Long Beach Film Festival Names Some Screenings

The Long Beach International Film Festival, which runs from Aug. 1 through 4, has started naming some of the films that guests will be able to view.

The full list of films is not yet available, but the LBIFF has started teasing what people will be able to view. Here's a taste of what will be showing:

• "In Search of Fellini," written by actress Nancy Cartwright (who plays the voice of Bart Simpson), focuses on a shy and sheltered girl who discovers the delightfully bizarre films of Federico Fellini, and sets off on a journey across Italy to find him. The film stars Ksenia Solo ("Black Swan"), Golden Globe Nominee Maria Belo ("A History of Violence") and Mary Lynn Rajskub ("24"). The film is semi-autobiographical, inspired by Cartwright’s early years as she travelled to Italy before establishing herself in Hollywood.
• "Gold Balls" is an inspiring film about the ageless human spirit: inside the world of competitive ultra-senior tennis. This uplifting and quirky film is centered around 80-year-old athletes as they travel the country in pursuit of a National Championship tennis title.
• "A Private Portrait" is a documentary about the celebrated artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel, directed by Pappi Cosicato. The film surveys Schnabel’s life, diving deep into his childhood and his later years as a successful artist and film director. The footage, both new and old, includes snapshots of Schnabel at work in his studio and includes interviews with family members, as well as renowned celebrities including Jeff Koons, Bono and Al Pacino.

In addition to dozens of films, LBIFF guests can enjoy special events, like Chefs and Shorts — a pairing of food, wine and short films — and Casino Night. For the fourth consecutive year, the festival will feature a roster of local and nationally recognized musical talent performing beachfront at the Allegria Hotel. In addition, the popular culinary event, Taste On The Beach, will return and feature tastings from more than 40 of Long Island’s best 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.

For more information on the Long Beach International Film Festival, visit the website.

Photo: Lenny Marks/Long Beach International Film Festival