benefits of employing young adults with autism, and specifically the success story that is Spectrum Designs, a custom screen-printing and embroidery business based in Port Washington, New York. 75% of Spectrum’s employees are on the autism spectrum. Q&A with Director Stephen Mackey and other special guests 

 

THE LAST RACE

Sunday 11/11, 4:00PM – Soundview Cinemas

Michael Dweck | 2018 | 75 min | USA | Documentary

Long Island is the birthplace of American stock car racing, but today, only one racetrack remains: Riverhead Raceway, established in 1949 on an initially rural part of Long Island.

This transfixing documentary explores the issues of class divide and corporate interest that have impacted both the racing industry and region as a whole in this beautiful, visceral, mesmerizing ode to a dying American tradition. Official selection of the Sundance and Hamptons Film Festivals 

 

HEADING HOME: THE TALE OF TEAM ISRAEL – Long Island Premiere

Sunday 11/11, 4:30PM – Great Neck Squire

Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, Jeremy Newberger | 2017 | 87 min | Documentary

The stirring underdog chronicle of the unexpected triumph of Israel’s national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. With their Mensch on the Bench mascot by their side, the team laughs and cries as they discover the pride of representing Israel on the world stage. A home run for audiences of all ages. Q&A with Co-Director, Jeremy Newberger

 

GREAT SHORTS 3

Sunday 11/11, 5:00PM – Soundview Cinemas 

 

RETURN OF THE HERO

Sunday 11/11, 7:00PM– Soundview Cinemas

Laurent Tirard | 2018 | 90 min | France | English subtitles | Narrative

In this playful French period comedy, Elisabeth is principled, honest, and clever. When her sister’s new husband, the pompous Captain Neuville (Academy Award-Winner Jean Dujardin The Artist), heads to war and forgets about his wife, Elisabeth writes letters on his behalf to cheer up her sister. Her elaborate web of white lies comes crashing down when the Captain returns from the front. Festival Programmer talk following the film.

 

THE INVISIBLES– Long Island Premiere

Sunday 11/11, 7:30PM – Great Neck Squire

Claus Räfle | 2017 | 110 min | Germany | English subtitles | Narrative

In 1943 when Berlin was declared “Judenfrei” (“free of Jews”), there were still 7,000 Jews secretly residing there who survived by hiding in attics, warehouses and sometimes disguised in plain sight. This gripping docu-drama details the inspiring resourcefulness and courage shown by teenagers and young adults living in dire conditions with an uncertain future. 

 

MONDAY NOVEMBER 12

FAMILY SHORTS

Monday 11/12, 12:00PM – Cinema Arts Center (Huntington) – FREE

 

FAMILY FILM DAY

Monday 11/12, 12:30 – 3PM – Gold Coast Arts Center

While schools are closed for Veteran’s Day, the Gold Coast International Film Festival is open for you! Enjoy an afternoon of short films hand-selected for a family audience plus fun, hands-on movie themed art activities. Includes free lunch.  All ages welcome! Every child must be accompanied by an adult.

 

HOWARD– Long Island Premiere

Monday 11/12, 7:30PM – Soundview Cinemas

Don Hahn | 2018 | 90 min | USA | Documentary

Sponsored by AARP Long Island

An intimate and insightful tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent, the legendary lyricist Howard Ashman. His impact on Broadway, movies and the culture at large is incalcuable. His hits include Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors.

Q&A with Bill Lauch & Sarah Ashman Gillespie

 

BUDAPEST NOIR– Long Island Premiere

Monday 11/12, 7:30PM – Great Neck Squire

Éva Gárdos | 2017 | 95 min | Hungary | English subtitles | Narrative

A beautiful young girl is found dead and no one wants to investigate except a crime reporter who has a gut feeling that things are not what they seem. Based on the international best-selling novel, a classically-styled noir film that reimagines the dark side of pre-war Hungary.

Q&A with Professor & Author, Foster Hirsch

 

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 13

THE GREAT BUSTER

Tuesday 11/13, 7:00PM – Soundview Cinemas

Peter Bogdanovich | 2018 | 105 min | USA | Documentary

A celebration of the life and career of one of Hollywood’s most prolific and influential filmmakers, Buster Keaton. Includes stunning restorations of archival works that bring Keaton’s magic to life on the big screen, plus interviews with his friends, family, collaborators, and a broad array of artists influenced by his singular vision, including Mel Brooks, Bill Hader, Cybil Shepherd and Quentin Tarantino. Q&A with Professor Rodney F. Hill, Film Scholar

 

EGON SCHIELE: DEATH AND THE MAIDEN– Long Island Premiere

Tuesday 11/13, 7:30PM – Soundview Cinemas

Dieter Berner | 2018 | 110 min | Austria | English subtitles | Narrative

At the beginning of the 20th century Schiele is one of the most provocative artists in Vienna. This is the story of two of the most influential women in his life and how they reveal a man unfazed by scandal who is prepared to go beyond his own pain to sacrifice love and life for his art. Q&A with Professor and Art Historian, Martha Hollander

 

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 14

CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL WINNERS AT AWARDS LUNCH
Wednesday 11/13, 11:30AM – NM Café, Neiman Marcus Roosevelt Field

Be the first to find out the winners at this year’s Festival and toast all the many great films and filmmakers of the 2018 GCIFF! Join the Festival team, filmmakers, sponsors and VIP Pass Holders for lunch at the NM Cafe at Neiman Marcus Roosevelt Field to honor this year’s Audience Award Winners for Best Narrative and Best Documentary Feature Film and Audience and Jury Award Winners for Best Narrative and Best Documentary Short Film. (A limited number of tickets are available to this event.)

 

This is also the time of year to join as a Gold Coast Film Society member to get a free ticket to the festival, among other perks that include: first chance at tickets to GCIFF screenings; member discount screening price of $10 ($5 savings); free film screening ticket; and Official GCIFF Program guide mailed to your home.

Tickets go on sale to members on Oct. 15 and on Oct. 17 to the general public. Visit http://goldcoastfilmfestival.org/membership/.

More information from the Gold Coast Film Festival, 113 Middle Neck Road, Grat Neck, NY 11021, 516-829-2570, email info @goldcoastarts.org, http://goldcoastfilmfestival.org.

 

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Film & TV Legend Robert Wagner is Honoree at Gold Coast Arts Center/Film Festival Gala, Oct. 24

Actor Robert Wagner will be honored with the Burton Moss Hollywood Golden Era Award at the Gold Coast Arts Center’s Gala, October 24. The Gala kicks off the Gold Coast International Film Festival (photo by Greg Gorman)

LONG ISLAND, NY – A star-studded evening featuring an intimate conversation with iconic film and television star Robert Wagner to benefit the Gold Coast Arts Center and its Gold Coast International Film Festival, will take place on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Gold Coast Arts Center, 113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, NY 11021.

Joining Wagner at the gala will be a number of his closest Hollywood pals. Among the stars expected to attend are Jill St. John, Joel Grey, Larry King, Richard Thomas, Edwina Sandys, Mrs. Anthony (Katherine) Quinn, Tippi Hedren, Greg Mullavey, Angie Dickinson, Diane Baker, Constance Towers Gavin, and others.

The evening will begin with cocktails, food, music, and a silent auction. The festivities will move into the theatre where guests will enjoy “A Conversation with Robert Wagner” moderated by renowned film historian, author, and professor Foster Hirsch and attended by Wagner’s friends. The evening will conclude with a dessert reception.

In addition to hearing a firsthand account of his life and career by the handsome and debonair actor who is one of the most popular and successful stars in the entertainment industry, guests will feast on an array of outstanding food in a glamorous atmosphere. Gala tickets cost $250 and numerous sponsorships for the gala are still available. For more information, or to purchase a ticket, call 516-829-2570.

The occasion will be used to bestow the second annual Burton Moss Hollywood Golden Era Award upon Wagner in recognition of his long, illustrious career in film and television that began in 1950 with his film debut in The Happy Years starring Dean Stockwell and Darryl Hickman. Among Wagner’s numerous film credits includes With a Song in My Heart, Broken Lance with the legendary Spencer Tracy, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, The Pink Panther, The Curse of the Pink Panther, Midway, The Towering Inferno, Banning, Harper, Prince Valiant, The True Story of Jesse James, and All the Fine Young Cannibals. He re-created his role of Number Two, the villainous henchman to Dr. Evil, the archenemy of Mike Myers’ title character in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

On television, Wagner has starred in three long-running hit series, It Takes a Thief with Fred Astaire; Switch with Eddie Albert and Sharon Gless and Hart to Hart with Stefanie Powers.  He also starred in the top-rated miniseries Windmills of the Gods based on Sidney Sheldon’s best-selling novel; with Joanne Woodward in A Kiss Before Dying; and with Elizabeth Taylor in There Must Be a Pony. He also appeared in the memorable Seinfeld episode, “The Yada, Yada, Yada,” as Dr. Abbot.

Named for the man who has represented some of Hollywood’s finest stars, the Burton Moss Hollywood Golden Era Award pays tribute to film legends who may not have been honored appropriately during their lifetimes, and whose legacy is in danger of becoming forgotten by newer generations of filmgoers.  The award itself an original work of art was created by renowned sculptor Edwina Sandys, who is a granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill. The first award was presented posthumously to Rita Hayworth and accepted by her daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, at the presentation made at a private reception held at the New York City home of Ms. Sandys in October 2017.

Moss, who is also expected to attend the gala, has amassed an impressive client roster that has included such iconic stars and personalities as Bette Davis, Sidney Poitier, Robert Vaughn, Tom Cruise, Mia Farrow, Juliet Mills, Hugh O’Brian, Cliff Robertson, Tippi Hedren, William Shatner, Dyan Cannon, Carroll O’ Connor, Martin Landau, Sally Kellerman, Dina Merrill, Connie Stevens, Tom Bosley, Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Dorothy McGuire, Charles Bickford, Victor Jory, Sally Kellerman, Carrie Snodgress, Larry King, Elizabeth Montgomery, Constance Towers, Ruth Roman, Cyd Charisse, June Allyson, Jack Valenti, and Hollywood’s “Love Goddess,” Rita Hayworth.

Proceeds from the benefit will help support the Arts Center’s many outreach projects, including Making Memories, a program that serves those with Alzheimer’s and memory impairment; as well as ArtReach, a program that brings Arts Center faculty and programs to schoolchildren to enrich their curriculum with arts education in the areas of ceramics, painting, music, dance and chess.

Since 2011, the Gold Coast International Film Festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to standing-room-only audiences throughout the fabled Gold Coast of Long Island and beyond. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix, and it’s easy to see why the Gold Coast International Film Festival has become the “go to” festival for film buffs and the public; (it is also the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season). The Gold Coast International Film Festival is produced by the not-for-profit Gold Coast Arts Center.

More information can be found at www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org.

The Gold Coast Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the region for over 20 years. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, after-school programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops, and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education program, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. More information can be found at www.goldcoastarts.org.

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Star-Studded Lineup Announced for 2017 Gold Coast International Film Festival Nov 5-15

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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2016 Gold Coast Int’l Film Festival Spotlights Hollywood’s Best With Special Events, Nov 9-15

Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock shows off his charm after receiving the 2015 Gold Coast International Film Festival’s Artist of Distinction in Film award. © 2016 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

The 2016 Gold Coast International Film Festival announces an exciting slate of films for this year’s Festival taking place November 9 – 15, 2016 in venues throughout the north shore of Long Island, and once again – everyone’s invited to join us in an exciting week of films, parties, filmmaker Q&As, and glamour!

The Festival kicks off with a special sneak peek screening of Burn Your Maps, starring Jacob Tremblay (Room) and Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga  to be held on November 10, 2016 at Soundview Cinema in Port Washington.  On November 12, also at Soundview Cinemas, GCIFF will host the Long Island premiere of Bang! The Bert Berns Story, a documentary narrated by Steven Van Zandt about the life and career of Bert Berns, the renowned 1960s songwriter/producer whose hits include “Twist and Shout”, “Piece of My Heart”, “Hang on Sloopy” and many more. A Q&A with Directors Brett Berns (Bert Berns’ son) and Bob Sarles will follow the screening and Brett Berns will accept an Artist of Distinction Award from the Gold Coast Arts Center on behalf of his late father.  Other standout films include the Long Island premiere of French movie-star Isabelle Huppert’s new film Things to Come, direct from the Toronto International Film Festival, Harry Benson: Shoot First, followed by a  Q&A with the legendary photographer himself and On the Map, the incredible story of how the 1977 Maccabee Tel-Aviv basketball team toppled the four-time defending Soviet team and put Israeli basketball firmly on the map. Director Dani Menkin and basketball star Tal Brody will be in attendance for a Q&A.

The sixth anniversary of the not-for-profit Festival will feature over 60 films and dozens of filmmakers at screenings and events in venues throughout the Town of North Hempstead region, including Soundview Cinemas in Port Washington, the Bow Tie Cinemas in Great Neck/Port Washington/ Manhasset/ Roslyn, the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck and the campus of LIU Post. Films this year showcase Hollywood’s best actors including Gabriel Byrne, Nathan Lane, Frank Langella, Melissa Leo, James Franco, Christina Applegate, Billy Crudup, Catherine Deneuve, Vera Farmiga, Jacob Trembly, Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neil, Isabelle Huppert, Alex Karpovsky, Rachel Brosnahan and many more industry stars. Award-winning feature films from the world’s most prestigious festivals (Cannes, Toronto, Sundance, Tribeca, Hamptons) will be screened, plus over 25 incredible short films, with Q&As with visiting shorts filmmakers.

Filmmakers and special guests scheduled to attend include: renowned photographer Harry Benson, Matthew Miele (Harry Benson: Shoot First), Lawrence Smith (Mad Riot Entertainment), Dani Menkin (On the Map), Scott Rosenbaum (Sidemen: Long Road to Glory), Scott Sharrard, touring guitarist and musical director for The Gregg Allman Band, basketball superstar Tal Brody, Kate Keckler Dandel (Gold Balls), Brett Berns and Bob Sarles (Bang! The Bert Berns Story), Charlene Fiske (The Founders), Ferne Pearlstein (The Last Laugh), Amir Kishon, son of renowned Israeli satirist Ephraim Kishon, legendary Hollywood agent, Budd Burton Moss, plus many more.

New York filmmakers will be highlighted at this year’s Festival in New York Spotlight program, a free event on the campus of LIU Post on Thursday November 10 at 11:30am that features short films by local filmmakers or about local subject matter. Lawrence Smith (Mad Riot Entertainment) and David Paterson (The Great Gilly Hopkins, Bridge to Terabithia) will lead a panel of many of the filmmakers screening their films during the program. Local filmmakers in attendance include Dale Arroyo, Gordon Grinberg, Neil Holland, Ramfis Myrthil, David Schneiderman and Max Stossel.

For tickets to all screening and events visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org.

Gold Coast International Film Festival

Over the past six years, the festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to standing room only audiences throughout the fabled Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix and it’s easy to see why GCIFF has become the “go to” Festival for film buffs and the public (it is also the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season). The Festival is produced by the not-for-profit Gold Coast Arts Center.

Previous honorees and special guests of the festival and the Gold Coast Arts Center include film industry VIPs Francis Ford Coppola, Hugh Grant, Baz Luhrmann, Brian Dennehy, Paul Sorvino, Ed Burns, Bruce Dern, Isabella Rossellini, Lou Diamond Phillips, Morgan Spurlock, Eli Wallach, Gabriel Byrne, Bill Plympton, Phil Donahue, Phylicia Rashaad, Joan Allen, Jay McInerney and Michael Cuesta, as well as composer Morton Gould, artists James Rosenquist, Oleg Cassini, Edwina Sandys and Bob Gruen, comedian Susie Essman, Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara, Melissa Errico and Savion Glover, and 4-time Oscar winner for production and costume design Catherine Martin.

Sponsors and partners of this year’s GCIFF include founding partners the Town of North Hempstead and Douglas Elliman Real Estate, longstanding major partners LIU Post and Nassau County IDA as well as Neiman Marcus Roosevelt Field, 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, LVR Rental, Samar Hospitality, The Andrew Hotel, Stella Artois, The Amsterdam at Harborside, Metropolitan Commercial Bank, Biener Audi, Jet Blue, WLIW21, Altice, New York Women in Film & Television, Anton Publications, Blank Slate Media, CareConnect, Edelman Financial Services LLC, LOLA of Great Neck and many others.

FILMS AT THE 2016 GOLD COAST INT’L FILM FESTIVAL

AFTER THE STORM – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gciffstorm

An affectionate, shrewdly observed drama of family life from Japan’s celebrated master, Kore-eda Hirokazu. Dwelling on his past glory as a prize-winning author, Ryota wastes the money he makes as a private detective on gambling and can barely pay child support. After the death of his father, his aging mother and beautiful ex-wife seem to be moving on with their lives. Renewing contact with his initially distrustful family, Ryota struggles to take back control of his existence and to find a lasting place in the life of his young son – until a stormy summer night offers them a chance to truly bond again. “A classic Japanese family drama of gentle persuasion and staggering simplicity from Kore-eda Hirokazu.” – Deborah Young, Hollywood Reporter

OFFICIAL SELECTION – Cannes Film Festival, Toronto Int’l Film Festival

Saturday Nov. 12 at 2pm at Manhasset Bow Tie Cinema

BANG! THE BERT BERNS STORY – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gciffbertberns

Music meets the Mob in this biographical documentary, narrated by Steven Van Zandt, about the life and career of Bert Berns, the most important songwriter and record producer from the sixties that you never heard of. His hits include “Twist and Shout”, “Hang On Sloopy”, “Here Comes The Night” and “Piece Of My Heart.” He helped launch the careers of Van Morrison and Neil Diamond and produced some of the greatest soul music ever made. Filmmaker Brett Berns brings his late father’s story to the screen with interviews with those who knew him best and rare performance footage. Included in the film are interviews with Ronald Isley, Ben E. King, Solomon Burke, Van Morrison and Paul McCartney. OFFICIAL SELECTION – SXSW, Seattle Int’l Film Festival.

Q&A following the film with Directors Brett Berns (Bert Berns’ son) and Bob Sarles.

Sponsored by AARP Long Island

Saturday Nov. 12 at 7:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT

www.bit.ly/gcifftestament

God exists. He lives in Brussels annd he’s nothing short of a bastard.  He spends his day intentionally making people miserable, tapping out rules on his his outdated DOS computer and fiddling with his train set. Wonderful French comedienne Yolande Moreau is his mild wife and of course everyone knows about his son, JC. But did you know he also has a daughter? Her name is Ea and she’s 10 years old and wants to change things. One day she rebels against her father, hacks his computer, and texts everyone in the world the date they will die. Then she escapes to Earth, where she recruits six Apostles for a Brand New Testament. Laugh-out-loud funny, this eagerly awaited project from Jaco Van Dormael (Toto the Hero) mixes religious satire and ironic fantasy to salutary effect. No longer in thrall to God’s all-seeing eye, the general populace feels free to act on their basest instincts and hidden desires. For the legendary Catherine Deneuve, that means going to bed with a gorilla. This madcap fantasy is a peppy, original and (importantly) very sweet story with a moral.  NOMINATED- Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film; OFFICIAL SELECTION – Cannes Int’l Film Festival

Friday Nov. 11 at 9pm at Roslyn Bow Tie Cinema

 

BURN COUNTRY – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gciffcountry
Featuring Academy Award winner Melissa Leo and James Franco.  Dominic Rails is Osman, a former “fixer” for journalists in Afghanistan who finds asylum in a small California town. Promised a job as a crime reporter for the local paper, and a home with his best friend’s mother, the town sheriff (Leo), Osman is ready to settle in. But when the job falls through, Osman finds himself restless and looking for action. His attempts to get to know the area lead him to develop friendships with an elusive local actress, Sandra (Rachel Brosnahan) and a charming local troublemaker Lindsay (Franco). But, when a dead body turns up and Lindsay goes missing, Osman returns to his former investigative instincts and explores the possible evil lurking just beneath the surface of his new home’s darkness. WINNER – Tribeca Film Festival Best Actor (US Narrative Feature); NOMINATED – Tribeca Film Festival Best US Narrative Feature

Sponsored by Edelman Financial Services LLC

Saturday Nov. 12 at 4:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

BURN YOUR MAPS

www.bit.ly/gciffmaps

In this charming and moving adventure story, an eight-year-old boy (Jacob Tremblay, Room) becomes convinced that he actually hails from the steppes of Mongolia, leading his troubled parents (Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga and Martin Csokas) to undertake an incredible family voyage. Based on a short story by Robyn Joy Leff, this auspicious directorial turn from Jordan Roberts, the co-writer of Big Hero 6, is filled with drama, humor, universal truths, and Mongolian goats. Lots of them.OFFICIAL SELECTION – Toronto International Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival

Sponsored by Eileen Sarroff

Thursday Nov. 10 at 7:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

CONVERSATION & BOOK SIGNING WITH LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD AGENT BUDD BURTON MOSS

Meet legendary Hollywood talent agent, author, and producer Budd Burton Moss for an in-depth discussion and multi-media presentation on his extraordinary life, career and friends, including Sidney Poitier, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Larry King and many more.

Having grown up in Hollywood where his father, Louis B. Moss, was a Film Editor at Fox and his uncle, Sam Zimbalist, produced Ben Hur, Quo Vatis, and Mugambo at MGM, Budd Burton Moss’ life had an extraordinary beginning. Starting out with acting ambitions and then transitioning to a talent agent, Moss found himself in the company of countless Golden Age stars such as Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, Tyrone Power, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, and Sidney Poitier (who was Best Man at his wedding) to name a few. Through the years, Moss represented the likes of Mia Farrow, Bette Davis, Robert Vaughn, Tom Bosley, Elizabeth Montgomery, John James (Dynasty) Cliff Robertson, and most importantly, Rita Hayworth with whom he became close friends until the end of her life. Budd will also discuss his marriage to actress, Ruth Roman (Strangers on a Train) and his friend, Larry King, who also wrote the forward to his recently new book, “Hollywood: Sometimes the Reality Is Better Than The Dream” which will be available for purchase.

This conversation will be moderated by Raj Tawney of Cinema Arts in Huntington

Nov. 10 at 11:00am at the Amsterdam at Harborside
THE DAUGHTER

www.bit.ly/gciffdaughter

Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neill and Paul Schneider star in this haunting family drama, a powerful reimagining of Ibsen’s play ‘The Wild Duck.’ Retaining all the devastating power of the original play, Stone’s strikingly cinematic feature debut transposes the story into a rural Australian setting. Henry (Rush) is closing down the mill that has been the logging township’s life-blood for generations, whilst planning a lavish wedding with his much younger fiancée. His estranged son Christian (Schneider) returns home after an absence of many years to find his father distant and preoccupied, and his old best friend Oliver newly unemployed due to the factory closure. Reuniting with Oliver, Christian is forced to examine the state of his own life, but examinations reveal long buried, shocking secrets that affect not just himself. Canny, intuitive performances from the stellar cast, which includes Sam Neill as Oliver’s father, are illuminated by Andrew Commis’ cinematography, which also captures the isolation and beauty of the suitably foreboding landscape. NOMINATED – Hamptons Int’l Film Festival Golden Starfish Award; OFFICIAL SELECTION – Toronto Int’l Film Festival

Sponsored by AARP Long Island

Sunday Nov. 13 at 5:00pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

FAMILY FILM DAY

www.bit.ly/gcifffamily

When school is closed, the Gold Coast International Film Festival is OPEN! See great short films specially selected for a family audience and participate in fun hands-on movie-themed art activities. Includes free lunch courtesy of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. All ages are welcome!

This is NOT a drop-off program.  Every child must be accompanied by an adult (no more than 4 children per adult)

Friday Nov. 11 at 12 – 3pm at Gold Coast Arts Center (Great Neck)

 

FOLK HERO & FUNNY GUY – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gcifffunnyguy

Recently dumped by his fiancée and with a stagnating standup routine, aspiring comedian-slash-copywriter Paul (Alex Karpovsky) is stuck. The manager of the club where he performs suggests he take some time off to update his comedy material, and in waltzes his childhood friend Jason Black (Wyatt Russell), an acclaimed folk-rock musician about to embark on a solo acoustic tour of the east coast. Jason suggests Paul needs to get his mojo back—and he should start by opening for Jason on tour. They set off on the road together, picking up a new act (folk singer Bryn, played by Meredith Hagner) on the way. But when Jason reveals an ulterior motive behind the tour, rifts are exposed in their otherwise affable camaraderie. Folk Hero & Funny Guy is a music-infused spin on the road-trip buddy comedy. NOMINATED – Tribeca Film Festival Best US Narrative Feature

Q&A following the film.

Saturday Nov. 12 at 8:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

THE FOUNDERS – New York Premiere

www.bit.ly/gcifffounders

Battling the sexism and stereotypes made sturdy in the 1950s, thirteen women founded the Ladies Pro Golf Association (LPGA). Rare archival footage, historical re-enactments and current-day interviews with surviving founders and leading players present an underdog story never before seen. Despite competing against one another on the greens, these pioneers worked together to keep their dreams of professional golf careers alive. From child prodigy fame to Olympian status, each member left a sports world legacy that lives on today.

Q&A following the film with Director Charlene Fisk

Sunday Nov. 13 at 2:00pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

FRANCA: CHAOS AND CREATION

www.bit.ly/gcifffranca

Director Francesco Carrozzini creates an intimate portrait of his mother, Franca Sozzani, the legendary editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue. From the ridiculous to the sublime, her astonishing but often controversial magazine covers have not only broken the rules but also set the high bar for fashion, art and commerce over the past 25 years. From the legendary “Black Issue” and the “Plastic Surgery issue” Sozzani remains deeply committed to exploring subject matter off limits to most in order to shake up the status quo and occasionally redefine the concept of beauty.

OFFICIAL SELECTION – Venice Film Festival, Hamptons Int’l Film Festival

Sponsored by Neiman Marcus Roosevelt Field

Saturday Nov. 12 at 5:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

GOLD BALLS – New York Premiere

www.bit.ly/gciffgoldballs

Kate Dandel’s quirky and charming feature-length documentary debut inspires the average athlete in all of us while offering unique insight into the lives of several elite tennis athletes—who just happen to be over age 80. Over the course of one championship season, the film follows several players competing for the ‘gold ball’ trophy awarded to National Champions in tennis. Characters include a former Big 10- basketball coach, a retired litigator, an aging comedian, and the founder of “Black Tennis Magazine.” As we witness the routines of these creaky warriors, we are reminded that sometimes just getting to the courts is half the battle. But after the first serve, we forget that most of these competitors retired from their careers 30 years prior and we realize they’re driven by the same motivations and concerns as athletes a quarter of their age. A film to inspire viewers of every age to reset what we think about ‘old age’ and whom we consider champions.

Q& A following the film with Director/Producer Kate Keckler Dandel

Sponsored by USTA Eastern Long Island

Saturday Nov. 12 at 5:00pm at Manhasset Bow Tie Cinema

 

GREAT SHORTS

The Gold Coast International Film Festival continues its commitment to short film excellence, sharing some of the best new short films with our audience. We are proud to host a number of New York, Long Island, and World premieres, featuring up-and-coming filmmakers and festival winners. Keep an eye out for some of these at the Academy Awards.

You’ll see comedy, romance, drama, animation, thrillers, sci-fi, and much more. We’ve got films from around the world, spectacular student films, and films directed by and featuring stars from today’s hit TV shows and movies. You’re sure to laugh, be moved, fall in love, and discover some great new talent. In addition, there will be Q&As with actors and filmmakers at our shorts screenings, and there may even be some surprise appearances!

Thursday Nov. 10 at 3:00pm (Port Washington Library). www.bit.ly/gciffshort1

Saturday Nov. 12 at 2:00pm (Soundview Cinema -Port Washington). www.bit.ly/gciffshort2

 

HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO

www.bit.ly/gciffhail

Academy Award-winning writer and director Preston Sturges delivers a hilarious satire on the American penchant for hero worship in this quick-witted comedy classic. Nominated in 1945 for an Academy Award for best screenplay and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.  Starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest.

Friday Nov. 11 at 1:30pm at Great Neck Bow Tie Squire Cinema

 

HARRY BENSON: SHOOT FIRST

www.bit.ly/gciffbenson

What we know today about many famous musicians, politicians, and actresses is due to the famous work of Harry Benson. Initially, he captured vibrant and intimate photos of the most famous band in history; The Beatles. His extensive portfolio grew to include iconic photos of Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His wide-ranging work has appeared in publications including Life,Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Benson, now 86, is still taking photos and has no intentions of stopping. Featuring interviews with Sharon Stone, Alec Baldwin, Donald Trump, Dan Rather, James L. Brooks, Henry Kissinger, Ralph Lauren, Joe Namath and more. Harry Benson: Shoot First is as vital as the photographer himself and his subjects, a thrillingly energetic trip in unforgettable images.

Q&A following the film with Harry Benson and the film’s Director, Matthew Miele

Sponsored by Neiman Marcus Roosevelt Field

Sunday Nov. 13 at 6:30pm at Great Neck Bow Tie Squire Cinema

 

JOE’S VIOLIN

www.bit.ly/gciffjoesviolin

This award-winning film tells the inspiring story of Joe Feingold, a 91-year-old Polish Holocaust survivor who donates his violin of 70 years to a local instrument drive, changing the lives of both a 12-year-old schoolgirl from the nation’s poorest congressional district, and unexpectedly, his own. NOMINATED – Tribeca Film Festival Best Documentary Short Film

 

Wednesday Nov. 9 at 8:00pm at Hillwood Recital Hall, LIU Post

Q&A following the film with Brianna Perez and Kokoe Tanaka-Suwan, the student and teacher featured in the film.

The event will also include a performance of music inspired by the film by the LIU Post String Ensemble with invited high school guest musicians, conducted by Professor Maureen Hynes.

Sponsored by the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU Post

 

Tuesday Nov. 15 at 11:30am at Great Neck Bow Tie Squire Cinema

Q&A following the film with Joe Feingold

Sponsored by The Amsterdam at Harborside

 

THE LAST LAUGH – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gcifflastlaugh

Is the Holocaust funny? Director Ferne Pearlstein (Sumo East and West, Imelda) doesn’t shy away from the taboo topic of humor, delving deep into pop-culture to find out where to draw the line, and whether that is a desirable—or even possible—goal.

The Last Laugh pairs clips from films, performances, and interviews with top comedians and prominent Jewish leaders (including Mel Brooks, Sarah Silverman, Joan Rivers, Louis C.K., Chris Rock, Abraham Foxman, and Shalom Auslander) with an intimate portrait of Auschwitz survivor Renee Firestone, and rare archival footage of cabarets in concentration camps. From this wealth of material, Pearlstein weaves together a complete and thoughtful exploration into the question of what is and is not off-limits in comedy. The answers are as diverse as the subjects she interviews. There is no consensus on which jokes work and which don’t, and the film doesn’t take a stance; instead, it invites you to think, to laugh, and to remember, all the while keeping its levity. OFFICIAL SELECTION – Tribeca Int’l Film Festival, Hot Docs Int’l Film Festival

Q&A following the film with Director Ferne Pearlstein and Producer Robert Edwards

Sunday Nov. 13 at 3:00pm at Great Neck Bow Tie Squire Cinema

 

LIFE, ANIMATED

www.bit.ly/gciffanimated

Back by popular demand! From Academy Award® winning director Roger Ross Williams, this deeply inspirational is the story of Owen Suskind, a young man who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discover a unique way of communicating – through the world of classic Disney animated movies. He learned about empathy, love, loss and brotherhood with the help of Jafar, Simba, Ariel and many other characters. This emotional coming of age story follows Owen as he graduates towards adulthood and takes his first steps towards independence. A testament to the power of art and a shining example of what it can do. WINNER Sundance Film Festival Best Director (US Documentary) and recipient of  several film festival Audience Awards, you will be glad to get to know Owen and his family in this deeply moving and entertaining film.

Sunday Nov. 13 at 2:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

MISS SHARON JONES! – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gciffsharonjones

Two-time Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple shines a powerful, inspiring and entertaining spotlight on the legendary R&B queen Sharon Jones, one of the most fiery and talented performers working today whose wonder is a force to behold both on and off stage. Hailed as a modern-day female James Brown, n 2014, on the eve of the band launching a new album and as she prepares for her most important tour, she comes face-to-face with the most difficult adversity of her life: a diagnosis with cancer hat brings her career to a stand still. Follow this tour de force over the course of an eventful year as she struggles to hold her band The Dap Kings together while battling her diagnosis with an unstoppable determination. Filled with incredible performances, laughs, tears and plenty of inspiration. OFFICIAL SELECTION – Tribeca Int’l Film Festival, DOC NYC, SXSW

Q&A following the film with distinguished experts from Northwell Health

Sponsored by The Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health

Sunday Nov. 13 at 5:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

NO PAY, NUDITY

www.bit.ly/gciffnudity

Aging actor Lester (Gabriel Byrne) has lost his way. In this often humorous, yet warmly poignant story, love and friendship, jealousy and re-discovery, career, family, and friends (Nathan Lane, Frances Conroy) intertwine as Lester navigates the perplexing realities facing so many of us as we pursue dreams and dignity. A film about hanging out, hanging in, and hanging on.

Friday Nov. 11 at 8:00pm at Bow Tie Port Washington Cinema

 

NEW YORK SPOTLIGHT

www.bit.ly/gciffspotlight

Come see some of the best films and filmmakers representing our region in a special program highlighting these up-and-coming and established filmmakers.  Screening will be followed by a Q&A panel with several of the filmmakers plus Lawrence Smith, of Mad Riot Entertainment, an Executive Producer of GCIFF’s Special Presentation “Burn Your Maps” and David Paterson, screenwriter of Lionsgate’s new release “The Great Gilly Hopkins”, Disney’s “The Bridge to Terabithia” and more. This is a program for filmmakers, aspiring filmmakers and audiences who just love film and learning about all the behind-the-scenes details of how to take a film from script to screen.

This is a FREE event but you must reserve tickets.

Thursday Nov. 10 at 11:30am at Gold Coast Cinema, Hillwood Common

 

OBIT

www.bit.ly/gciffobit

Within the storied walls of The New York Times, a team of writers is entrusted with reflecting upon the lives of luminaries, icons, and world leaders of our day. Often hours before newspaper hits doorstep—and the world’s eyes devour words marking the end of a momentous life–endless detail is gathered and impossible choices must be made. Vanessa Gould’s fascinating documentary, Obit, introduces us to the unseen women and men responsible for crafting the unequaled obituaries of the NYT. As we’re taken through their painstaking process of digging through years of accomplishments, we learn about the particular pressures that accompany a career spent trying to elegantly and respectfully shape the story of a life for an audience of millions. From notorious politicians and beloved musicians to unknown personalities who have advanced the worlds of science, literature, and sports, the obit writers are in the unique and often unenviable position of spotlighting individuals whose impact and influence is near impossible to measure.OFFICIAL SELECTION – Tribeca Int’l Film Festival, Hot Docs Int’l Film Festival

Saturday Nov. 12 at 2:00pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

ON THE MAP

www.bit.ly/gciffonmap

On the Map, a fast-moving, emotional, and awe-inspiring documentary, recounts the story of how the 1977 Maccabee Tel-Aviv basketball team that no one thought could win toppled the four-time defending Soviet team and put Israeli basketball firmly on the map. Featuring interviews with the Jewish-American athletes who made history, combined with the pulse-pounding action of a high-stakes game with an incendiary political situation at the height of the Cold War, director Dani Menkin delivers a film that honors Israeli heroes, mesmerizes fans of the game and captures the spirit of a nation triumphant and victorious against all odds.

Q& A following the film with Director Dani Menkin and basketball star Tal Brody

Monday Nov. 14 at 7:30pm at Great Neck Squire Bow Tie Cinema

 

THE POLICEMAN

www.bit.ly/gciffpoliceman

Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film (1972) The Policeman is an Israeli cinematic classic. This good-hearted, bittersweet comedy features Shaike Ophir (in what is considered one of his finest performances) as Azulai, a policeman in Jaffa, who is beloved by everyone who knows him — his police colleagues and the criminals on his beat. But he is also completely ineffectual at law enforcement. His superiors want to send him to early retirement, but he would like to stay on the force, and the criminals of Jaffa don’t want to see him leave either. Directed by legendary satirist Ephraim Kishon.

Q&A following the film with Dr. Amir Kishon, son of Ephraim Kishon and Director at Kishon Cultural Estate

Sunday Nov. 13 at 12:00pm at Great Neck Squire Bow Tie Cinema

 

THE SALESMAN

www.bit.ly/gciffsalesman

Academy Award nominated Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s latest film is a simmering drama steeped in intellect and nuance that premiered at Cannes in 2016, taking home the awards for Best Actor and Best Screenplay. The film follows young couple Emad (Shahab Hosseini) and Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti), who are forced to find a new apartment in Tehran. While fate seems to finally smile on them, in the form of a recently vacant apartment owned by their acting buddy, an incident linked to the previous tenant of their new home dramatically changes the couple’s life.Set against the lead up to the production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, the film draws a “Hitchcockian” web around the anger, fear and moral anxiety that stem from the young couple after the seemingly isolated incident.  WINNER – Cannes Film Festival Best Screenplay & Best Actor; NOMINATED – Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or; OFFICIAL SELECTION  – Toronto Int’l Film Festival, Hamptons Int’l Film Festival

Thursday Nov. 10 at 7:30pm at Great Neck Squire Bow Tie Cinema

 

SIDEMEN: LONG ROAD TO GLORY – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gciffsidemen

An intimate look at the lives and legacies of three of the last Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf sidemen – piano player Pinetop Perkins, drummer Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith and guitarist Hubert Sumlin. This rousing film captures some of the last interviews and their final live performances together, before their deaths in 2011. These historic live shows are accompanied by performances and personal insights from many of the blues and rock stars these legendary sidemen inspired including; Bonnie Raitt, Gregg Allman, Derek Trucks, Shemekia Copeland, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Perry, Joe Bonamassa and Johnny Winter who offer heartfelt accounts of how these three legendary sidemen helped shape rock ‘n roll. Narrated by Marc Maron WINNER – Nashville Film Festival Special Jury Prize; OFFICIAL SELECTION – SXSW

Q&A following the film with Director Scott Rosenbaum and Scott Sharrard, touring guitarist and Musical Director for The Gregg Allman Band

Tuesday Nov. 15 at 7:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

SONITA

www.bit.ly/gciffsonita

Winner of multiple film festival audience awards! If 18-year old musician Sonita had a say in things, Michael Jackson would be her father and Rihanna her mother, but for the time being, her only fans are the other teenage girls living with her in a Tehran shelter. There, Sonita, a refugee from Afghanistan, gets counseling for the traumas she has suffered and guidance in shaping her future. But her family only sees that her future as a bride worth $9,000. How can Sonita still succeed in making her dreams come true – especially when women aren’t allowed to sing in Iran? WINNER – Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award

Friday Nov. 11 at 7:00pm at Roslyn Bow Tie Cinema

 

THINGS TO COME – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gciffthings

Isabelle Huppert shines in this subtle drama, a clever and loving tale of loves lost, renewed, and regained told with a sharp wit and austere eye. Nathalie (Huppert) teaches philosophy at a high school in Paris, is passionate about her job and enjoys passing on the pleasure of thinking.  But one day her husband announces he is leaving her for another woman and with freedom thrust upon her, Nathalie must reinvent her life. WINNER- Berlin International Film Festival Best Director; OFFICIAL SELECTION – Toronto Int’l Film Festival, New York Film Festival

Saturday Nov. 12 at 8:30pm at Manhasset Bow Tie Cinema

 

THE WONDERFUL KINGDOM OF PAPA ALAEV

www.bit.ly/gciffpapa

Long Island Premiere

Meet Tajikistan’s answer to the Jackson family. Nearly 80, Allo “Papa” Alaev rules his celebrated Bukharian folk music clan with an iron tambourine. Beginning with his unilateral decision to emigrate to Israel, the gifted musician micro-manages nearly every aspect of their lives, both on stage and off. From every meal made in his kitchen to what instrument each member will play, the patriarch accepts nothing less than total commitment and obedience. Every child and grandchild lives in their single-family house in Tel Aviv. All but one, that is. His only daughter, Ada, chose her own way in life, a sin her father will not forgive. As generations clash over new musical directions, competing personal interests and Papa’s advancing age, the family show must go on—but who will lead the band? Set to a blazing tribal soundtrack, drama and drumbeats sing out from every entertaining exchange in this grand family affair.

Q&A following the film with Director Noam Pinchas

Tuesday Nov. 15 at 7:30pm at Great Neck Squire Bow Tie Cinema

 

YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROGRAM: SHORT FILM SCREENING AND Q&A

www.bit.ly/gciffyfp2

Come celebrate up-and-coming young filmmakers (grades K-12). We’ll screen the winning short films from over 100 submissions in from our 2nd annual Young Filmmakers Program, plus have working filmmakers on hand to answer questions for all young filmmakers and filmmakers-to-be. This is a FREE event but you must reserve tickets in advance.

Sunday Nov. 13 at 12pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

 

YOUTH IN OREGON – Long Island Premiere

www.bit.ly/gciffyouth

In this comedy-drama, 82-year-old curmudgeon Raymond (Frank Langella) tells his family that he has made arrangements to be euthanized in Oregon. His daughter Kate (Christina Applegate) is determined to stop him. But it’s Kate’s husband Brian (Billy Crudup) who gets the unlucky task of driving his father-in-law from NY to Oregon and convincing him that he really doesn’t want to die. The problem: Brian hates Raymond. And with Raymond’s not-entirely-welcome wife (Mary Kay Place) tagging along for the journey, it’s just in-laws and the open road for the next 3000 miles.

Monday Nov. 14 at 7:30pm at Soundview Cinema (Port Washington)

For Tickets or More Information on the Festival visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org

Or call 516-829-2570

7th Annual SOHO International Film Festival Returns to NYC June 9-16

Some of 2015’s Celebrity Attendees of the SOHO International Film Festival. The 7th Annual SOHO film festival returns to NYC June 9-16 (Photos by Champion Eye Media)

New York – From June 9 – 16, 2016 the SOHO International Film Festival #SOHO7 returns to NYC for seven days of films at Village East Cinemas located at 189 2nd Avenue on 12th Street in New York City.

Among the many titles in this year’s competition will be Opening Night Film “Coach of the Year” by David Stott making its official New York Premiere! A true story about a swim team that tries to win a state championship – without a pool to practice in – starring Harris Doran (“Junction”), Melissa Archer (“Days of Our Lives”), Hunter Gomez (“National Treasure”, “Family Guy”), James McCaffrey (“Revenge”, “Sam’), and Kevin Brown (“30 Rock”). 12-time Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin will also be in attendance.  The World Premiere for the French short film “Fish & Chicks” by Julie Grumbach, Elise McLeod was chosen to open the program.

Other notable films include the East Coast Premiere of “To Whom It May Concern” starring Dawn Olivieri (“Vampire Diaries”, “Heroes”), Wilmer Valderrama (“That 70’s Show”), NY Actor Robert Clohessy (The Avengers”, Blue Bloods”) and Directed by Manu Boyer;  A new documentary “Happy Lucky Golden Tofu Panda Dragon Good Time Fun Fun Show” by SOHO Alumni Carrie Preston (“True Blood”, “Crowded”); NY Premiere of Comedic Short Film “Not Right Now” by Brianne Moncrief (“All My Children”), and the NY Premiere of “EVOL: Theory of Love” by Mike Perrone starring Alexis Dziena (“Entourage“, “Invasion”) Matthew Lawrence (“Melissa & Joey”, “Boy Meets World”) and Conor Donovan (“The Departed”).

This year’s record number of premieres will also bring Shamim Sarif‘s “Despite The Falling Snow” (UK) starring Rebecca Ferguson, Charles Dance, Antje Traue and Oliver Jackson-Cohen; World Premiere for the short film “The Last Hunt” (US) by Matthew Daddario (“Shadowhunters”, “Cabin Fever”) Brock Harris (*Major Crimes”, “Sam”); World Premiere of “The Hollow” (US) starring William Sadler, David Warshofsky, William Forsythe and director Miles Doleac; International Premiere of “Esoterika: Maynila” (PH) by iconic Filipino Director Elwood Perez.

“This year, is really exciting… we’ve received submissions from more countries than ever before, an even larger number of great films from women filmmakers, and a great number of LGBT films that allowed us to make a specific program for it.” said Sibyl Santiago, Executive Director and Head of Programming.  “….and we continue to be truly blessed with a super strong support from the NY Filmmaking community, which we are proud to continue to showcase at SOHO.”

The SOHO Intl Film Fest celebrates the cutting-edge of digital technology while honoring traditional forms of storytelling, encourages new and seasoned filmmakers from here in New York City and around the world to create and send in their fresh and innovative cinematic pieces.

Adding to the excitement of the event, many of the selected films will hold Q & A sessions with cast & crew members following each screening; along with panels, social events, and other networking opportunities for everyone involved. Leading figures from all disciplines of the film industry including distributors and media will also be in attendance.

The SOHO International Film Festival, which proudly carries the “Made in NY” logo from the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Television and Broadcasting is a vehicle to help the economy of the city, enhancing the festival’s sense of pride while boosting filmmaking and tourism in the Big Apple. They are dedicated to celebrating the art of long and short form cinema created from the latest digital technology while still embracing the original goal ‐ incredible storytelling. Founded in the epicenter of New York’s most artistic district, by Jorge Ballos in 2009, the festival is has provided a unique and powerful platform for filmmakers to gain exposure and potential distribution. SIFFNYC is committed to exhibiting domestic and international films, focusing on dynamic, visionary cinema that creates extraordinary experiences.

For more information on the SOHO International Film Festival, visit www.SohoFilmFest.com, or Twitter  @SohoFilmFest, Facebook.com/SohoFilmFest.

 

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