Long Beach International Film Festival Kicks Off On Aug. 1

The seventh annual Long Beach International Film Festival is less than a month away, and movie lovers are getting ready.

Set to take place Aug. 1 through 4, the four-day event will feature film screenings, industry celebrations and culinary events across the Barrier Island. Select film screenings will take place at the newly renovated Regal Lynbrook 13 & RPX, which opened in June, as well as the traditional screening on the beach.

Drawing nearly 400 filmmaker submissions from over 20 different countries, 50 have been selected for screening at the unique, beachfront film festival. The diverse lineup of films includes feature-length narratives and documentaries, as well as short and animated movies suitable for all ages. Professional and amateur filmmakers will compete for a series of Jury, Festival Honors and Audience Awards throughout the festival. During its four-day run, the festival is expected to attract more than 6,000 attendees and generate hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Long Beach economy.

And there will be more than just films. On Friday, Aug. 3, for the fifth consecutive year, the festival will feature a fantastic roster of local and nationally recognized musical talent performing beachfront at the Allegria Hotel, followed by the popular Taste On The Beach, which features tastings from more than 40 of Long Island’s restaurants, distilleries, wineries and more, taking place inside the Allegria Hotel. Tickets are $99 and available here. A portion of the proceeds of this event will benefit Cohen's Children’s Medical Center and the Long Beach Soup Kitchen.

After the concerts and foodie 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, including from Long Island-native filmmakers. The beach concerts and film screenings are free and open to the public.

For the second year, LBIFF is partnering with Devour! for a unique dinner experience, pairing food and short films at the Allegria. On Thursday, Aug. 2 at Chefs and Shorts, guests will enjoy a five-course, locally-sourced dinner and wine pairings, each inspired by one of the short films to be shown at the event. Tickets are available here.

Announcements for the opening and closing night films are coming soon. For more information about the fesitval, visit www.longbeachfilm.com.

Photo: Lenny Marks/Long Beach International Film Festival