
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Top Films and Film Professionals Recognized and Honored at 25th Anniversary Film Festival and Expo Finale</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9BsBnvCdga1B1e-XAjYRHVTz2WcqS-k4iigGU8totCGGTBcU4ekh_9aMQ9CsSG2PVHOZlTlA9-jM5AHFRBXkMI8pdV1RzH51-EYNn9Or2dnX5R27dO7U2K3097kOEGGcYdXaJuizlpIG" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Recently, discerning film aficionados across Long Island gathered at the historic Bellmore Movies located at 222 Pettit Ave, Bellmore, NY as Producer <strong>Jeff Waxman </strong>(<em>Don&#8217;t Look Up, John Wick, Narc</em>) received the “Excellence in Film &; TV” award, Actor <strong>Catherine Curtin</strong> (<em>Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things</em>) received the “Excellence in Creative Achievement” award, Actor <strong>Chad L. Coleman</strong> (<em>The Wire, All American, The Walking Dead</em>) received the “Inspirational Work in the Sci-Fi Genre” award and long time Channel 4 WNBC-TV Newscaster <strong>Greg Cergol</strong> received the “Excellence in Newscasting” award at the closing ceremony of the 25th Anniversary presentation of the Long Island International Film Expo. Ms. Curtin, Mr. Coleman and Mr. Cergol all appeared in person to accept their recognition.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/l3GzTpGyR0bl5_cSULRDdJug67aHbKyYZmp6FQXxp2kTI6-dtsRP3HQUu6qVvna06fkx3kOBh9u8vhFgHawbjZh1pJoGjx4wMjw6cz5Q7ttGWXGNiIKoubfZzweO9CHVYB4vCH8AgBx-" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Kevin Brown and Chad L. Coleman</em><em><br></em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hosted by Kevin Brown (30 Rock) with presenters Lukas Hassel (The Blacklist), Sal Rendino (Billions), Chad L. Coleman (The Walking Dead), Tara Westwood (The Grudge) and others, the LIIFE closing ceremony also featured, in person, many of the fine actors, directors, producers of the incredible films that were shown all week. ;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/QAbvoSvx0ugfQdz8sFE7vMfbSB02OEtD1voVoGDn5d4sdpQ3P_aH223bUEPhL3NPdE04a595c8Exfohr-K7ASAuCXsE0QYT1mMiu-nB4NcHvjHgY01nouJuDE4mfrrXX1ZsfsHvV0zly" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Lukas Hassell and Catherine Curtin</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For this, the 25th anniversary, LIIFE was proud to feature 22 films made by Long Islanders, 12 World Premieres, 4 US Premieres, 39 New York Premieres, 36 Long Island Premieres, and Films from 12 countries! There were also 40 Female Directors, a record for LIIFE. ;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/iMqVo-xv--YxLj8OhiL5rq2-Q_PRyJca130exmQpKlbFkGSt5rf6ZZAgi0Qmm51mQMLkr-42SU7Q9X-p5J8PdKVMSPv3IwLeG_EeBQwCGMvHfx1yn9J02w2aw_FQA4PZ30-kQU1Ye8fT" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Mitchell Bard (Moderator), Craig Coleman (Whatever Happened to Calistra Zipper), Diana Porter (Subscribed), Sassy Mohen (How to Hack Birth Control), Philip Dae Han (The Prague Conspiracy), Nicholas Markovich (Left of the Dial), Martin Balaguer (Adam), and Sherene Strausberg (Cool For You)</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Long Island International Film Expo 2022</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Winners and Nominees and Honorees</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/opknjzSfzJxjDVKPQccYmaWO0vkbBEyzOO_jFLauDglstGTSW2aoYDzPHiW5HE1dtpRKu0RizG52Ztg3DI4YmDOMJcK5LHoTNlme_2BVAdcZcip2ysAKKPxHlFVUgVmoVAXIosmaGPCw4QbjJWpShg" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Student Film Winners</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Student Film </strong>– Peaches</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Actor</strong> &#8211; Professional Therapy &#8211; Jeremy Lister</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Actress </strong>&#8211; Writer’s Block ; &#8211; Nik Noto</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Story </strong>&#8211; Embryo</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Editing</strong> &#8211; The Prague Conspiracy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Director</strong> &#8211; Peaches &#8211; Dir. Benjamin Hunt</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Cinematography</strong> &#8211; The Prague Conspiracy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Screenplay Winner and Runner Ups</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Typhoid Maria &#8211; Winner</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Streetball Is Life &#8211; Runner up</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Chiro Killer &#8211; Runner Up</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Midnight Madness Winner</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trucked</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Honorees</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Jeff Waxman &#8211; <strong>Excellence in Film And TV</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Catherine Curtin &#8211; <strong>Excellence in Creative Achievement</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Greg Cergol &#8211; <strong>Excellence in Broadcasting</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Special Recognition Awards</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Alan Fortunoff Humanitarian Film Award</strong> &#8211; Hot Water on Long Island</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Jury Award Best Animation ; &#8211; </strong>Billy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Marc Stein Comedy Award &#8211; </strong>Adam</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Inspirational Work in the Sci Fi Genre</strong> &#8211; Chad L. Coleman</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Winners and Nominees</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">(Winners are in Bold)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Feature</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Montauk77</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Natalie</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Marijuana Minutes</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Delivering Hope</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dear Audrey</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><br><strong>Best Short</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Eureka ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>West Virginian Starfish</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Little Drummer Boy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">You are Mine</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Bridge<br></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Director</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The Little Drummer Boy &#8211; John Gray</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Wound &#8211; Sahar Nourmonavar</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">You are Mine &#8211; Adi Wojaczek</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The West Virginian Starfish &#8211; Hyten Davidson and Tommy Martin</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rising Lotus &#8211; Gurinder J. Singh<br></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best International Film</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Annavespa</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Wound</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>You are Mine</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dear Audrey</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Call Me Lina</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Documentary Feature</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Delivering Hope</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hot Water on Long Island</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cycle of Memory</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Devils Among Angels</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dear Audrey</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Documentary Short</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Heirloom</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Shave</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Girl with the Accent</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Why Is My Grandfather’s Bed in Our Living Room?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sound of Memories</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Actor</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Sold &#8211; Dutch Welch</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Little Drummer Boy &#8211; Xander Berkeley</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Parrot &#8211; Ian Morrison &#8211; runner up</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Defense Contract &#8211; Matt Roszak</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hudson Falls &#8211; Richard Kind</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Actress</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Removable &#8211; Yi Liu</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Marijuana Minutes &#8211; Becca DeMarco &#8211; runner up</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hudson Falls &#8211; Tara Westwood</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The West Virginian Starfish &#8211; Melanie McNulty</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Divorce Diaries &#8211; Michele Marie Traina</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Story</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Little Drummer Boy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">West Virginian Starfish</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The Bridge</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Wound</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Removable</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Music Video</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lobo</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dru Serkes &#8211; Stormy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Tied Up in Song</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Spun &#8211; A Music Video</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When It All Goes Down</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Long Island Film</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Montauk77</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Even the Darkness Has Arms</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Domestic Bliss</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Launch at Paradise</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Harbor Me</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Horror Film</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Golem</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Domestic Bliss</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Even the Darkness has Arms</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Something Wrong with Paul</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cook With Heart</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Episodic</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Left of the Dial</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">How to Hack Birth Control</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Divorce Diaries</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Hudson Falls</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Cinematography</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Golem</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Bridge</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Eureka</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Rising Lotus</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sold</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Editing</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Subscribed</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Little Drummer Boy</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">$tack$</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Girl Who Is Selling Fish</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How to Hack Birth Control</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Best Art Direction</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Domestic Bliss</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Golem</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Sands of Time</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Call</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sold</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Audience Choice</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>UFO Club</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Founders Henry Stampfel, Debra Markowitz and Anne Stampfel were surprised with a Founders Award for creating LIIFE 25 years ago and presented by LIFTF Board Member Lindsay Serrano and advisor&#8217;s Kory Diskin and Trish Appello with a tribute reel by LIIFE Technical Director Manny Serrano.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2W2nNHLDK4d2rE2vce6MmJ1td4jX0EB66_zclE_fTup08XyQkcws30mNGPamroKNqtzPiri1h-9jx4ii1WmuvUp-4UuwB-etp7RMRgvEmM1V_KsBEzjSi6YAp0w8gtTyu72guzKR4QWC" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Kory Diskin, Kevin Brown, Lindsay Serrano, Henry Stampfel, Debra Markowitz, Anne Stampfel</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) is the premier filmmaker community on Long Island, and one of the most respected festivals of its kind in the world; showing almost 125 independent films in many different genres each year. Sponsored by the Long Island Film-TV Foundation (LIFTF), the County of Nassau, the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency and Gold Coast Studios, this year the 25th Anniversary installment was held from July 13th &#8211; July 17th, 2022 at the historic Bellmore Movies and featured panels, networking forums and films from around the globe. ;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/vWAgjPcgbWWYY-3qSFWuMNndZaS93u-O6ZPwO34HhWUZKTGwEhs27JHyJsljxLUhW_549UQh7VQ8OEtqxb_GvGILbpOlqfj147WEueI4plH24fKhaVnRf1YtCo6P3Rt4bTOxn4xjLWR-" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Festivals of the past have included such luminaries as the late Danny Aiello and Ed Asner, Robert Clohessy, Abigail Hawk, Ralph Macchio, John Amos, Daniel Baldwin, Ally Sheedy, Cathy Moriarty, Steve Buscemi, Ed Burns, William Sadler, Ilene Kristen, and so many more. ;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ipD5_-lBufJUVaLrHMZW12_Z-e8KwawNOUaSmUjHKLJByMou0YRg2BePgh12YsK2h3bviHwXyw3pvM8FKgXS-NmCW4YcDm-7Q1PtdmI42XAoWi_xwghVJ2djLTLd68CiRrjD6kzbp_no" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Debra Markowitz and Greg Cergol</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">LIIFE has become a must attend festival for filmmakers of all levels with local and foreign film screenings, celebrity appearances, entertaining and informative panels, a star-studded awards ceremony, Q &; A with filmmakers from the world over and networking galore. Sponsored by the Long Island Film-TV Foundation (LIFTF), the County of Nassau, the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency and Gold Coast Studios.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Z1VcSdBHgzTQYyOE7LF8rwmtHlVRtued1F3bc7qpYYhgATb3Ozofc-ENkL-op6WIkNiXUVBYXiLdgTU9s3hBDzW3rE8YBX8XvAVNFaBuhNXlPjByn-zW6Tw5QmqLhz-gHUACvIf8-i4d" alt="" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Tara Westwood, Kory Diskin, Catherine Curtin, Debra Markowitz, Anne Stampfel, Chad L. Coleman, Henry Stampfel, Rick Eberle</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For More Information on LIIFE, please visit: <a href="http://www.longislandfilm.com">www.LongIslandFilm.com</a> ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">LIIFE&#8217;s sister festival, Scared for Your LIIFE, a short horror festival, is open for submissions at <a href="https://filmfreeway.com/ScaredforyourLiife">https://filmfreeway.com/ScaredforyourLiife</a> </p>

Award Winners Jeff Waxman, Chad L. Coleman, Catherine Curtin, Greg Cergol Honored at the 25th Long Island Intl Film Fest
