LI Film Festival will open in Montauk

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“From Montauk, to Manhattan, to Hollywood” is the title for the 25th Long Island Film Festival, opening on Saturday in Montauk.

In the 25 years of the festival’s existence, what began as a Hamptons attraction has become a 10-week power tour, with the Long Island Film Festival generating audiences across the U.S. At a press conference held last week at the Glen Cove Mansion Hotel and Conference

Center, organizers announced plans and schedules for the 2008 installment.

This year’s Long Island Film Festival (LIFF) will be mounting an unprecedented touring campaign of screening programs and events throughout its progression “from Montauk to Manhattan to Hollywood.” In addition to screenings in both Long Island and New York City, there will be special encore screenings in Hollywood for several of the award-winning films, along with reprises of certain programs.

“We are excited to kick off our 10-week-long festival tour this year,” said Executive Director Francis J. Leik. “We truly want to have a special festival befitting our 25th anniversary.”

The festival will debut on September 6 at the Montauk Movie Theater with a documentary about one oceanfront section of the place where it all began. “Incredible Journey: The Story of West Hampton Dunes” looks at the aftermath of a breach in the barrier island off Westhampton Beach, known as Little Pike’s Inlet, just west of the last groin installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The historic 25th edition of the festival will feature a selection of films that won awards for best picture, director, score, song, cinematography, editing, actor, actress, supporting actor and supporting actress, and honored for award-winning breakout performance as well.

The festival will also include panels and special events this year, including: a director’s panel titled “From Script to Screen”; a music and film panel titled “Creating a mood/Advancing the Story”; and a 4th annual Irish language block, which includes visual and performing arts presentations. There will also be special entertainment and educational presentations with respected industry scholars.

Although many LIFF alumni have migrated west, the festival remains solidly rooted on Long Island. And, describing the spirit of the event, Sal Richards and son Guy Richards, noted filmmakers and co-creators of the feature “Mr. Laughs: A Look Behind the Curtain,” and festival executive director Francis J. Leik have all agreed that “One thing that really is an embodiment of independent film is the Long Island Film Festival.”

For more information about the 25th annual Long Island Film Festival, visit www.Lifilm.org.