Film fest to host comedy preview

Dan Glaun

The Gold Coast International Film Festival’s will host an advance screening of the comedy “A.C.O.D.” as part of its Furman Film Series. 

“A.C.O.D.,” or “Adult Children of Divorce,” is the directorial debut of television producer and screenwriter Stu Zicherman and stars an ensemble of comedy veterans, including Adam Scott and Amy Poehler of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” The film follows Carter, played by Scott, as he comes to terms with his parents’ divorce in the run up to his younger brother’s wedding.

“The film itself is very much an ensemble comedy,” Gold Coast International Film Festival programmer Rodney Uhler said in an interview. “The cast is really pretty stellar. It has everyone – all generations of comedy.”

The film, which will screen Sept. 26 at the Bow Tie Squire Cinemas on Middle Neck Road will serve as a lead-up to the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival, which this year is focusing on comedy in cinema.

“We wanted to do something before the [festival] to generate excitement, and the film worked really well as a prelude to our festival,”  Uhler said. “There’s a lot of comedies in our festival this year, so it works well as a complement.”

The festival has not yet booked a representative from the film crew to speak at the screening, but Uhler said a Brooklyn production company that worked on “A.C.O.D.” had been sent an invitation.

The film premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival and is scheduled for wide release in early October. In addition to Scott and Poehler, it stars Jessica Alba, Jane Lynch and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

The festival, which is organized by the Great Neck Arts Center, will run from Oct. 21 through Oct 27 and will highlight character actors and comedians including Joe Piscopo, Jackie Martling and Paul Provenza.

In addition to film screenings, the festival will feature stand-up comedy performances. Thanks to the work of Jeffrey Gurian, the festival will honor comedian Susie Essman, who starred in Larry David’s sitcom “Curb Your Enthusiasm” for more than a decade.

The festival will also highlight themes including women in film and Israeli cinema, according to  a press release.

The arts center scored a high-profile screening earlier this year with a private advance showing of blockbuster “The Great Gatsby” that featured an appearance by director Baz Luhrman. 

Last year’s Gold Coast Film Festival featured a pre-wide release showing of “Silver Linings Playbook,” which would go on to be nominated for eight Academy Awards and see star Jennifer Lawrence win Best Actress for her performance.

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