The 2018 Gold Coast International Film Festival will bring more than 80 feature-length and short films, along with parties and filmmaker Q-and-As, to area theaters from Nov. 2 to 13.
More than half will be U.S., New York or Long Island premieres, including dozens of independent, foreign, documentary, comedy, drama, animation, family-friendly and film noir originals from 22 countries. Many of the feature films will come to the Gold Coast after winning awards at the world’s most prestigious festivals, such as Cannes, Toronto, Sundance, Tribeca and Hamptons.
The festival will begin on Friday, Nov. 2, with the Long Island premiere of Deconstructing the Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour at 7 p.m. at the Bow Tie Squire Cinemas, 115 Middle Neck Rd. in Great Neck. Following the screening, a live Q-and-A will feature Beatles expert, musicologist and film creator Scott Freiman, along with a concert by Beatles cover band, Penny Lane, next door to the theater at the Gold Coast Arts Center, 113 Middle Neck Rd. The evening will include dessert, drinks and raffles, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit Gold Coast Arts Center’s Arts-in-Education Outreach and scholarship programs.
Among the impressive array of films is the Long Island premiere of Diane, the Best Narrative winner at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which will screen on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Soundview Cinemas, 7 Soundview Market Place in Port Washington. Executive producer Martin Scorcese and director Kent Jones, director of the New York Film Festival, present Mary Kay Place in one of the finest performances by an American actress this year as a widowed older woman who overextends herself trying to take care of her family and friends while dealing with a drug-addicted son. A Q-and-A with film critic and New York University adjunct professor Matt Prigge will following the screening.
The charming romantic comedy Song of Back and Neck will premiere on Long Island on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Soundview Cinemas in Port Washington. Star and director Paul Lieberstein, who portrayed Toby in The Office, will join the post-screening event via Skype for a Q-and-A.
Howard, the intimate and moving tribute to legendary lyricist Howard Ashman of Disney, Hollywood and Broadway fame, will be shown on Monday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Port Washington’s Soundview Cinemas. Ashman’s sister Sarah Ashman Gillespie and his partner Bill Lauch will answer questions after the Long Island premiere.
Winner of several festival audience awards, Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel, which follows the stirring underdog triumph of the country’s national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, will premiere on Long Island on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 4:30 p.m. at Great Neck’s Bow Tie Squire Cinemas. Director Jeremy Newberger will answer questions following the screening.
The Long Island premiere of Budapest Noir, a classically styled film noir that reimagines the dark side of prewar Hungary, will be shown on Monday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bow Tie Squire Cinemas in Great Neck. Join noted film scholar and author Foster Hirsch for a discussion following the film, which is based on the internationally best-selling book.
A warm, entertaining look at Old Blue Eyes’ attachment to his hometown of 50 years can be seen in Sinatra in Palm Springs on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bow Tie Manhasset Theater, 430 Plandome Rd. A Q-and-A with director Leo Zahn will follow the New York premiere.
The Museum, a masterful behind-the-scenes look at the Israel Museum, will premiere on Long Island on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. at the Great Neck’s Bow Tie Squire Cinemas, followed by a Q-and-A with Maureen Cogan, cochair of the International Friends of the Israel Museum.
Winner of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival’s Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award, Bathtubs Over Broadway will screen on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at Soundview Cinemas in Port Washington. The musical comedy documentary delves into the strange and hilarious world of Broadway-style industrial musicals made for some of corporate America’s largest companies’ annual sales meetings. Following the screening, film star Steve Young will answer questions.
Various special-interest events will be offered throughout the festival.
As part of its Young Filmmakers Program in partnership with Hofstra University, the work of talented filmmakers in grades K to 12 will be presented.
Some free Family Shorts will be shown at the Gold Coast Arts Center, Cinema Arts Center in Huntington and the Roslyn and Port Washington libraries.
When the kids are off from school for Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12, Family Film Day will offer kid-friendly short films, hands-on art activities and free lunch.
The free monthly program for those with memory loss and their caregivers, Making Memories with Music and Art, will be held during the festival as a salute to veterans with feature-film clips and live music, along with guided conversation.
View the complete schedule or purchase tickets at www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org. Most events cost $15, adults; $13, seniors and $10, members. Learn more at 516-829-2570.
