The 20th Annual Festival Includes Film Screenings, Panels, and an Award Ceremony Honoring Those Who’ve Made an Impact on LI Film

Bellmore, NY (July, 2017) – With the 20th Anniversary of the Long Island International Film Expo continuing this week through Thursday, July 20th, this year’s schedule includes some of the best short and feature-length independent films from around the world, which will be shown at the historic Bellmore Movies (222 Pettit Avenue, Bellmore, NY  11710)!

LIIFE is the premiere filmmaker community on Long Island sponsored by the Long Island Film/TV Foundation (LIFTF) and the County of Nassau, which shows 168 short and feature-length films of every genre. The expo offers networking opportunities, a 350 seat historic theater, press and media opportunities, a convenient filmmakers lounge and several discussion panels with topics ranging from distribution to scriptwriting, legal music, and a filmmaker panel/breakfast.

Some of this year’s films include Long Island premieres such as Shoot Me Nicely written and directed by Elias Plagianos, which has won awards all over the world and stars John Behlmann, Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), William Sadler (Shawshank Redemption), Jackie Martling (formerly of the Howard Stern show) and Josh Burrows (Captain Morgan), as well as New Hyde Park writer/director Bianca Jamotte LeRoux’s short film Flush the John and her web series Real Mommy Confessions.

Other premieres include the New York premiere of animated film Church of Superman from Pete Bune with former MTV and VH1 Host and VJ Jim Shearer as the voice of Superman, who has no problem with being the Savior of Metropolis, but when a small group of people show their appreciation by starting a “Church of the Son of Krypton”, Clark Kent himself is at a loss for words; the world premiere of The Last Letter – winner of the 2017 Locust Valley High School Student Film Festival from Alec Miranda of Lattingtown, and the New York premiere of documentary Where Have You Gone, Lou DiMaggio? from director Brad Kuhlman where Comedian Lou DiMaggio contemplates a comeback after a 20 year absence from the stage and seeks advice from a collection of comedy greats including Larry David, Ray Romano and Colin Quinn; the world premiere of short film Runaways from Wantagh’s Ryan Campbell, which was filmed in both Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The New York premiere of Pinch from Jake Lloyd tells the story of the chance to own a rare and valuable baseball collectible bringing two strangers together as they’re tasked with stepping out of their comfort zones and onto a baseball field; the world premiere of Long Island documentary short Pay It Forward from Nugent Cantileno follows a girl scout troop going out to research the stigmatism of the homeless population on Long Island while making a difference along the way; In the world premiere of Tess from Port Jefferson’s own Russ Camarada- a hired hit man gets more than he bargained for attempting to eliminate and beautiful but damaged thief, and the world premiere of “Like Me” from Hempstead’s Larry Strong, which deals with young women and high school bullying and the everyday challenges that teenagers face, and SO MANY MORE! (Full Schedule Below)

2017 LIIFE Schedule This Week:

LIIFE this year will also be holding a showcase, (not in competition) of student films from the Long Island High School of the Arts and the Not Yet Legal Films club.  Laughing through the Fear is a documentary on stand up comedian, CBS’s “Kevin Can Wait” star and Long Island Native Chris Roach, which was filmed by the local high school film students group “Not Yet Legal Films.”

With a heavy celebrity presence, visits in past years have included a wide range of noted actors and actresses including Ed Asner, Steve Buscemi, Ralph Macchio, and Ally Sheedy! Named “One of the Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine, LIIFE is one of Long Island’s most prestigious film festivals and the Long Island Film/TV Foundation, a not-for-profit, is also the foremost group providing support to the film/TV and commercial industries on Long Island.

FOR FULL FILM SCHEDULE AND SYNOPSIS’, VISIT: www.LongIslandFilm.com/Events

For Tickets to LIIFE via Eventbrite, VISIT: www.LongIslandFilmExpo.com/tickets

For More Information on LIIFE, Visit: www.LongIslandFilmExpo.com

For Press Inquiries, Contact: Rick@RickEberleAgency.com