Neil Patrick Harris, Jesse Eisenberg, et al. Set for Gold Coast International Film Festival

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

My Sucky Teen Romance, directed by Emily Hagins (USA) - Long Island Premiere. In a culture that is currently overrun with romanticized vampires, it is up to four geeky teenagers to defend their friend and beloved sci-fi convention from a group of very real, blood-thirsty vampires. With Elaine Hurt, Patrick Delgado, Santiago Dietche, Lauren Lee, Tony Vespe, Lauren Vunderink.

Naomi, directed by Eitan Zur, written by Edna Mazia. (Israel, France) - New York Premiere. Ilan Ben Natan, a 58-year-old Astrophysics Professor, is obsessively in love with his young wife, Naomi. When Ilan discovers that his deepest fears have come true. Naomi has a lover he is unable to control himself. He confronts the lover and commits a horrible act, the consequences of which will weigh heavily on his conscience. With Suhel Haddad, Rami Heuberger, Melanie Peres. Hebrew with subtitles

Old Cats, directed by Pedro Peirano, Sebastián Silva, written by Pedro Peirano, Sebastián Silva. (Chile) Isadora, 70s, discovers that her mind is quickly fading. At an apparently relaxed dinner table, she will desperately try to hide her state from her daughter, a demanding woman who awaits any sign of senility in order to take way everything she has. With Bélgica Castro, Claudia Celedón, Catalina Saavedra. Spanish with subtitles

Outside Industry, directed by Alan Berg. (USA) - East Coast Premiere. Chronicling the 25 year span of South by Southwest, the film tells the story of how four guys living on next to nothing created a music event in the hopes of giving bands a way to connect with music insiders. The result was the biggest music industry event in the world. With Louis Black, Louis Meyer, Roland Swenson, Nick Barbaro.

Page One: A Year inside the New York Times, directed by Andrew Rossi, written by Andrew Rossi and Kate Novack. (USA) During the most tumultuous time for media in generations, filmmaker Andrew Rossi gains unprecedented access to the newsroom at The New York Times. For a year, he follows journalists on the paper's Media Desk, a department created to cover the transformation of the media industry. Through this prism, a complex view emerges of a media landscape fraught with both peril and opportunity, especially at the Times itself. With David Carr.

Phas Gaye Re Obama, directed by Subhash Kapoor, written by Subhash Kapoor. (India) Phase Gaye Re Obama is a comedy set against the backdrop of global recession/meltdown that originated in USA. The film traces the journey of OM Shashtri, an American citizen of Indian origin, who loses all his wealth overnight to the global recession & has been asked to vacate his home by the bank unless he pays up $100,000 (mortgaged amount) within 30 days. With Rajat Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Manu Rishi, Sanjai Mishra, Amol Gupte. Hindi with subtitles

The Piano in a Factory, directed by Zhang Meng, Jae-young Kwak, written by Zhang Meng (China) To fight for custody of his daughter who loves playing the piano, a steel factory worker decides to forge a piano from scratch. An offbeat ballad of friendship and devotion, The Piano in a Factory is an endearing portrait of China in the early 1990s when the certainty of state-run industry begins to falter. With Wang Qian-Yuan, Hailu Qin. Chinese with subtitles

Pray the Devil back to Hell, directed by Gini Reticker. (USA) Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles the remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. With Janet Johnson Bryant, Etweda Cooper, Vaiba Flomo.

Rafting to Bombay, (Raphsoda le-Bombay) directed by Erez Laufer. (Israel) Long Island Premiere. Rafting to Bombay is the story of how 5 year old Nahum and his mother escaped the Nazis in Poland, crossed Europe by train and sailed on a raft on the Tigris River until they reached the exotic and fascinating India of monkeys, elephants and Rajas. But Nahum's childhood experience, which is remembered as an enchanting fantasy, was in reality, a chilling story of a last minute escape. With Erez Laufer, Nahum Laufer, Cila Laufer, Miri Laufer, Hanna Laufer, Sam Marshall.

Rejoice and Shout, directed by Don McGlynn. (USA) - Long Island Premiere. REJOICE AND SHOUT traces the evolution of Gospel through its many musical styles: the spirituals and early hymns, the four-part harmony-based quartets, the integration of blues and swing into Gospel, the emergence of Soul, and the blending of Rap and Hip Hop elements.

Revenge of the Electric Car, directed by Chris Paine, written by P.G. Morgan, Chris Paine. (USA) In 2006, as many as 5,000 modern electric cars were destroyed by the major car companies that built them. Today, less than 5 years later, the electric car is back... with a vengeance. With Elon Musk, Bob Lutz, Carlos Ghosn, Dan Neil, Danny DeVito, Greg "Gadget" Abbott.

Roadie, directed by Michael Cuesta, written by Michael Cuesta, Gerald Cuesta. (USA) - Long Island Premiere. After 20 years of touring, a roadie for Blue Oyster Cult returns home to his mother!s house in Queens. Here he is forced to decide whether to continue to live in the past, or plunge into a very uncertain future. With Lois Smith, David Margulies, Bobby Cannavale.

Slackistan, directed by Hammad Khan, written by Hammad Khan, Shandana Ayub. (UK) - Long Island Premiere. Islamabad, Pakistan. A group of privileged and westernised twenty-something friends while away their days and nights driving around town, partying, surfing the internet and smoking shisha pipes. As the country outside their world starts to crack, Hasan and his friends must face up to relationships, internal angst and life choices before it is too late. With Aisha Linnea Akthar, Rafey Alam, Osman Khalid Butt.

Something Ventured, directed by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine. (USA) - New York Premiere. SOMETHING VENTURED tells the story of the creation of an industry that went on to become the single greatest engine of innovation and economic growth in the 20th century. It is told by the visionary risk-takers who dared to make it happen. With Arthur Rock, Don Valentine, Tom Perkins.
Submarine, directed by Richard Ayoade, written by Richard Ayoade. (UK) 15-year-old Oliver Tate has two objectives: To lose his virginity before his next birthday, and to extinguish the flame between his mother and an ex-lover who has resurfaced in her life. With Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine.

Tabloid, directed by Errol Morris. (US) - Joyce McKinney, a former Miss Wyoming who boasts an IQ of 168, became infamous in the UK in 1976 as the mastermind of the "Manacled Mormon Kidnapping" after she became a tabloid sensation for abducting a former lover who had abandoned her for the Mormon Church, holding him hostage in a cottage in Devon for several days, where she chained him to a bed (with mink-trimmed handcuffs) in order to erase all elements of "Mormon brainwashing" from his mind. "I would have skied down Mt. Everest nude with a carnation in my nose for him," noted the ever-quotable McKinney during her trial, which became one of England's biggest media stories of the 1970s thanks to its combination of kinky sex and a buxom all-American girl gone wild. Now living relatively anonymously, McKinney "reveals all" to Morris's camera as do various British tabloid hacks still busy putting their own spin on the tale.

Tehroun, directed by Nader T. Homayoun, written by Nader T. Homayoun, Jean-Philippe Gaud. (France) - Long Island Premiere. Ibrahim has left his village and family to try his luck in Tehran. However, in this urban jungle where everything can be bought and sold, dreams rapidly turn into nightmares. Implicated in a traffic of new born babies, Ibrahim, with the help of his two friends, is forced to go deep into the slums of the city, in Tehroun. With Ali Ebdali, Sara Bahrami, Farzin Modades, Missagh Zareh.

Tell your Friends! The Concert Film! - New York Premiere. Reggie Watts, Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler, Liam McEneaney, and Christian Finnegan are among the performers in this comedy documentary, directed by Victor Varnado, that does for the current indie comedy scene what The Last Waltz or Woodstock did for Baby Boomer rock. Featuring interviews with Janeane Garofalo, Jim Gaffigan, Colin Quinn, and more. With Reggie Watts, Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler, Christian Finnegan, Leo Allen, Liam McEneaney.

The Trip, directed by Michael Winterbottom. (UK) - The glorious English countryside, tantalizing haute cuisine, and Britain's brightest comics add up to the most satisfying road trip movie in years. Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, and director Michael Winterbottom reteam for another comic romp in the vein of their fact-fiction-blurring hit Tristram Shandy: Acand Bull Story. Coogan and Brydon star as themselves, old friends who wind up together on a tour of quaint restaurants and hotels in the Lake District after Coogan's American girlfriend bails on him. With Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.

When Harry Tries to Marry, directed by Nayan Padrai, written by Ralph Stein, Nayan Padrai (USA) "When Harry Tries to Marry" is a cross-cultural romantic comedy about a young man who tries to take the risk and the romance out of marriage by deciding to have an arranged marriage. In the process, he learns a lot about love. With Rahul Rai, Stefanie Estes, Freishia Bomanbehram, Tony Mirrcandani, Zenobia Shroff, Caitlin Gold.

!Women Art Revolution, directed by Lynn Hershman Leeson (USA) - Long Island Premiere. An entertaining and revelatory "secret history"of Feminist Art, !Women Art Revolution deftly illuminates this under-explored movement through conversations, observations, archival footage and works of visionary artists, historians, curators and critics. With The Guerilla Girls, Yvonne Rainer, Marina Abramovic, Yoko Ono, Cindy Sherman, Miranda July.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.