Business & Tech

Gold Coast International Film Fest Highlights Include Movies, Panels and Comedy

The festival runs from Oct. 21-27

The third Gold Coast International Film Festival kicks off Oct. 21, with a lineup of films, parties and panels.

This year’s weeklong event puts the spotlight on comedy, with Susie Essman (HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm“ honored at a benefit gala at The Space in Westbury on Oct. 23.

Standing outside Bow Tie Cinemas in Manhasset on Wednesday, Town Supervisor John Riordan said “the festival not only underscores the administration’s commitment to use film and art as a vehicle to boost the local economy but it also confirms the town’s emergence as one of Long Islands most popular places for movie and television filming.”

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In past years, the festival drew 15,000 attendees, said Gold Coast Arts Center Director Regina Gil. The festival continues to hit high notes, perhaps the brightest being director Baz Luhrmann coming to a Port Washington theater – the first cinema in which he premiered his film “The Great Gatsby.”

Insiders say Long Island continues to pique the interest of the film and television industry.

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“Los Angeles is complaining that that it’s losing major film business,” said film director, writer and producer Fred Carpenter. “A lot of it has come here.”

“The Blacklist” and “Person of Interest “ have both filmed in Manhasset in the past week, according to Riordan. 

Carpenter said that in the last years, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano has encouraged both large and small filmmakers, welcoming both the $100 million films and the $100,000 films.

This year’s festival includes the New York Premiere of “Another Woman’s Life” (a French romantic comedy starring Juliette Binoche), “Face of Love” (A romantic drama starring Annette Bening and Ed Harris, direct from the Toronto Film Festival), and “The Genius of Marian” (A life affirming documentary about a family coping with Alzeimer’s – with a panel of North Shore-LIJ Health System).

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Paul Sorvnio, who will also present a screening of his new film, “How Sweet It Is,” followed by a question and answer session at the Soundview Theater in Port Washington on Oct. 22

A pre-festival night of comedy will be performed by Bayville long-time resident Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, formerly of The Howard Stern Show, on Saturday, Oct. 19 in Great Neck.  And joining Essman at the Oct. 23 benefit are Jeffrey Gurian and Paul Provenza who are bringing “Set List: a chance to see your favorite comics as they’ve never been seen before,” whose previous participants have included Robin Williams, Drew Carey, Judah Friedlander, Roseanne Barr, Gilbert Gottfried and more.

Another highlight includes a conversation with "Bright Lights, Big City" author Jay McInerney at the Port Washington Library on Oct. 26. 

For tickets and more information, visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org, or call 311 from within North Hempstead. 

Photo Caption: Writer/Producer/Director Fred Carpenter, Writer Jeffrey Gurian, Recording artist Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Councilwoman Lee Seeman, Town Supervisor John Riordan, Comedian Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, Gold Coast Arts Center Director Regina Gil, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio, Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman, Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, Karen Newhouse of event sponsor Douglas Elliman, and Town Clerk Leslie Gross.


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