The Long Beach International Film Festival is back for its fifth year on the South Shore. The festival will screen more than 40 films at both the Beach Theatre and Long Beach Cinema 4 from August 3-5, showing feature-length narratives, shorts, animations and documentaries.
In between the red carpet premieres, filmmaker receptions, Q&A sessions, seminars, musical performances and celebrations, check out these nine films you must-see at this year’s film fest.
MONEY, Aug 3-4
This 86-minute narrative feature and thriller film directed by Martín Rosete tells the tale of two wealthy businessman with a plan to get away with a fraudulous $5 million deal. Little do they know, an unexpected guest will appear and put a hold on their plans.
Spirit of Iris, Aug 4
Spirit of Iris from Russ Gumbel on Vimeo.
Just in time for the 2016 summer Olympic Games, this short film directed by Corinne Jayaweera is about Iris, a 1936 Olympic swimmer who was among one of the first groups of women to ferry planes for the Air Transport Command in World War II.
Nocturne In Black, Aug 4
Jimmy Keyrouz directed this 23-minute dramatic short in Lebanon. The film shows the trouble a musician encounters repairing and rebuilding his piano after terrorists destroy it in his conflicted Middle Eastern neighborhood.
Raisa, Aug 4
In this Austrian dramatic short, director Pavel Cuzuioc shares the story of a woman named Raisa who travels into Moldova in hopes of finding something that will be life-changing.
CHERRY’S IN SEASON, Aug 4
CHERRY’S IN SEASON is a feature documentary making its world premiere at this year’s festival. The doc film shares the life of Cherry’s On The Bay, a famous Fire Island gay bar. People with ties to the bar share the bar’s history and how it’s connected to the American Gay Rights Movement. Don’t miss the Q&A to follow with director Dave Dodds.
DIRTY OLD WEDGE, Aug 5
DIRTY OLD WEDGE – TEASER from Something Kreative Studios on Vimeo.
Newport Beach, California is home to a man-made wave called the Wedge, created in the 1930s. In this 66-minute film directed by Tim Burnham, the “Wedge Crew,” body surfers that ride these epic waves, talk about their relationships, both with each other and the wave itself.
Spiritual Wealth: A Legacy of Weaving and Color, Aug 5
The nearly nine-minute documentary short won Best Short Film at Miami Independent Film Festival. Director Malaquita Festivales explores Mexico to bring the ancient methods of the Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca artisans.
Trafficked in the U.S., Aug 5
Part of the shorts program, this very real and grueling 15-minute documentary directed by Charles Vijay Kumar, C.Ss.R tells the stories of two human trafficking survivors.
FIRE AND WATER, Aug 5
Fire and Water Official Trailer from Thomas Brookins on Vimeo.
Followed by a filmmaker Q&A, the hour-long documentary features Don Eichin, FDNY firefighter and surfer, who speaks about the surfing culture of Manhattan. Yes, there is a surfing culture in New York City, and Eichin shares his perspective on surfing, the City and its history.