PRESS RELEASE: Last Chance For Submissions to LBIFF 2015, Taste On the Beach Presale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Rick Eberle | media@longbeachfilm.com | (516) 729-6872

Last Chance For Submissions to LBIFF 2015, Taste On the Beach Presale

Long Beach & Rockville Centre, NY – As Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano recently reminded filmmakers- the submission deadline for entering films into the Long Beach International Film Festival (LBIFF) is Wednesday, July 1, 2015 and currently accepting online submissions through Film Freeway and Without A Box. For links to submissions sites go to www.longbeachfilm.com.

Taste On The Beach precedes their FREE movie night  (Shorts on the Beach) on August 7th, LBFF has recently added a new element to the event called "Taste on the Beach".  Restaurants, wineries and craft breweries will be coming together to give a sampling of their new or favorite dish with Steve Carl from Carlyle on the Green overseeing the event, with appearances from Culinary celebrities such as Danny Gagnon (Top Chef) and Brimstone, and  Liza Huber, CEO & Founder of Sage Spoonfuls- an award-winning author, public speaker, entrepreneur, television personality, wife and mother of 4, last month she was honored with the Little Flower Children and Family Service’s 2015 Humanitarian Award. Huber will be doing a segment in which she will create a special dish using food from the local farmers market in Long Beach!

Pre-sale tickets are on sale now for TASTE ON THE BEACH. You can get your tickets HERE

“What’s better than bringing films, food, drinks and music together on the beach?” said Co-Founder of LBIFF, Ingrid Dodd recently. Taste On The Beach gets underway with ticket holders arriving at 5:00 PM, walking the Red Carpet and into the unique atmosphere of enjoying a wide variety of Food, Wine and Craft Beer on one of the most pristine and beautiful beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. Live musical performances from acts including international recording artist Connell Cruise and local reggae superstars Oogee Wawa will provide the soundtrack throughout the evening which begins at 5:00PM and will conclude at 8:00PM as attendees are invited into Beach Theatre--a custom-made movie theatre on the beach--to enjoy the Shorts On The Beach film series.

The Festival will celebrate its 4th anniversary this year with an action-packed line up of independent and studio films from around the globe, and as the July 1st deadline for Filmmaker submissions is weeks away, festival organizers urge those who want to participate to SUBMIT ASAP! The full festival takes place from September 24 - 27 in Nassau County and will screen an international slate of over 50 films, including feature-length narrative, documentary, short, animated and student films that will compete for a series of Jury, Festival Honors and Audience Awards.

During its four day run in September, the Festival will feature an array of nightly special events, including red carpet premieres, gala celebrations, filmmaker receptions, compelling filmmaker Q & As, international spotlights, industry seminars and musical performances. The Festival will host numerous opportunities to connect with enthusiastic new audiences, fellow filmmakers, film industry professionals, non-profit organizations and the media in a beautiful  locale in Long Beach and Rockville Centre, New York. The LBIFF is committed to providing an outstanding experience for both our filmmakers and our audiences. Past stars in entertainment who have appeared at the festival include Joan Jett, Daniel Baldwin, Scott Franklin, Dee Snider, Chris Weidman, Richard Pryor Jr and more.

Special Programs planned for 2015 LBIFF include the following: Shorts On The Beach Film Series, Joan Jett Music Film Series, Collegiate Showcase, Youth Film Showcase. We’ll also be exhibiting films of Action Sports, Environmental, Art, & Family.

The City of Long Beach and Rockville Centre, serve as hosts to the Festival's film screenings and special events. Located just 25 miles east of Manhattan and 20 minutes from JFK Airport, LBIFF offers an optimal setting to experience filmmaking at its finest. Long Beach and Rockville Centre boast one of the largest movie consumer groups in the world with a rich filmmaking history right here on Long Island. Thousands of visitors every year are drawn to the City's spectacular coastline, fine dining, shopping, and endless recreational activities.

As TASTE ON THE BEACH Pre-sale tickets are now available as part of Shorts on the Beach August 7th, those interested in attending are urged to purchase if they wish to save $25 and Filmmakers are once again urged to SUBMIT BEFORE THE JULY 1st DEADLINE!

For more information, please visit www.longbeachfilm.com or for Press Inquiries, contact: media@longbeachfilm.com

About LBIFF:

The Long Beach International Film Festival celebrates the art of storytelling through cinema. Presenting shorts, fiction and documentary formats, the festival is committed to exhibiting films that convey a fresh voice and differing perspectives. The goal of these programs is to captivate, engage and enlighten audiences, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers and present inspired entertainment. www.longbeachfilm.com

NEWSDAY: Long Beach Cinemas, closed since Sandy, expected to reopen before July Fourth

Business

Long Beach Cinemas, closed since Sandy, expected to reopen before July Fourth

Updated June 10, 2015 9:57 PM
By JOHN ASBURY

In the lobby of the Long Beach Cinemas, a poster of the Oscar winning movie "Argo" sits in the same case from when the theater was flooded nearly three years ago by superstorm Sandy. 

The poster is one of the few relics remaining from the shuttered independent theater, which is expected to finally reopen this summer. 

Long Beach's only movie theater, at 179 E. Park Ave. is set to reopen by the end of June, in time for July Fourth weekend, property owner Seth Pilevsky said.

City leaders have lauded the theater's reopening since Sandy and see its rebirth as another sign of the city bouncing back after a devastating storm. Officials are hoping the theater may be able to house the annual Long Beach Film Festival in September, which in the past has had to be shown in part at a Rockville Centre theater. 

"This has been a long time coming," City Councilman Scott J. Mandel said in an emailed statement. "Having our movie theater back is a real boost to the community and a great symbol of Long Beach's comeback."

Pilevsky, co-president of the Manhattan-based real estate firm Philips International, said he would not reveal the cost of the rebuilding. He has owned the theater for about 15 years and resisted selling it to a movie chain after Sandy. 

"This is a labor of love and we're looking forward to giving the theater back to the residents," Pilevsky said. "Residents can expect to have their old movie back and welcome back the movie magic."

Reopening the theater was also a contingency of the Superblock settlement with the city before iStar Corp. took over the Superblock property from Philips last year. He retained ownership of the theater. The theater's reopening is unrelated to iStar's proposal to build luxury apartments on the boardwalk property or a tax exemption proposal submitted to the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency. 

The theater has been completely revamped with new digital and 3-D projectors on each of the four screens. About 436 leather, cushioned seats have been added after construction workers tore out about 100 seats to make room for the larger ones. 

Workers have removed the "Look 4 Grand Reopening" sign that stood for the past year and added a new marquee where the theater's marquee advertised a hiring fair last week. The theater's manager, Paula Lewis, has already hired about a dozen projectionists, concessionists, ushers and box office tellers. 

Floodwaters inundated each of the four theaters during the 2012 storm, which sent water sloping down to the screens.

Seawater flooded through every entry and also caused the roof to collapse. Screens had to be removed and most of the ground floor of the theater had to be rebuilt.

Walls were ripped out and electrical, gas and heating was replaced. Replacing the chairs was the major delay in reopening. Pilevsky put off reopening for a year when he saw larger chains like Regal and AMC adding more luxury seats. He said he watched similar independent theaters in the region close as he revamped the project. 

A new reservation system will allow visitors to select their seats in advance through a ticketing service available through brokers like Fandango.com.

The lineup of films has not been set, but Pilevsky said they want to add a children's movie for opening weekend. The theater will show first-run films and will try to mix mainstream blockbusters with some independent films. 

The city is planning a grand opening ceremony once an opening date has been set. "We're going to open strong and stay open strong," Pilevsky said.

PRESS RELEASE: LAST CALL - Deadline Nears For Film Submissions

Long Beach, NY (June, 2015) This Summer/Fall, the Long Beach International Film Festival (LBIFF), a production of the Long Beach Film Institute, 501(c)3, will celebrate its 4th anniversary with an action-packed line up of independent and studio films from around the globe. Scheduled to take place from September 24 – 27 on Long Island, the Festival will screen an international slate of over 50 films, including feature-length narrative, documentary, short, animated and student films that will compete for a series of Jury, Festival Honors and Audience Awards. "Shorts On The Beach", the festival’s annual free event, takes place on August 7th on the pristine coastline of Long Beach, NY. But as the July 1st deadline for Filmmaker submissions is weeks away, festival organizers urge those who want to participate to SUBMIT ASAP!

“The most important element of our festival is our filmmakers. They are the ones who bring their works of art to life on screen. Their films shape not only our program, but also inspire our audiences throughout the festival. Each film submitted is evaluated by our prestigious team of industry professionals and we can’t wait to watch which new stories are being told from filmmakers around the globe.” said Craig Weintraub, Co-Founder Long Beach International Film Festival

During its four day run, the Festival will feature an array of nightly special events, including red carpet premieres, gala celebrations, filmmaker receptions, compelling filmmaker Q & As, international spotlights, industry seminars and musical performances. The Festival will host numerous opportunities to connect with enthusiastic new audiences, fellow filmmakers, film industry professionals, non-profit organizations and the media in a beautiful ocean side locale in Long Beach and in scenic Rockville Centre, New York.

Special Programs planned for 2015 LBIFF include the following: Joan Jett Music Film Series, Collegiate Showcase, Youth Film Showcase and more. There will also be exhibiting films relating to Action Sports, Environmental, Art and Family categories.

The City of Long Beach and Rockville Centre serve as hosts to the Festival’s film screenings and special events. Located just 25 miles east of Manhattan and 20 minutes from JFK Airport, LBIFF offers an optimal setting to experience filmmaking at its finest. Long Beach and Rockville Centre boast one of the largest movie consumer groups in the world with a rich filmmaking history right here on Long Island. Thousands of visitors every year are drawn to the City’s spectacular coastline, fine dining, shopping, and endless recreational activities.

The LBIFF started accepting submissions on March 1st and there is still time through www.withoutabox.com and www.FilmFreeway.com before the July 1st Regular Deadline.

MADISON THEATRE & LONG BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL INVITES YOU TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS VIEWING PARTY

LIVE ON STAGE HOSTED BY COMEDIAN & ACTOR ROB MAGNOTTI

Madison Theatre 1000 Hempstead Ave Rockville Centre, New York
February 22nd
7PM -11:30PM

Normally watch in your living room? We’ve got a couch for you on our stage! 

If you have never seen comedian/actor Rob Magnotti in person... bring your diapers because he is hilarious! Rob will be the host for the Oscar Viewing Party on February 2015, when Madison Theatre and The Long Beach International Film Festival 22nd(LBIFF) bring a bit of Hollywood to town.

Academy Awards viewing parties give the community and the booming film industry here in Nassau County, Long Island the opportunity to both share in the excitement of the awards show and support worthy causes on a local level. 

Guests will feel like stars themselves as they arrive at the brand new state of the art Madison Theatre at Molloy College, and strut down the Red Carpet. Buy your own Hollywood Star, autograph it and add it to the “Walk of Fame”. There will photogs and video cameras posting to our instagram, twitter, vine and facebook sites. During the commercial breaks these will pictures will be randomly posted on stage with the hashtag #LBIFFNY.

The Red Carpet event will begin at 7pm where guests will be greeted with specialty drinks compliments of Nicki Minaj’s new MYX Fusion Moscato line, and cocktails compliments of Ed Caan, of Riviera Imports. Passed hors d’oeuvres from 7-8pm.
At 8 pm guests will be asked to make their way to the stage for an Italian Style Sunday Supper while the Red Carpet coverage from Hollywood is televised.
Rob Magnotti is the host for the evening, best known for his complete transformation from head to toe into such personas as John Travolta, Adam Sandler, Al Pacino, Owen Wilson, Barack Obama and more. You can also see Rob on shows such as Late Night with David Letterman, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 with Kevin James coming out in April and the new dramedy Surviving Sam.
In addition to the purchase of your ticket, we will be raising funds for the “Rising Star Scholarship Fund” which will help an underserved child to attend the state of the art film camp at Molloy College.

There will be raffle prizes from Hotel Indigo, Golf Foursome at Indian Hills Country Club with host Ed Thompson of Molloy College, Long Beach International Film Festival.

All Access Passes, Skudin Surf Camp, movie memorabilia from Marilyn Monroe, Jack Nicholson, Audrey Hepburn, and Disney...and much more!

Tickets are $50.00 per person with portion of the proceeds going to “Rising Star Scholarship Fund”. LBIFF is a registered 501(c)3.Tickets can be purchased online www.MadisonTheatreNY.org or by calling the Madison Theater Box Office at (516) 323-4444. A limited number of seats will be available for purchase at the door.

The LBIFF will also be announcing submissions opening on March 1st WithOutABox and FilmFreeway.

Pre-Festival “Shorts On The Beach” takes place in Long Beach, New York on August 7th and the 4th Annual Festival runs September 24th-  through 27th, 2015

Contact:
Rick Eberle
media@longbeachfilm.com

About LBIFF: The Long Beach International Film Festival celebrates the art of storytelling through cinema. Presenting shorts, fiction and documentary formats, the festival is committed to exhibiting films that convey a fresh voice and differing perspectives. The goal of these programs is to captivate, engage and enlighten audiences, provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers and present inspired entertainment.