Arts & Entertainment

2nd Annual Gold Coast International Film Festival Starts Oct. 24

Honorees include Ed Burns and Nelson DeMille.

The Second Annual Gold Coast International Film Festival kicks off  Wednesday, Oct. 24, with five days and nights of films, programs, panels, tributes, conversations, awards and more.

The films will be shown in Manhasset, Roslyn, Great Neck and Port Washington. Venues for many of the events and parties include renowned Gold Coast mansions, including NYIT's de Seversky Mansion (former DuPont estate), the Oheka Castle, commissioned by Otto Kahn, and the former Chrysler Mansion (currently on the grounds of the United States Merchant Marine Academy).

According to the organizers, the festival will include “feature length narrative, documentary and short film competitions with the Panavision and Deluxe Audience Awards; an out-of-competition series that will focus on classics and forgotten gems; foreign films; conversations with prominent members of the film community; and signature series, panels and special events.”

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This year’s honorees include Ed Burns ("The Brothers McMullen," "She’s the One," "Saving Private Ryan"), an actor, producer, director, and writer, who will receive the “Artist of Distinction” Filmmaker Award. A special screening of his latest film, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" will be presented during the festival. 

Nelson DeMille – a best-selling author who wrote "The Gold Coast," "The Gate House," "The General’s Daughter" – will receive the festival’s “Gold Coast Legend Award” honor.

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The lineup of films will be announced in October, but categories will include

Iconic Hollywood: includes a screenings of a classic silent film with live music accompaniment, as well as conversations with Hollywood power personalities and more.

Heroes:  A tribute in film and television to those who protect and defend our nation; includes films, broadcast, visual and musical presentations.

The Best of Long Island: Films and candid conversations with producers, directors and writers from LI that have made an impact on the film industry.

Movies that Rock: Films that tell stories about some of our most famous musicians and bands.

Animation: Master class with Oscar-nominated animation artist Bill Plympton, featuring his latest film program featuring the best-animated shorts of New York’s Children’s Film Festival

Also featured will be international films, Indies and shorts (the shorts program will feature both new shorts and a selection of outstanding and award-winning shorts, and student shorts, from the past several years).

Sponsors include ; Nassau County; Great Neck Arts Center; Douglas Elliman; AMC Networks; Cablevision; Clearview Cinemas; NYIT; News 12 Long Island; Newsday; Deluxe; Panavision; Katten Muchin; and J.M. Kaplan Fund.


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