N. Hempstead film fest draws crowds downtown

The question for Long Island's struggling downtowns has always been how to bring out the crowds to shop, dine and spend. The Town of North Hempstead, partnering with Clearview Cinemas and a host of corporate sponsors, believes it has found at least one answer: Show 'em films.

So at last week's Gold Coast International Film Festival, 43 feature films and 20 shorts were shown in five days at Cinema theaters in Great Neck, Manhasset, Port Washington, Roslyn and New Hyde Park. The town provided $250,000 toward the festival's $1.25-million budget.

"The town supported this to showcase the community and bolster the local economy and local businesses," said Ian Siegel, director of North Hempstead's Business and Development Corp. "I think we were very successful in showcasing North Hempstead as a great place to spend time in and shop and eat in."

Regina Gill, executive director of the Great Neck Arts Center, who is generally credited with developing the idea for the festival, said about 17,000 to 20,000 people came out for the films, which included "Chasing Madoff," a documentary about a whistle-blower's 10-year battle to expose the Ponzi scam, and the French film "My Afternoons with Margueritte," in its U.S. premiere. Tickets were $15, and $13 for seniors. The money went to help pay the festival's cost. Clearview Cinemas is owned by Cablevision Corp., which also owns Newsday.

Gill said all of the arts are tools for helping local downtowns. "People don't think of it that way," Gill said. "They categorize the arts as chichi frills. But there's a reason why New York City supports all of its museums and arts."

Helen Leib, owner of Lou, Babs & Moogs, a gift shop on Main Street in Port Washington, said of the festival, "I definitely think it was a benefit. It brought in more [foot] traffic."

Siegel said it looks like the event will take place again next year: "It only gets better from here."