In June 2011, the world of film with all its intrigue and glamour will return as the GCIFF partners with the Town of North Hempstead / Nassau County and Clearview Cinemas to celebrate film and community, past and present, in the five towns of Great Neck, Manhasset, Roslyn, New Hyde Park/Herricks and Port Washington.
Inspired by the culture, education and community of The Great Neck Arts Center, The First AnnuAl Gold Coast International Film Festival will kick off this summer season with a roster of bold, dynamic films.
Selecting content with outstanding merit, new, old, long and short, and taking advantage of the Festival's carefully selected timing and location to attract new films with award ambitions, the GCIFF will support industry and galvanize local, regional and city audiences along New York's storied Gold Coast in a celebration of the art and influence of cinema - all minutes away from Manhattan.
According the The Hollywood Reporter, the inaugurAl Gold Coast International Film Festival lineup includes:
Baby Arabia, directed by Panu Aree. (Thailand) - New York Premiere. Lots of joyful noise in this documentary about Thailand's beloved Naseb band Baby Arabia, who updated their sound with guitar and bass in the 1980s and got big playing covers of Arab and Malay songs. Still going strong, they continue to redefine the identity of the Thai Muslim minority. Thai with English subtitles
Beatles Stories, directed by Seth Swirksy (USA) - East Coast Premiere. A huge fan of The Beatles growing up in the 60s, Seth Swirsky filmed people, famous and not so famous, who had a personal story about themselves and the "Fab Four." The project resulted in some never-before-heard, Beatles Stories.
The Best and the Brightest, directed by Josh Shelov, written by Josh Shelov and Michael Jaeger (USA). Set in the world of New York City's elite private kindergartens, The Best and the Brightest centers on a fresh-faced young couple, Samantha and Jeff, who have recently moved into town. The comedy centers on their dawning realization of the lengths they must go to in order to get their five-year-old daughter into school. With Neil Patrick Harris, Amy Sedaris, Bonnie Somerville, Jenna Stern, Peter Serafinowicz and Kate Mulgrew.
Bob and the Monster, directed by Keirda Bahruth (USA) - Long Island Premiere. A compelling portrait of outspoken indie-rock hero Bob Forrest, from his life-threatening struggle with addiction to his transformation into one of the most influential and controversial drug counselors in the US today. With Bob Forrest, David Adelson, Steven Adler and Eric Avery.
Chasing Madoff, directed by Jeff Prosserman (USA) - New York Premiere. Chasing Madoff is the compelling story of Harry Markopolos and his team of investigators' ten-year struggle to expose the harrowing truth behind the infamous Bernard Madoff scandal. With Harry Markopolos, Frank Casey, Neil Chelo, Michael Ocrant and Gaytri Kachroo.
Chess Kids, directed by Lynn Hamrick, (USA) - World Premiere. Chess prodigies compete in a World Youth Tournament. Featuring Josh Waitzkin (the real-life subject of the film, Searching for Bobby Fischer) pitted against Judit Polgár (the best female player of all time), Chess Kids gives audiences a gender bender look at the sport. A companion follow-up piece revisits these former prodigies two decades later. With Morgan Pehme, Judit Polgár, Josh Waitzkin.
Crime after Crime, directed by Yoav Potash (USA) - Long Island Premiere. Crime after Crime is the exclusive documentary film on the legal battle to free Debbie Peagler from prison after over two decades behind bars for her role in the murder of the man who abused her. With Debbie Peagler, Joshua Safran and Nadia Costa.
Fambol Tok, directed by Sara Terry (USA) - New York Premiere. Victims and perpetrators of Sierra Leones' brutal war come together for the first time in tradition-based truth-telling and forgiveness ceremonies. Reviving their ancient practice of "fambol tok", Sierra Leoneans are building sustainable peace at the grass-roots level--succeeding where the international community's post-conflict efforts failed. In English and Krio with subtitles
The Flaw, directed by David Sington. (UK) The Flaw makes one thing clear from the outset-there was nothing simple about the U.S. financial collapse of 2007. Within minutes, experts had identified plenty of culprits: market failure, a credit culture, a wage crisis, a debt crisis, and upward redistribution of income. That's economic shorthand for fasten your seatbelt. With Robert Shiller, Robert Frank, Joseph Stiglitz, Dan Ariely, Robert Wade and Louis Hyman.
Flowers of Evil (Fleurs Du Mal) directed by David Dusa, written by David Dusa, Raphaëlle Maes, Louise Molière. (France) - Long Island Premiere. A rootless love story between Gecko, young and free, and Anahita, an Iranian in exile - tangled up in History and steeped in Internet. Anahita is obsessed by the current event in her country, and little by little their story is contaminated by History and its breathless mediatisation on the Internet. With Rachid Youcef and Alice Belaïdi. In French and Farsi with subtitles
Food Stamped, directed by Shira Potash. (USA) Food Stamped is an informative and humorous documentary film following a couple as they attempt to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet on a food stamp budget. Through their adventures they consult with members of U.S. Congress, food justice organizations, nutrition experts, and people living on food stamps to take a deep look at America's broken food system. With Shira Potash, Yoav Potash.
Holy Land Hardball, directed by Brett Rapkin, written by Brett Rapkin and Erik Kesten. (USA) Holy Land Hardball follows an unlikely group of players and executives as they attempt to create Israel's first professional baseball league in the summer of 2007. With Marty Appel, Larry Baras, Dave Bean, Dan Duquette, Nate Fish, Eric Holtz, Kevin Youkilis.
Holy Rollers, directed by Kevin Asch, written by Antonio Macia. (USA) In Brooklyn, a youth from an Orthodox Jewish community is lured into becoming an Ecstasy dealer by his pal who has ties to an Israel drug cartel. With Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Ari Graynor, Danny A. Abeckaser, Q-Tip
HomeComing (Hitganvut Yechidim) directed by Noa Maiman (Israel) - US Premiere.The quest for identity in modern Israel. Three children of foreign workers who were born in Israel travel to their parents' homelands as they seek out their roots and their own place in the world. With Orna Ben Dor, Yariv Mor. Ido Zand, Alon Wohlfeiler-Kahati, Gil Nagel. Hebrew, English, Spanish, French, Tagalog, Lingawi with subtitles
In Camera, directed by Ranjan Palit. (India) In this meditative and strident overview of the career of Ranjan Palit, award-winning documentary cameraman, the filmmaker himself shows us the images and questions that have haunted him throughout his 25-year career. Celebrated for films that document the struggles of powerless people to save their homes and ancestral traditions, Palit still questions the good he has done for them and wonders if he's merely turned their lives into images and then memories that are destined to be forgotten. English, Bengali, Hindi, Kashmiri, Oriya with subtitles
Infiltration (Hitganvut Yechidim) directed by Dover Kosashvili, written by Dover Kosashvilli, Ruven Hecker. (Israel) In a country where it is mandatory to join the military and achieve a certain rank, what happens when a special platoon is organized for those who are deemed unfit for regular service? Adapted from a book by the most revered novelist in Israel, Yehoshua Kenaz. With Oz Zehavi, Guy Adler, Liel Denir. Hebrew with subtitles
Just Like Us directed by Ahmed Ahmed (USA) The director takes us on a hilarious tour from Dubai to Beirut, Riyadh to New York with a gaggle of other stand-up talent. Along the way, taboos of culture and geopolitics are exploded, and a younger generation of both comedy talents and audiences is born. With Ahmed Ahmed, Ted Alexandro, Sherif Azab
Limelight, directed by Billy Corben. (USA) - Long Island Premiere. As the owner of legendary hotspots like Limelight, Tunnel, Palladium, and Club USA, Peter Gatien was the undisputed king of the 1980s New York City club scene. Limelight charts his rise and fall against the transformation of New York, offering a wild ride through a now-closed chapter in the history of the city's nightlife. With Peter Gatien.
Little Sparrows, directed by Camille Chen, written by Yu-Hsiu and Camille Chen. (Australia) - New York Premiere. Three sisters. Nina is widowed with two young children. Anna is an aspiring actress unhappily married to a filmmaker. Christine is a med student who has yet to fully come to terms with her sexuality. When their mother Susan's breast cancer returns, the family is faced with the reality of their last Christmas together. With Nicola Bartlett, James Hagan, Nina Deasley, Melanie Munt, Arielle Gray, Scott Jackson
Lucky, directed by Gil Cates Jr., written by Gil Cates Jr. and Kent Sublette. (USA) - New York Premiere. What happens in a small town when a serial killer wins the lottery...With Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, Ann-Margret, Jeffrey Tambor.
Memories in March, directed by Sanjoy Nag, written by Rituparno Ghosh. (India) - Long Island Premiere. Siddharth, a 28-year old man, is killed in an accident and his grief stricken mother comes to Kolkata to collect his belongings. Looking through what the young Siddharth has left behind in his home, office and among his friends at the advertising agency he had recently joined, she discovers a son and a life she had not known existed. She finds she must share his belongings and her grief with others he had left behind. With Rituparno Ghosh, Deepti Naval, Raima Sen. English, Hindi, Bengali
My Afternoons with Margueritte (La tête en friche) directed by Jean Becker, written by Jean Becker, Jean-Loup Dabadie. (France) - US Premiere. My Afternoons With Margueritte is the story of life's random encounters. This is the story of an illiterate and lonely man who bonds with an older and well-read woman. With Gerard Depardieu, Gisele Casadesus. Sophie Guillemin. French with subtitles