N. Hempstead hosting 3rd Gold Coast film fest

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and other officials Wednesday announced the third Gold Coast International Film festival, which will take place Oct. 21-27 at various venues across the North Shore.

"During the festival, Long Island will be declared 'Laugh Island' as comedy becomes the antidote to the destruction brought to us by Hurricane Sandy -- whose anniversary coincides with the festival," said Mangano, referring to comedies that will be shown.

At a news conference at the Bow Ties Cinemas in Manhasset, acting North Hempstead Town Supervisor John Riordan said the festival based there "confirms the town's emergence as one of Long Island's most popular places for movie and television filming. Riordan noted that the NBC show "The Blacklist" was filming nearby, and called the movie industry "a vehicle to boost the local economy."

Also attending was Nassau Legis. Judi Bosworth, (D-Great Neck), a candidate for supervisor.

Among the entertainers were Fred Carpenter of Shirley, director of the 2013 film, "Send No Flowers," and comedian Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling, formerly of the Howard Stern Show.

Carpenter, who was raised in Atlantic Beach, said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti once sent out a letter complaining that the city was losing movie business to outside areas. "He implied it was going to places like Nassau County," he said.

Last month, Mangano released a study showing that the film entertainment industry provided $140 million in economic benefit to Nassau in 2012, while employing about 2,000 people.

The festival is a collaboration between the Great Neck Arts Center and the Town of North Hempstead.