Long Beach Film Festival Releases Schedule

The Long Beach International Film Festival has announced its lineup of feature-length films, documentaries and short films that will screen at the festival from Aug. 1 to 4.

Drawing nearly 400 filmmaker submissions from more than 20 different countries, 52 have been selected for screening.

“This festival began seven years ago with the screening of 12 films, and we’ve more than quadrupled in size over the last few years, gaining international interest and exposure," said festival founder Craig Weintraub. "It’s an honor to be a part of this annual event that brings smiles and laughs to the thousands of attendees and their families who travel from near and far to view the talent involved in the festival.”

Four days of industry celebrations and sophisticated culinary events will be held on Long Beach, and at the glamorous Allegria Hotel. Daily film screenings, including opening and closing night features, will be hosted at the newly renovated Regal Lynbrook 13 & RPX.

Here are the feature-length films that will be screened:

• "Face of a Nation" is the story of Mina Chow, an idealistic American architect who struggles to keep her dream alive as she journeys to discover why America abandoned World’s Fairs.
• "In the Orchard" is the story of two strangers from different worlds that find a connection through traumatic events that have happened in their lives. In one encounter, they find themselves linked to one another as their relationship evolves. This feature is making is New York premiere.
• "Status Pending," a romantic dramedy of a millennial girl dating her Tinder guy, must overcome the high life expectations she's built from social media to decide to either take a last-minute voyage or settle down into a career and relationship with him.
• "Papillon" is based on a true story, and is a remake of the 1973 "Papillon." It tells the story of a prisoner detained on a remote island and how he plots his escape. This feature is making its Long Island premiere.
• "Monsoon" is a coming-of-age drama starring Austin Lyon, Katherine Hughes and Yvette Monreal. Based in the hot desert monsoon season of Arizona, best friends John and Sarah have trouble letting go of each other after a tragedy rips them apart. This feature is making its Long Island premiere.
• "Michael Inside" is a narrative feature film about an 18-year-old boy living in a Dublin housing estate with his grandfather after his mother died of an overdose and his father is in prison. Michael was caught holding drugs for his friend’s older brother and is sentenced to three months in prison.

In addition to the feature-length film lineup, there is also a lineup of interesting and diverse documentaries.

• "Chesley Bonestell: A Brush with The Future" is the biography of the forgotten architect, artist, matte painter and visionary Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986), whose futuristic paintings helped inspire America's space program. Bonestell worked on architecture projects like the Chrysler Building and the Golden Gate Bridge.
• "The Push" is an inspiring documentary of an adventurous athlete and former nanoscientist, Grant Korgan, as he attempts to become the first spinal-cord injured athlete in history to ski the final degree of latitude to the bottom of the world, only using his arms to propel himself.
• Slim Aarons spent his life documenting jet setters, movie stars and beautiful people doing beautiful things during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. In “The High Life,” the story behind some of his most fabulous photographs are revealed among white sand beaches, longing palms and relaxed, gorgeous faces.
• "She is the Ocean" is a documentary exploring the lives of nine astonishing women ranging from 14 to 70, and all four corners of the globe, as they share one love for the deep ocean.
• The Joan Jett documentary named after one of her famous songs, "Bad Reputation" explores the life of the iconic rocker from early years as the founder of The Runaways and first meeting collaborator Kenny Laguna in 1980 to her presence in pop culture as a rock-n-roll pioneer. The film also stars Billie Joe Armstrong, Michael J. Fox and Miley Cyrus
• "The Secret Ingredients are OUT!" takes you behind the compelling story of Kathleen and her family of five that live with 21 chronic diseases. After suggestions from doctors and nothing seeming to work, Kathleen was determined to find out what was holding back her family. Kathleen takes matters into her own hands as many others, who regain their health and transform their lives after identifying that secret ingredient in their food and making a strong commitment to avoid them.
• "Rockaway" is inspired by true events. This film, written and directed by an East Rockaway native, takes you back to the summer of '94 when a man recounts when he and his brother plotted revenge against their abusive father. Mostly shot on Long Island, this will be the Closing Night film.

In addition to the feature-length films, free short films suitable for all ages will be shown at the beach theatre during Shorts on the Beach on Friday, August 3. Attendees will need to register for a ticket in advance for entrance into the free event. Short films will be divided into five programs throughout the festival: comedies, dramas, animation, documentaries and foreign films. In addition to film screenings, tickets for culinary events, Chefs & Shorts: A Pairing of Gastronomy & Film (Aug. 2) and Taste On The Beach (Aug. 3) are available online.

To reserve your tickets, and for more information, visit the Long Beach International Film Festival website.

Photo courtesy Long Beach International Film Festival