The Long Beach International Film Festival announced this week that the sixth annual event will take place from Aug. 1 to 4 and submissions are now open.
This headline event is comprised of four days of film screenings, industry celebrations and sophisticated culinary events all held on Long Beach’s pristine beachfront and at local theaters.
In addition, up and coming ‘Spielbergs’ can submit their feature-length narratives and documentaries, as well as short and animated movies starting this week through www.withoutabox.com and www.FilmFreeway.com.
Festival organizers are expecting to receive over 1,000 submissions this year from filmmakers and producers across the globe.
Last year, work was submitted from 26 countries including Italy, Ecuador, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, Pakistan and more.
The unique, beachfront film festival will screen a diverse lineup of more than 70 films.
Professional and amateur filmmakers will compete for a series of jury festival honors and audience awards throughout the festival.
Now in its sith season, the festival is expected to attract more than 6,000 attendees and generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in local economic activity.
“We’re thrilled to begin screening work produced by future Academy Award winners. New films, new stars, new events — each year we work to enhance the experience for our festival-goers, talented filmmakers, chefs, musicians and the community and we’re eager to unveil some additional components for this year’s festival.
Whether you’re a film fanatic, foodie, filmmaker, cast member, crew member or music enthusiast, there is something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s LBIFF,” said co-founder, Craig Weintraub.
Continuing their support, SVS Fine Jewelry featuring Forevermark Diamond is back on board as presenting sponsor with plans to expand their creative and charitable giving.
Last year, they held the Bling and Bubbly Experience during the festival and raised $4,000 for the Surf For All Foundation.
A harmony of arts and culture, the festival offers much more entertainment beyond film.
On Friday, August 4, for the fourth consecutive year, the festival will feature a fantastic roster of local and nationally recognized musical talent performing beachfront at the Allegria Hotel.
The all-star lineup on this year’s stage will once again be curated by the Rick Eberle Agency.
In addition, the wildly popular, premier culinary event, Taste On The Beach, will return and feature tastings from more than 40 of Long Island’s renowned restaurants, distilleries, wineries and more.
After the concerts and food festivities conclude, attendees will once again be invited into a custom built movie theatre on the beach – Beach Theatre – for the Shorts on the Beach Film Series, which will exhibit short films from around the world.
The beach concerts and films shown on the beach are free and open to the public.
The LBIFF premiered in 2012 with just 50 submissions and showcased 12 films with free screenings on the beach.
After Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, the LBIFF had just finished its inaugural year and was threatened to collapse before ever fully taking off.
Aided by a $20,000 grant from Nassau County, and participation from local celebrity stars like Daniel Baldwin and resilient festival founders.
LBIFF acknowledges and thanks the many festival sponsors who demonstrate their commitment to aspiring filmmakers and the local arts community through their financial support.
Their contributions not only enhance the annual event, but ensure LBIFF can continue to administer its various educational initiatives throughout the year.
For more information, go to www.longbeachfilm.com, Twitter@LBIFFNY, Insta@LBIFFNY, and FB/ Longbeachinternationalfilmfestival.
