2026 Gold Coast Int'l Film Festival Spotlights Films, Q&As and Special Events from October 7-29.

LONG ISLAND, NY — September 2026 — The 2026 Gold Coast International Film Festival, taking place October 7 - 29, is once again bringing the best in new independent and foreign films and special events to audiences throughout the region at venues across the north shore. The Festival, which follows another successful year of near sold-out crowds at Gold Coast Arts' year-round film screening series, will include the types of award-winning feature length and short films that audiences have come to expect.

This year's not-to-miss feature films and events include:

Subscribe

HELLO BETTY - Pierre Monnard's heartwarming dramedy tells the inspiring true story of Emmi Creola, the visionary advertising pioneer behind Switzerland's most beloved culinary icon. This warm, witty, humorous film, rich in mid-century detail, captures a society on the brink of change, as one woman contends with ambition, identity and the unexpected consequences of a brilliant idea. In Swiss/German, with English subtitles. (Thursday 10/8 at 7:00pm, North Shore Towers Cinema);

STEALING MAGIC - What happens when a magician's tricks are stolen? As it turns out, the answer is a true-crime international caper filled with possible espionage, blackmail, cyberattacks and more. "One of the best films of this year's Tribeca Film Festival." - Rolling Stone
Join GCIFF for a Q&A with director and Great Neck North High School Alum and native Matthew Testa after the screening.
(Monday 10/12 at 7:00pm, North Shore Towers Cinema);

COLORS OF TIME - OFFICIAL SELECTION: Cannes Film Festival; WINNER of the Audience Award at the 2026 Nantucket Film Festival. An endearing new comedy that is nothing less than a soul-stirring, time-traveling trip for lovers of the arts everywhere. In French, with English subtitles. (Thursday 10/15 at 7:00pm, North Shore Towers Cinema);

HUNGARIAN WEDDING - WINNER of the Audience Award at the 2026 Stony Brook Film Festival
A sweeping romance and passionate celebration of the power of music and dance to bring lovers together and preserve cultural identity across generations. This heartwarming film pulses with energy, adventure, breathtaking choreography, lively music and stunning, costumes. In Hungarian, with English subtitles. (Monday 10/19 at 7:00pm, North Shore Towers Cinema);

LAST SHOT WINNER - Best Feature & Best Actress at the Los Angeles Film Awards. An emotional coming-of-age story starring Emmy-winner Jaime Pressly, Michael Rapaport and Saturday Night Live veteran Laraine Newman. After the sudden death of his father and amid a strained relationship with his previously absent mother, 12-year old Caden and his mother must come to terms with their past and give their future one last shot. A beautiful film about the changing bond between mother and son. (Tuesday 10/20 at 7:00pm, North Shore Towers Cinema);

WE MET AT GROSSINGER'S - A joyfully nostalgic journey through the Jewish Catskills—once known as the Borscht Belt—told through the rise and fall of its most beloved resort: Grossinger's Resort and Hotel, the real-life inspiration for Dirty Dancing. This event is presented in partnership with Temple Beth El of Great Neck and it's Susan Stumer Center for Cultural Arts (Thursday 10/22 at 7:00pm, Temple Beth El of Great Neck);

JUST AN ILLUSION - "A major box office hit in France..." Variety
A touching, funny, nostalgic, and moving story from acclaimed directing duo Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. The setting is Paris, 1985 and Vincent, an awkward French teenager, struggles to make sense of life, love, and his North African Jewish identity, as he quickly learns that grown-ups don't have any of the answers he's seeking either. In French, with English subtitles. (Monday 10/26 at 7:00pm, North Shore Towers Cinema);

THE SOUNDMAN - A moving love story about passion, imagination, and the pursuit of humanity during dark times. This hauntingly beautiful look at the crossed destinies of a youthful sound engineer and a talented Jewish actress is a romantic portrait about the need to create even at the precipice of destruction. In Dutch, with English subtitles. (Thursday 10/29 at 7:00pm, North Shore Towers Cinema);

In addition to feature film screenings, the Festival will include an outstanding selection of over 50 short films presented free to the public at area libraries, with several short filmmakers scheduled to attend in person. Details about the films featured in each program can be found on the Festival's website (goldcoastarts.org). Local standouts this year include Motherload, written by, produced and starring Great Neck native Mara Kassin and Show & Tell, written by and produced by Manhasset native Carter L. Paterson. Short film screenings are all FREE to attend, but reservations must be made in advance online. Gold Coast's short film programs are curated by Alexandra Gil.

• GREAT SHORTS 1
Tuesday 10/13 at 2:00pm, Great Neck Library
• GREAT SHORTS 2
Friday 10/23 at 7:00pm, Port Washington Public Library
• GREAT SHORTS 3
Thursday 10/29 at 2:00pm, Port Washington Public Library
• FAMILY SHORTS FILM PROGRAMS
Monday 10/12 at 2:00pm at Port Washington Public Library; Sunday 10/18 at 2:00pm, Great Neck Library

All Festival screenings and events are presented with the support of Founding Festival sponsor the Town of North Hempstead. Additional 2026 sponsors include Nassau County Industrial Development Agency; A.L. Sarroff Fund; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; Warner Brothers Discovery; AARP, Liman Video Rental; Oasis Senior Advisors, and many local businesses.

Information regarding this year's films and events, and tickets is available at goldcoastarts.org. Any questions please call 516.829.2570.