Arts & Entertainment
‘bELIeve!’ Film on Eli Mollineaux Day to Be Screened at Festival
The film will be screened just two weeks after the teen, who was born with a rare disorder, passed away.
A short film centered around a Huntington teen with a rare disorder will be screened just two weeks after his death.
Eli Mollineaux, who inspired the community with his tenacious spirit died Monday, Oct. 31.
The filmm created by Huntington senior Charlie Ehrman, documents Eli Mollineaux Day on September 17 at Blue Devil Stadium.
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During the start of the third quarter of a football game against Huntington and Smithtown West, Mollineaux took a handoff and darted 50 yards in his wheelchair to score a touchdown. An emotional celebration followed in the end zone.
“bELIeve!” will be screened Sunday, Nov. 13 at noon during the Gold Coast International Film Festival at Soundview Cinemas in Port Washington.
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Mollineaux was born with a rare type of Mitochondrial Disease known as Pearson Marrow-Pancreas Syndrome. There is no cure or effective treatment for Mitochondrial Disease and there are several different kinds. Eli’s slowly progressive multi-system disease affected his brain, heart, muscles, vision and hearing.
The Huntington teen, who inspired the community with his attitude on life, will be honored in a special way at the screening.
Ehrman’s film "bELIeve!" was chosen out of 100 submissions in the festival’s young filmmakers program for this special showing.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to share the power of Eli’s story at this film festival,” Ehrman told Huntington UFSD. “Eli had an energy that radiated through our community, bonding us together.”
A limited number of tickets are available for Sunday’s screening, but festival organizers said they will be able to accommodate those wishing to attend.
In early October, Eli was surprised with a brand new minivan, equipped with a wheelchair lift, to help with errands and day-to-day life. The van was gifted to help Eli and his family run errands and go on outings they never thought they could experience beforehand.
In 2015, September was officially named Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Month in honor of Eli.
Image via HUFSD
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