Long Beach International Film Announces 2017 Dates, Seeking Submissions

The Long Beach International Film Festival (LBIFF) has announced that its sixth annual event will take place Aug. 1 to 4, featuring four days of film screenings, industry celebrations and culinary events in Long Beach.

In addition, up and coming directors can submit their feature-length narratives, documentaries, as well as short and animated movies starting today through www.withoutabox.com and www.FilmFreeway.com. Festival organizers are expecting to receive more than 1,000 submissions this year from filmmakers and producers across the globe. Last year, work was submitted from 26 countries including Italy, Ecuador, Belgium, the 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 sixth 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," said festival Co-Founder Craig Weintraub. "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."

SVS Fine Jewelry is back as the Presenting Sponsor with plans to expand its creative and charitable giving. Last year, it held the Bling and Bubbly Experience during the festival and raised $4,000 for the Surf For All Foundation.

The festival offers entertainment beyond film as well. On Friday, Aug. 4, for the fourth consecutive year, the festival will feature a 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 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.

Photo: Lenny Marks/Long Beach International Film Festival