Community Corner

Top 25 Coolest Film Festival in the World Returns to Bellmore

The Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) will return to Bellmore for its 17th year from July 9-17.

The Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) is returning for its 17th year next month from July 9 through 17 at the Bellmore Movies. Named one of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World by MovieMaker magazine, the festival is slated to show films from New Zealand, Tanzania, Taiwan, Australian, India, China, Germany, Brazil, Poland, Italy, Israel, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Scotland, Argentina, Hungary, the Ukraine, the Phillippines, Columbia, Spain, Switzerland, and more.

“We’re showing 158 short and feature-length independent films from 32 countries, including 37 films from right here on Long Island,” Festival Director Debra Markowitz said. “We’re waiting on responses from celebrity guests, but what we have in place is a great selection of stimulating panels to go along with our strong film line-up.”

Opening with “The Historian,” a feature film starring William Sadler, John Cullum and Gynnis O’Connor, the festival will showcase a large selection of films as well as offer panels and workshops. Other films slated to premiere include “Cigarette Soup,” produced by Larry Strong of Hempstead and filmed partially at Nickerson beach, and “Charlie Mantle,” written and produced by Long Island’s Ed Wahl. 

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Festival tickets are $10 per film block, and $8 for senior citizens, students and Filmmakers Connection members. Seniors and students can bring a friend for free to all Monday – Friday film blocks beginning at 5 p.m. or earlier. Day passes are $25 and Gold passes are $65.

Exclusively for local filmmakers, LIIFE will also present the “NY Loves Film Roadshow,” a roundtable discussion on producing films in New York State that will touch on issues like tax credits, location scouting, and locating stages and crew, moderated by the New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development team. This Q&A session is limited to 25 local filmmakers. To sign up, contact Debra Markowitz at dmarkowitz@nassaucountyny.gov.

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Saturday, July 12

  • Perils of Being an Independent Filmmaker Breakfast Panel, moderated by Mitchell Bard of Snapper Films ($5)
  • How to Improv When the Unexpected Happens, hosted by Katha Cato of the Queens World Film Festival
  • “The Write Stuff” Screenwriting Panel, moderated by Mitchell Bard

 Sunday, July 13

  • Film Financing and Distributing Panel, moderated by Marc Jacobson of Direction by Appointment
  • How to Use the New York State Tax Credit, presented by Marc Jacobson
  • So You Want to Be an Actor Workshop, presented by actor/coach Joseph Halsey of Law & Order: SVU

Thursday, July 17

  • Awards Ceremony and Closing Night Party

For more information, the complete LIIFE schedule, ticket prices and more, visit LIIFE’s website or call (516) 571-3168. You can also check out LIIFE’s Facebook page and Twitter


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