The Long Beach International Film Festival (@LBIFFNY) celebrated its seventh anniversary this past Aug. 1 to Aug. 4, screening an international slate of more than 50 films paired with music and food on the beachfront at the Allegria Hotel in Long Beach and other Long Island locales.
The LBIFF offered a multicourse lineup beginning Aug. 1 with an opening ceremony at the Regal Lynbrook 13 and RPX in Lynbrook, with remarks by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Comptroller Jack Schnirman, New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky and Village of Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach, among other elected officials, renowned filmmakers and supporting partners. Presenting sponsor, SVS Fine Jewelry featuring Forevermark Diamond, partnered with LBIFF to host the Diamond Dig at Taste on the Beach, raising $8,000 for Cohen Children’s Medical Center and $2,000 for the Long Beach Soup Kitchen.
Thursday, for the second year in a row, LBIFF partnered with Devour! for a unique dinner experience pairing gastronomy and short films called Chefs and Shorts, where guests enjoyed a five-course, locally sourced dinner and wine pairing, each inspired by one of the short films shown at the event. Friday, the festival featured Concerts on the Beach, a wide variety of local musical acts, followed by their wildly popular culinary event, Taste on the Beach, a collaboration of more than 40 of Long Island’s premier restaurants, distilleries, wineries and more.
Congratulations goes to “Rockaway” and John J. Budion for best picture and director, respectively, and to the winners of the other categories. Of course the food needs awards, too! Congrats to these winners:
Best Cocktail: Paloma with Espolon Tequila
Best Brew: Flying Belgian Brewery—Illegally Blonde Beer
Best Sweet Food: Red Salt Room by David Burke at the Garden City Hotel— Butterscotch Panna Cotta, Curry Cocoa Gelee/Bananas Foster/Grains of Paradise
Best Savory Food: Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas—Pork Ribs—Balsamic Barbecue Sauce
Best Red: 2015 Roth Estate, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon
Best White/Rose: 2017 Chignin, Domaine Gonnet, Savoie, France
Best Sparkling: Sassaia Gavi Sparkling
Best Presentation: Red Salt by David Burke at the Garden City Hotel
“Since 2012, we’ve celebrated the art of storytelling from artists around the world,” said LBIFF founder Craig Weintraub. “It has truly been humbling to watch our community adopt the festival the way they have. They are the reason we do it—and we’re inspired to create an even better festival next year.”
Many congratulations to the team on another successful festival! I look forward to being there next year.
Happy eating and thanks for reading!
Kysha Harris is a food writer and editor, culinary producer, consultant and owner of SCHOP!, a personalized food service in NYC for more than 15 years. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, @SCHOPgirl, on Facebook, /SCHOPnyc, and her blog, www.talkingSCHOP.wordpress.com. Questions? Comments? Requests? Feedback? Invitations! Email AmNewsFOOD at AmNewsFOOD@SCHOPnyc.com. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @NYAmNewsFOOD and tag us with #SoAmNewsFOOD with your food finds!