It’s time to celebrate the art of cinema in the charming towns of Long Island’s Gold Coast. The 6th annual Gold Coast International Film Festival will be returning to the North Shore Nov. 10-15 for screenings, parties and Q&As with award-winning directors. Five films are a must for every cinephile’s bucket list.

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Harry Benson: Shoot First

Go behind the scenes with photographer Harry Benson, who rose to fame when he invaded the States with The Beatles during the band’s first trip across the pond in 1964. See his extensive portfolio, which includes the likes of Winston Churchill, Bobby Fischer, Muhammad Ali, Greta Garbo, Michael Jackson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Robert F. Kennedy assassination in moving picture form.
Screening Date: Sunday, Nov. 13 6:30pm, Bowtie Great Neck Squire Cinemas

Franca: Chaos and Creation

Directed by Francesco Carrozzini, the film is centered on Franca Sozzani, the legendary editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue since 1988. It highlights Sozzani’s often-controversial magazine covers that challenge the status quo but also widen expectations for art, fashion and commerce.
Screening Date: Saturday, Nov. 12 5:30pm Soundview Cinema – Port Washington

Life, Animated

Academy Award winning director Roger Ross Williams tells the story of Owen Suskind, a young man who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discover a communication outlet through classic Disney animated movies. He learned about empathy, love, loss and brotherhood through flicks like The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. Follow Owen as he grows up and fosters independence while showcasing the power of film in modern society.
Screening Date: Sunday, Nov. 13 2:30pm Soundview Cinema – Port Washington

After the Storm

The Japanese family drama revolves around a former prize-winning author Ryota, who squanders the money he saves as a private detective on gambling and can barely afford child support. Ryota struggles to father his young son—until one stormy summer night where the opportunity to truly bond arises.
Screening Date: Saturday, Nov. 12 2:00pm Bowtie Manhasset Cinemas

Burn Country

See Academy Award winners Melissa Leo and James Franco like you’ve never seen them before. Dominic Rains is Osman, an exiled Afghan journalist who finds an asylum in a small California town. Promised a position as a crime reporter for the local paper and a roof over his head with his best friend’s mother, the town sheriff (Leo), Osman jumps at the opportunity but unfortunately the job falls through. Scouring the area, he becomes friends with local actress, Sandra (Rachel Brosnahan) and a smooth-talking troublemaker Lindsay (Franco). When Lindsay goes missing and a dead body turns up, Osman reverts to his investigative instincts and explores the possible wickedness in his new home.
Screening Date: Saturday, Nov. 12 4:30pm  Soundview Cinema – Port Washington