Video: Former WI Resident Wins Big at Gold Coast Film Festival

Keirda Bahruth, originally from West Islip, was back on Long Island recently to show her newest documentary, Bob and the Monster as part of the inagurual Gold Coast Film Festival in North Hempstead.

Her film won two of the festival’s top awards. "I was really excited being from West Islip, I thought it would be really fabulous to be able to come here and it’s really the best place for me to debut the film because I have a lot of family here and I love long Island," Keirda said.

The documentary tells the real life story of Bob Forrest of the 80’s punk rock band Thelonious Monster. Through interviews, film clips and creative story telling, the movie chronicles Bob’s rise to music stardom in the 80s and fall from drug addiction, only to rise again as a role model for the potential of recovery.

Bob Forrest, who was also at the showing, says it was strange seeing his life on the big screen.

"I’ve watched it two other times and it’s very strange because it’s your life unfolding in an hour and twenty minutes… and friends of yours say things about you that they would never say to your face," he said. "It’s a very emotional thing to watch, I recommend it for everybody."

Bob and the Monster won the Deluxe Film Prize at the Gold Coast Film Festival. The award is worth $30,000 of post production work on a future film project. The movie also won the festival’s online contest for Best Film Trailer.

"I feel absolutely grateful," Keirda said. "Winning an award from your hometown on Long Island is a little bit sweeter than winning it somewhere else, I’m really proud to be from Long Island and to win the film here."

The night of the first screening, Keirda and Bob took audience questions and shared their insights and messages with the movie goers.

"When somebody had asked me 'how do you want your audience to feel when they walk out?' I said, encouraged to get over hurdles in their own life, Keirda said.  "Encouraged to push themselves further. Inspired to be mad for living. To find a passion and to find that thing that keeps you burning for life. To walk away from that with just a little bit of that from Bob is what I hope for."

For more information, you can check out www.bobandthemonster.com

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