Long Island International Film Expo 2014 lineup: 'The Historian,' more
A crime drama co-written by a Nassau cop, an Afghanistan War film shot on a local beach, a tale of suburban angst from a Valley Stream native -- they're all playing at the Bellmore Movies this month as part of the 17th Long Island International Film Expo.
The festival, spearheaded by Nassau County Film Office director Debra Markowitz, once again mixes local and global films into its nine-day schedule, plus workshops for writers, actors and filmmakers. The festival begins Wednesday with two days of "warm-up" programming before opening-night events on July 11.
As in the past, screenings are organized into blocks of roughly two hours; features are typically accompanied by shorts. Below are several highlights, all beginning after noon.
THE HISTORIAN (July 11 at 6:45). The opening-night feature stars character-actor William Sadler (whose credits range from "Die Hard 2" to "Iron Man 3") as a classics professor facing a new job and a rather flirty student. Sadler is expected to attend the festival.
BRIDGE AND TUNNEL (July 11 at 9:40). A drama about four Long Island friends whose formative years were defined by 9/11, the War on Terror and the global financial crisis. Directed by Jason Michael Brescia ("The Newest Pledge"), who grew up in Valley Stream and Malverne.
CIGARETTE SOUP (July 12 at 4). A troop of American soldiers in Afghanistan, and a young journalist embedded with their unit, find themselves trapped in an enemy bunker. Filmed partially at Nickerson Beach Park and produced by Hempstead's Larry Strong.
CHARLIE MANTLE (July 12 at 9:30). Homegrown auteur Fred Carpenter, based in Shirley, delivers his latest locally filmed crime-drama, the story of a soon-to-be-indicted cop (Robert Funaro) trying to avenge the deaths of two colleagues. With Armand Assante, Sean Young and Robert Clohessy. Co-written by 23-year Nassau County Police officer Edward C. Wahl. World premiere.
TEMPO GIRL (July 13 at 9:15). A budding novelist (Florentine Krafft) whose latest work is rejected as "inauthentic," leaves Berlin for a small town in the Swiss Alps. In German with English subtitles.
CASUAL ENCOUNTERS (July 14 at 7:45). Will McCord wrote, directed and edited this multi-narrative feature about five lonely people who turn to a personals website. Long Island premiere.
SHINNECOCK (July 15 at 2:30). Thom Hoffman's film is billed as "The only known documentary effort about Long Island Native people told in their own words." It screens with four shorts.
WHAT Long Island International Film Expo
WHEN | WHERE Wednesday through July 17 at Bellmore Movies, 222 Petit Ave.
TICKETS $10; passes are $25-$65.
INFO 516-571-3168 or go to longislandfilmexpo.com.
