Mangano: 15th Annual Long Island International Film Expo Rocks Long Island
Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announces that the Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) will hold its 15th annual installment at the historic Bellmore Movies from July 12 – 19, 2012. Showing 139 films from around the world, LIIFE will showcase movies from 20 countries with 37 of the films hailing right from Long Island.
“Nassau County has always been a supporter of independent and studio films, and it’s our pleasure to bring this type of entertainment and cultural opportunity to our constituents,” said County Executive Mangano. “LIIFE also provides an opportunity for filmmakers to come and see the types of filming locations Nassau County has to offer whether it be our beaches, mansions, suburban areas and, of course, Gold Coast Studios and Grumman Studios, which are all New York State-approved movie studios which qualify for the much sought after 30% tax credit.”
“There are so many highlights this year that it’s difficult to point out only a few,” states Nassau County Film Office Director, Debra Markowitz. “The festival begins with our traditional film festival warm-up on Thursday, July 12, and kicks into high gear on Friday, July 13, when all the feature films shown that day will be from Long Island. From In Montauk, to documentary Ordinary Joe through to Broadway’s Finest and The Night Never Sleeps, we’ve never had that happen before.”
Many LIIFE alumni are back, and the filmmaker with the most films ever to be in LIIFE over the years is Suffolk County’s Fred Carpenter. Fred has had many action films in LIIFE since the very first year, and this year’s The Night Never Sleeps is predicted to sell out within days of tickets going on sale.
There are some film blocks that consist entirely of short films from around the world. There is also a children’s film block anchored by the feature film, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, which stars Mira Sorvino and Joe Pantoliano.
Top notch documentaries include Kinderblock 66: Return to Buchenwald, Hard Times: Lost on Long Island, My Really Cool Legs, Knocking on the Devil’s Door, #whilewewatch and Blood, Sweat and Gears to name just a few.
Scheduled later at night are thrillers Junction starring Tom Pelphrey (Guiding Light/As the World Turns) and It’s In the Blood starring Lance Henriksen.
Feature length comedic romps The Return of Ulysses from Italy and Odd One Out from Poland fit well in the eclectic mix. England’s Dimensions: A Line, A Loop, A Tangle of Threads is a 1920s period piece about two brothers who fall in love with the same girl. When one brother plays a prank that proves fatal, the other brother dedicates his life to trying to reverse the events of the past. This ambitious film is the directorial debut of Sloane U’Ren who worked in the art departments of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Six Feet Under as well as others. Sloane produced this film with her husband, Antony Neely, who also wrote the script.
Then there’s a film that encompasses what most people believe an independent film is, David Marek’s Somewhere West. A terminally ill young man forgoes treatment to head West in search of a beautiful place to spend his remaining moments. This student thesis film consisting of four cast and five crew members was shot during 29 consecutive days through 11 states, 4,982 miles and was made for a budget of $18,500.
LIIFE has added a music video and movie trailer competition this year, and those entries will be sprinkled throughout the festival.
LIIFE also has panels on scriptwriting, film distribution and financing, a filmmakers breakfast panel, an opening night reception and an awards ceremony celebration complete with a buffet, celebrities, winners clips and filmmakers from all over the world.
For more information on the 15th Annual Long Island International Film Expo, go to www.longislandfilm.com, e-mail debfilm@aol.com or call 516 571-3168.
