Officials: Gold Coast International Film Fest Draws Thousands

This years Gold Coast International Film Festival drew thousands to theaters in Great Neck, Manhasset, Roslyn and Port Washington, officials said.

More than 3,000 filmgoers attended the event, now in its fourth year. The festival, which ran from Nov. 3-9, included 23 feature films and three shorts programs as well as Q&A sessions with more than 40 filmmakers and special guests.

“What a thrill it has been to welcome so many ‘A’ list celebrities to the Town of North Hempstead this week,” North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. “The terrific attendance this year speaks to the continued growth of this event which promotes the arts and builds our local economy.”

This year’s festival kicked off with the Annual Gold Coast Arts Center Benefit Gala on November 3rd at Leonard’s Palazzo of Great Neck. Town officials and local leaders were in attendance to honor four great contributors to the film and art industry. Catherine Martin, who has received four Oscars and a Tony Award received the Artist of Distinction Award, Marie Cecile Flaguel and Jonathan Cohen received the Arts and Activism Awards, and lastly philanthropist Michael S. Glickman received the Man of the Year award.

Prior to the screening of the film “Burn” on Nov. 5, the town presented a proclamation to Lee Ielpi, the president of the board of directors for the September 11th Families’ Association and co-founder of the 9/11 Tribute Center. Ielpi was also honored with the “Heroes Award” from the Gold Coast Arts Center prior to the screening of the Denis Leary-produced firefighting documentary.

Other events included a Q&A with Talya Lavie, director of the Tribeca Film Festival award-winning film “Zero Motivation,” who came all the way from Israel to talk about her critically-acclaimed film, and a screening of the ESPN film “When the Garden was Eden” which featured a panel discussion with actor Michael Rapaport and New York Times sportswriter Harvey Araton.

Photo: From left, Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender, County Legislator Ellen Birnbaum, U.S. Congressman Steve Israel, Town Clerk Wayne Wink, Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth, Artist of Distinction Award Winner Catherine Martin, Gold Coast Arts Center Executive Director Regina Gil, Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman and Councilwoman Lee Seeman